My 46th Year
On the 24th of October, in conjunction with my 46th Birthday, Kechara House celebrated the first ever Buddhist Pastor Ordination Ceremony! It was a full day celebration from 9am till 11 pm. Many activities were carried out prior to the pastor ordination which was held at night
So what are Pastors?… What is their purpose?
Pastors are lay people who are committed to their spiritual practice. They are similar to monks, however they have pre-existing obligations that they still need to fulfill such as their family, commitments etc.
It is said that if we hold the vows of a monk or nun today, even for just a day, the amount of merits generated is equivalent to holding the monk vows for one lifetime during Buddha’s lifetime.
Nowadays, it is very difficult for people to take on monk or nun vows. This is due to the many many distractions available in our time. However, just because people in this day and age are unwilling (or are unable) to become a sangha member, it does not mean they still cannot benefit people by learning and teaching the dharma. This is the purpose of ordaining Pastors in Kechara… for them to guide and share their dharma experience with others.
In Kechara, the four Pastors that were ordained were:
Pastor Chia
I have known Chia for 17 years and he is one of my most loyal students that stuck with me through thick and thin. He is one of the kindest and most sincere people I have ever met. I treat him very much like family and I am extremely glad that he now has taken an extra step to benefit people with Dharma by becoming a pastor in Kechara.
Pastor Ngeow
Mr. Ngeow is a very successful engineer and business man. He is very knowledgeable and always willing to share his Dharma knowledge with great enthusiam. He has three grown children that are successful in their own right.
Pastor Susan
I knew Susan a few years back when she came to Kechara House for a dharma talk. After that talk, I gave her a Tsongkhapa tsa tsa which she still keeps with her. Susan came initially as she had some internal issues to overcome, which she did. She loves to benefit and help people to the best of her abilities. Patience is her best quality and of all the years I’ve known her, I have only seen her angry a mere 3 times. She is always wiling to answer questions no matter how random they are. She is just a normal person who likes to have fun but is very knowledgeable in Dharma.
Pastor Yek Yee
Yek Yee was a newspaper reporter for a leading Chinese newspaper before she joined Kechara. She came across Kechara when she was assigned to write an article on me. She is a very lovely lady, patient, forthright and really charitable. She has a very gentle nature, is generous, knowlegeable and most importantly, very very compassionate.
The 4 Pastors above will have to take on vows which are to be renewed every month. The vows are:
Core Vows
To refrain from:
- Stealing
- Killing
- Lying
- Copulatory Misconduct
- Alcohol
- Cigarettes
The additional vows (optional)
- Not to sit on high seats
- To avoid distraction by entertainment
- Not eating after lunch
At 8.15 pm, I gave a short dharma talk about impermanence for about 1 hour and then the pastor ordination ceremony began. I started by asking if any of them have any doubts, which they replied, ‘None’. The vows were then bestowed upon them, and we proceeded to the hair cutting ceremony. They came dressed in their daily clothes; they then left the main prayer hall and changed into their pastor uniforms for the very first time. When they reentered the hall, I gave them each a Buddha Shakyamuni pendant specially designed for the Pastors. They were designed by Kechara Discovery. Datuk May Phng, President of Kechara House then presented each of the 4 Pastors with an offering on behalf of Kechara House.
Wearing their pastor uniform and pendant, a dedication prayer was done to seal the ceremony. The Pastors were then presented with an official certificate which certifies that they are allowed to perform the necessary rituals and to spread the dharma.
As there were Sangha members from different Buddhist traditions present, I took the opportunity to present them with offerings. It is always good to give offerings to Sangha members as it generates an immense amount of merits. 2 Tara statues were offered to Ani Dolma and Lama Sonam Phuntsok, a Tsongkhapa statue was offered to Y.B. Datin Paduka Mother Mangalam Iyaswamy Iyer, and 3 fasting Buddhas were offered to Ven. Ratanasiri Nayaka Maha Thera – Chief Monk of Seck Kia Eenh temple in Malacca, Ven. Sing Kan – Abbess of Sam Poh Thong temple, and Ven Fa Xun, also of Sam Poh Tong temple. I am very honoured to have them present in the auspicious ceremony.
The day started out a little differently… in the morning, a few of my students wanted to give me a birthday present and went to the Kepong Metropolitan Park to release 388 birds and 388 kgs of fish. I’m very glad for their initiative and thoughtfulness. Many of my students from abroad came to attend the ceremony and joined in with the animal liberation too.
