~ Omega

~ Omega

A New Breed of Monk.....(2)

I didn't bluff at all. He really become a runway model for about a month. You still feel sceptical? Read on this excerpt from The Star Online

Lama’s brand new approach

By JAMIE KHOO

Not all monks are dull, humourless ascetics in saffron robes and here’s Tsem Tulku Rinpoche to prove it.


Tsem Rinpoche giving formal dharma teachings at his centre in Petaling Jaya.
IT’S 2am, and I am driving around Kuala Lumpur’s dark, dank Chow Kit streets with Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and some of his students. He’s making us play the “pick game” where we must choose between any two of our most feared or disliked scenarios and people.

So here we are peering out the windows to spot transvestites, prostitutes and the homeless, the people that most of the city is oblivious to, or doesn’t want to know.

Tsem Rinpoche, resident lama (teacher) and spiritual director of Kechara House Dharma centre in Petaling Jaya, often speaks candidly about wanting to bring spirituality to “the people who nobody else wants.”

Much in the spirit of new-generation lamas like the controversial Singa Rinpoche, who was recently banned from entering Taiwan, and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, who doubled up as director of the internationally-acclaimed movie The Cup, Tsem Rinpoche kicks dharma (spirituality) out of the cave and into the much more vigorous, defiant and hedonistic 21st century world.

He promotes a “brand” of spiritual practice that doesn’t require any compromise on who we really are. His diverse mix of students is evidence enough of that. Dharma talks at Kechara House find local fashion personalities sitting on the floor next to award-winning singers, college students, high-powered business women and KL’s socialites as well as former drug addicts, gamblers, manic depressives and self-confessed bad boys from gangs. With Tsem Rinpoche, you start where you are.

Even the fact that Malaysia does not have a predominantly Buddhist mass consciousness doesn’t faze him. Instead, he actively promotes the strong inter-religious and racial harmony here.

“We are fortunate to live in a country where the Government gives us the freedom to do as we like (as long as) we follow the law.’’

Tsem Rinpoche’s gurus from Gaden Monastery in India sent him to Malaysia in 1992 to teach as they felt it would be most beneficial for people in this region. He currently lives full-time in KL. He started Kechara House in 2000.

“Dharma centres serve as places of education for Buddhists to become better citizens of a country, not to make other citizens Buddhist,” he explains.

In inspiring a younger generation, he is incredibly candid about himself: “Look! Do I look holy? Do I look disciplined? Do I look like a ‘high holy Tibetan lama’? No! I am you; I think like you and have the same problems as you.


Tsem Rinpoche instructing his students in the courtyard of Kopan Monastery in Nepal. "If you like to eat, then eat! If you like having sex, then have it! If you like nice clothes and jewellery, buy and wear them! I want the freaks, the people who can be themselves. Live with the motivation of being kind, change your minds, but also play computer games, have sex, party. What’s wrong with that? We’re not Buddhas yet,” he points out, realistically. “The important thing is to keep your motivation good, clean, straight.”

Tsem Rinpoche, 41, embodies this balance himself, and is willing to try unconventional methods of reaching out and appealing to people, especially the younger generation.

That was how he became a runway model for about a month in 2004, working with Catwalk Productions (owned by Ming Chan, who is one of his students) and singing in karaoke sessions with his students. He is also on YouTube (which has brought visitors from as far as Australia and America to him in KL).

He cites the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa and Gandhi as among his favourite people for their outstanding messages of peace and kindness; but also Madonna, Ru Paul (which perhaps explains Tsem Rinpoche’s entertaining diva-like antics during his sermons and talks) and Bette Davis for “their determination and strength.”

Though Tibetan Buddhism is famed for exotic rituals and high tantric empowerment, Tsem Rinpoche prefers to stress on the importance of mind transformation teachings (lojong), focusing most ardently on developing “basic” qualities of compassion, kindness, generosity, patience, effort and wisdom.

His central teachings are based on The Eight Verses of Thought Transformation composed by Tibetan saint and scholar Geshe Langri Tangpa which concentrates on changing our perspectives on the world and people around us.

Tsem Rinpoche will soon be releasing Compassion Conquers All, a book of teachings

which deals specifically with the Eight Verses and how to apply it practically within our lives.

