Help KSA TO Relax
We have over 90 full time wonderful ppl working in various depts of Kechara. We have countless part time and volunteers also who are just as important.
They work hard and need to relax also. So I got this nice 6ft fish tank for Kechara Saraswati Arts Dept or KSA for the relaxation of the staff. Also help the staff to cultivate care for animals.
This fishtank has just been installed, so we let the water mature for 2 weeks before getting any fish. Safer for the fishes that way.
It is very therapeutic to watch at fishes in motion to relieve stress and relax the mind. KSA deserve that.
I will request them to blow Medicine Buddha mantras into the tank also to bless the fish in the future.
Tsem Tulku
Yes, watching fishes swiming is really relaxing !
We had a fishtank in France, we really noticed the changement of atmosphere with our lovely babies. They where so relaxing and beautiful ! I loved them so much <3
Sadly, we can’t took them in UK form France
Fantastic. I totally agree with the therapeutic feeling watching the fish going on about its own business. Mine keeps multiplying and I now have over 30 fish (including over 20 little ones) and they are still producing live babies ever so often. Only thing is I have to invest time to maintain the tank and keep the pump going and the tank well scrubbed. I feel sad when they are ill and sometimes the medicine works but sometimes, it is just old age and they just have to go. So I blow Om Mani Padma Hum mantra onto it.
Another excellent mantra to recite and blow on our pets (alive or dead) is Namgyalma’s
OM DROOM SOHA OM AMItA AYU DHATEY SOHA
Really powerful and helps them to take a good rebirth! As taught by the monks of Gaden monastery when they visited Kechara last month
I’d like to share that as one of the full time people in the Kechara organisation, I have been extremely lucky to be a recipient of all of Rinpoche’s kindness towards every single department.
The fish tank in KSA is just one example of the countless, endless things that Rinpoche does for his students working within the organisation.
One day, when KMP was in its old premises in a rented house, Rinpoche decided to create a relax, chill-out room for us. He personally went out to Ikea with a bunch of students, picked out bookshelves, carpets, beanbags, cushions, tables and even a whole collection of softtoys to keep us company. He repeated over and over again the importance of having a place to relax and chill, as well as for the staff and volunteers to get together, socialise, eat, watch telly (yes, Rinpoche even set up satellite TV for us!) and just hang out. KMP’s little chill-out room was named Dhi room (DHI being the seed syllable of our patron Buddha Manjushri). This was soon followed by Hring room for KSA, BAM room for the Ladrang and many, many, many other comforts for the Dharma houses and various departments. Sometimes, rinpoche will even just call us up, ask who’s around the office and send us off for a fun, relaxing pizza dinner!
It is about creating a conducive, happy, comfortable environment and, as Rinpoche stresses over and over again, about appreciating the people who work in Dharma. It is embarrassing really that our teacher has to show US appreciation, but this is the extent of Rinpoche’s kindness, humility and all the thousands of hours he invests into deepening a connection with his students.
What Paris has described above counters exactly what Rinpoche says are the misconceptions that people in this region have about doing dharma work. They believe that when you do dharma full time, you have to give up all of the things you love. They think you lose your ‘free’ time and dharma equals austerity, no TV, no reading non-dharma books, no music…just plenty of limitations and bans on things.
But the point is, we’re not all Buddhas yet and we do need a nice safe space to relax in where we can unwind…but not totally indulge back into ourselves again. In striking a balance, we show people that we CAN live a life that benefits others, and have fun doing it.
And Rinpoche’s care has extended into an entire department! Through his example, Kechara Care was established to provide nurturing. They are opening their own office soon…Rinpoche said there are plenty of young people joining the organisation, and it would be nice for them to have somewhere modern and safe for them to hang out in with their dharma brothers and sisters, listen to music, watch movies, have parties…
I can’t wait for it to open!!!
I use to go to KSA to volunteer once a week or a twice a week rolling mantras. Rinpoche has arranged for a little part of KSA as an area for volunteers and staff to relax. This chill out area is equipped with a big fish tank and TV cum Radio System. Rinpoche has put in a few Parrot fishes and other smaller fishes. There is one big parrot fish which is very special. You won’t believe it until you see the reaction the parrot fish show when music is played. This particular parrot fish will literally start to dance wagging its body and tail according to the rymthm of the music that was played. It is not me that see things happening but a few people has witness it. I have not been to KSA for a while now.I don’t know whether the Parrot fish is still dancing to music.