There were 12 students and friends who came from Shanghai. They mentioned how they had always read about the animal liberation activities in Kechara, but had never participated in one before. As their first time, they mentioned to the other Kecharians how they enjoyed it!
I am very glad that Kechara finally has Pastors to conduct dharma classes in Kechara. I would like to congratulate these four dedicated individuals, to always keep true to their pastor vows and benefit any living being they come across with. May they always be close to dharma.
The pastors are lay people who take a special vow to share, expound and bring Dharma to those who are ready within the capacity of a householder. I wish the pastors great blessings, success and continuous compassion to benefit others.
Tsem Rinpoche
Click here to view the pastor prayer book!
Pastor Ordination on NTV7
Or view the video on the server at: http://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/ntv7Pastors.flv
Morning – Animal Liberation
Henry Ooi, Liaison and Director of Kechara Paradise, gives a short explanation of why they're releasing birds and fishes.
Chua Siong Woan, Treasurer of KSK, translates for our Chinese speakers.
An early morning creating merit.
Setting the motivation.
Group recitation of prayers.
Group recitation of prayers.
388 birds waiting to be released...
Moments before release!
So many birds about to be freed. Nice!
Releasing of birds...
Last few birds to be released.
388kg of fishes waiting to be released.
Happy and excited to release fishes.
Grandmothers and granddaughter bright and early.
Just moments before being released.
These fishes were meant to be slaughtered at the market... either on that day, or the next day.
Capturing the moment of freedom.
Feeding the fishes that have been released into the lake.
Blowing mantras on the food before feeding the fishes...
Plenty of people enjoy this animal liberation activity.
Last of the fishes being released.
A dedication prayer is then done as a group.
Dedication prayers.
A beautiful landscape nice and natural
A beautiful landscape nice and natural
A gift from Kechara Care.
Nicholas from Kechara Care and a Kecharian.
Evening – Pastor Ordination
The big poster outside Kechara House!
Both the young and old attended...
The abbess of Sam Poh Tong, Venerable Sing Kan, kindly graced our event.
Ven Fa Xun, assistant of Ven Sing Kan arriving.
His Excellency the Ambassador of Nepal to Malaysia Dr Rishi Adhikari and his wife arriving.
Mama How and her husband arriving.
Datuk May (President of Kechara House) greeting Mama How.
My students and friends greet me as I arrive at the gompa.
Gifts prepared for some guests! There's always a gift section whenever I have a teaching.
My students work very hard to make sure that everything is organized so that others can benefit. This gift section ...
Li Kim (CEO of Kechara Media & Publications) was the emcee for the night and Abby (left) was the Chinese emcee.
Datuk May (President of KH) giving the opening speech on behalf of Kechara House.
The main prayer hall is packed!
Coming into the main prayer hall...
Touching my head against His Holiness the Dalai Lama's throne.
Offering a khata onto HH the Dalai Lama's throne.
Greeting everyone who has come to witness a momentous day.. the Pastor Ordination Day!
Datuk May presenting Body, Speech and Mind offerings...
Datuk May presenting Body, Speech and Mind offerings...
Datuk May presenting Body, Speech and Mind offerings...
Datuk May presenting Body, Speech and Mind offerings...
Datuk May presenting Body, Speech and Mind offerings...
A short prayer is done...
I like to come down close to my students and friends...
It's so good that many young kids came that day.
Giving away some gifts...
Saying hello to my students and friends...
Doing a short prayer before the Pastor ordination ceremony begins.
The hair cutting ceremony... As one of the Pastors to be ordained, I cut strands of Susan's hair to symbolize ...
Hair cutting ceremony: Mr Ngeow.
Hair cutting ceremony: Chia Song Peng.
Hair cutting ceremony: Susan Lim
Hair cutting ceremony: Kok Yek Yee.
Seated in front are the 4 Pastors to be ordained.
Venerable Ratanasiri Nayaka Maha Thera, Chief Monk of Seng Kia Eenh, Malacca arriving...
Greeting Venerable Ratanasiri...
Greeting his assistant....
Offering a Fasting Buddha to Venerable Ratanasiri. Offering to sangha members accumulates a lot of merit.
Offering Ven Sing Kan a Fasting Buddha statue...
Offering the beautiful Mother Mangalam a Tsongkhapa statue...
The 4 Pastors doing a prayer.
Wishing Venerable Ratanasiri well as he departs to the airport to get on a flight to Sri Lanka.