“Spiritual practice is a change of attitude,” he points out in his book of collected teachings Nothing Changes, Everything Changes, “It has everything to do with us changing – how we perceive people, how we react to people, how we talk, our emotions, happiness, anger, delusions, jealousies, successes, motivations, enthusiasm – and the beauty is that nothing around us changes.”

Often, he speaks of depression and the mental afflictions that so often plague the 21st century, and thus, the corresponding need to apply spiritual transformation and practice to turn our minds towards a more peaceful place.


Tsem Rinpoche giving a traditional greeting to Gaden Shartse Monastery Abbot, Ken Rinpoche.
“We have everything that we need – technology, comfort, convenience. Physically, we’re not suffering anymore but so much suffering now happens within our minds.”

The “suffering” he refers to is not necessarily what we commonly regard as great pain, but includes daily frustrations with family, career and relationships, our strong attachment to and expectations of things and people, and the corresponding struggles we face when there is unexpected change or disappointment.

The lojong, thus, cut across religion or cultural barriers by offering an alternative philosophy of living that can be applied variously in our lives.

By now, it’s past 3am and the “pick’’ game is over. When I ask him why he never lets us pick between nice things, he replies: “Those things and people aren’t inherently disgusting themselves. They’re only disgusting because you think they’re disgusting. And until you give up those hang-ups, I’ll keep making you pick!”

There are buttons to be pushed, and Tsem Rinpoche makes sure yours are thoroughly flattened. After all, it is only in the truly unexpected that we learn – and just as Chow Kit's roads seem an unlikely lesson, it’s actually just been yet another journey through our own untempered minds.

A New Breed of Monk.....(1)

A monk who became a runway model for about a month?

We'll explore it later...

Alpha

Short-Cut = Disaster

Thought that I have nothing to write, but suddenly I've encounter a scaring experience.

So as usual Friday night, I will take the gospel van to fetch some members for night service. After reaching the 1st house, I proceed to the 2nd member house. To reach the 2nd member house we usualy will take a short cut. A short but narrow road.

But yesterday when I reach there, on the left hand side of the road there is a small trench. Not sure the drench is for drainage or laying piping system. What I know is that it quite deep.

Thinking I could go through the road, half way I see a backhoe is working at the other end. Well I just reverse the van. Ooops wrong move. The van got stuck on the loose earth. I try to move forward...nope it didn't move....try to reverse ....nope it also didn't move.

Luckily there is still some worker nearby. So they tell me to move forward while they will push the van from behind and they say I can't reverse anymore or else it will fall down the trench. Fortunate the van got stuck or else it will sure inside the trench.

It's really bad, even with the help of 'man-power' the van still didn't budge. No choice....here come the backhoe! A chain is use to help the backhoe to pull the van move forward. Yesssss, it work! So it time to reverse back to the main road.

Haiz~~~still stuck. Luckily a god send hilux is there (i really don't know where it come from). So using the chain again and the hilux (4x4) to pull the van back to the main road.

At last I'm free.....oppps....the van is free. After thanking those guys I proceed to fetch the members.


Backhoe


Hilux


Alpha

New Year Resolution.....(2)

Aaah....I'm very lazy, until now also haven't start reading the bible. Don't know whether this resolution will postpone to be my Next New Year Resolution!

I know, I need to start to read the bible or else won't be able to finish in December, but I get a lot of distraction from Internet, TV & other books & I sleep a lot.

Now I'm reading "Manners & Customs of the Bible" by James M. Freeman. Haven't finish reading it and it quite okey. What irritate me the most is that the book refer to the chapters in bible by Roman Numerals i.e. I, II, III, IV, V etc...etc.

At first, I'm in total lost on which chapter it refer to especially when it come to chapter 50 as in Roman Numerals it is "L". First time in my life to see this symbol.

I know.... I know... I brag a lot.....is time for me to start reading the Bible.

Alpha

A Good Seminar

Just return from a church seminar. Today topic is 'The History Of Old Testament'.

It is well presented and content is solid. I never regret to attend it although it is far.

Tomorrow morning I will attend the 2nd session, at another place. But much nearer than today's place.

The topic will be on Genesis chapter 1-11.

Now I'm very tired, need to turn in.

~ Alpha

Ponder....& ponder again

Today I join some church member to do some visiting.

After that I have a very...very serious discusion....the marriage with a friend. He give me good advice and ask me to ponder about the matter.

But the most important things is to pray to the Almighty One for help.

I agree with him. Now I'll pray and see what will happen!

~ Alpha