KECHARA

LIFE • KECHARA FOREST RETREAT
91
KECHARA FOREST RETREAT’S
HIGHLIGHTS OF 2015
In 2015, we saw Kechara Forest
Retreat unveil the largest Dorje
Shugden statue in the world, a
monumental figure that sends
blessings to all who view the
perfect image of this enlightened
protector. As the year has drawn
to a close and all eyes are
turned towards another fruitful
12 months, it is hoped that the
practice of Dorje Shugden will
bring peace and happiness
to world.
December was certainly the
perfect month to reflect on
the events that made 2015 a
memorable one and also to chart
the progress of H.E. the 25th
Tsem Rinpoche’s vision for the
construction of Kechara Forest
Retreat (KFR). Here are some of
the highlights and remarkable
achievements of Kechara.
On the morning of 28 th May,
KFR marked a milestone with
the enthroning of the Buddha
of Wisdom, Manjushri, who is
also considered one of the most
venerated of all Bodhisattvas in
the Mahayana tradition.
Carved out of a white stone and
placed on top of Manjushri Hill,
overlooking the pristine green
valley, the statue of the divine
teacher of Lama Tsongkhapa and
founder of our lineage, now sits
atop a platform spreading his
transcendental wisdom to every
being in all 10 directions.
One interesting incident took
place following the Buddha of
Wisdom’s enthronement ceremony.
A gorgeous auspicious rainbow
appeared during a special puja –
clearly a sign that nature herself was
joyful with Manjushri’s presence.
Paul Yap, a member of the Board
of Directors, who was tasked with
this mission, also took extra effort
to create a beautiful Zen garden
that is surrounded by white stones
and green bamboos to ensure
Manjushri has the perfect abode.
True to KFR’s goal in creating a
conscious community that lives
in harmony with nature, the year
also marked a start for us to
create our own organic farming
and herb garden project, a feat
managed by our hardworking
and diligent Green Team.
To ensure that the fruit of their
labour is to be shared with all,
visitors are welcome to partake in
the harvest of the fruit orchards
and herb garden, and potentially
learn a thing or two about organic
farming.
Working on Pastor Chia Song
Peng’s herb garden not only heals
the mind but also the body and
spirit. The herbs were planted
in soil that was mixed using our
own compost and compost tea,
resulting in a rich and flourishing
garden.
Through appointments, visitors
who volunteer will also be taught
the basic of weeding, pruning
and planting so that they can
continue to do what they have
learnt once they return to the
confines of their own homes.
The Green Team was also
instrumental in planting creepers
above the famed Tara Walk
to provide shade for walking
meditators of the popular Inner
Retreat Meditation Programme.
With KFR also concerning itself
with animal welfare, a cause
close to Tsem Rinpoche’s heart,
we established our first fish pond
along Kechara Drive in June,
a project which was overseen
by a member of our Board of
Directors, J.P. Thong.
Complete with gazebos and
chairs for visitors to relax, the
pond is home to schools of koi
that are protected by a nine-foot
Dream Manjushri statue.
That is not all, our newly
constructed 720-foot Recovery
Aviary is home to newly rescued
birds such as cockatoos,
African Greys, cockatiels
and budgerigars. Through
appointments, visitors can learn
how to tend to them.
With so much progress made in
2015, 2016’s target is to complete
Phase 2 of KFR’s development