The 4 Pastors then changed into their Pastor uniform... when they return, I give each of them a Shakyamuni pendant. ...
(close-up shot) Mr Ngeow receiving his Shakyamuni pendant.
Chia receiving his Shakyamuni pendant.
Susan receiving her Shakyamuni pendant.
Yek Yee receiving her Shakyamuni pendant.
Pastor Ngeow receiving his official certificate.
Pastor Chia receiving his official certificate.
Pastor Susan receiving her official certificate.
Pastor Yek Yee receiving her official certificate.
Datuk May (on behalf of Kechara House) giving an offering to Pastor Ngeow.
Datuk May (on behalf of Kechara House) giving an offering to Pastor Chia.
Datuk May (on behalf of Kechara House) giving an offering to Pastor Susan.
Datuk May (on behalf of Kechara House) giving an offering to Pastor Yek Yee.
Coming down and saying goodbye and thank you to everyone...
Offering Kechara Media and Publication's latest book: The Promise to Rev Fa Xun, assistant to Rev Sing Kan.
Offering Kechara Media and Publication's latest book: The Promise to His Excellency Dr Rikshi's wife.
(close-up) The beautiful nun, Rev Fa Xun.
A group photo...
A group photo from another angle.
How beautiful... a Pastor and a nun saying goodbye to each other in a respectful manner.
Kecharian offering a khata to Pastor Yek Yee...
Kecharian offering a khata to the Pastor Chia...
Friends of the Pastors congratulate them with flowers...
Friends of the Pastors congratulating each them.
The Kechara Kuantan study group giving a beautiful offering to each of the 4 newly ordained Pastors.
Pastor Chia's family came to support him!
Pastor Yek Yee's family came to support her!
Pastor Susan's family came to support her!
Pastor Ngeow's family came to support her!
First, thank you for Rinpoche kindness then I have this opportunity become a Pastor and serve others. Rinpoche always say how luckily we are while you still have ability to serve others. Yes, when Guru give us assignment to do, we must do it and done well. The reason is I had realized that Rinpoche’s assignment is make us become a better person, enjoy more joyful life and be more happy.
It is so lucky we can meet a Guru, and the Guru always think about you, give love and care to you. And even give you assignment to do that hope this can improve yourself and people around you!!!! As Pastor is nothing be proud but have such great Guru, I will be proud and feel so lucky.
May my Guru live long, may my Guru be healthy and always teach us in Dharma.
Congratulations again, Yek Yee! We rejoice for you to be able to continue spreading the dharma to many more in the future.
Thank you May for your greets I will be continue to learn more and share more:)
Hey there =)
Was at your birthday ordination and enjoyed it very much. You are an amazing speaker and I wish you all the best =).
However, haha. No offence or anything i just wanted to point out this one thing that was bugging me about the animal liberation ceremony.
Perhaps next time when you guys release the fishes, you do it in a gentler way? Like lowering the buckets slowly into the water. I know its hard from the weight but i think the shock of pouring such a heavy amount of water and fishes from such high level into water of different temperatures and densities is actually a little shocking for the fish .__. The video even showed one that looked like it was dead.
Just wanted to give my point of view =X
Congratulations to the 4 pastors. They willing to scarify their leisure; their time and have the courage to take the vow! Salute to the 4 pastors.
Hi freon,tqvm.
Yes, we do have to make some ‘sacrifices’ but it is worth it as it is to benefit others and ourselves.In this sense, we are sacrificing bad habits and negative attitudes.Hence it is an honour to be appointed as a pastor to practice with more focus and purpose in this special way. I hope our examples will inspire others like you to queue up to qualify as one too : ))
Please can we have all dharma talk from this event on Youtube? I need to convert this video to mp3, to listen it all the time from my smartphone.
Thank you!
Dearest Rinpoche:
Thanks for the openning. If I have the privilege, opportunity, enough merits and qualify to be trained as a pastor, I hope I can be one of the fortunate ones and share dharma to as many people as I can
But I’m still very fresh in dharma, so it may take years to train. Hehe
Appreciate your consideration
Love,
Victor Phang
I have known these four wonderful pastors for many years now and I attest they are very sincere, loyal, hardworking and trustworthy people. They fit the bill as Buddhist pastors of Kechara perfectly.
I look forward to Pastor Ngeow and Pastor Chia’s first solemnization for marriage in Kechara! Will it be a Kecharian or from the public?