Quick Photos from Nepal Trip
Our group just arrived back to Malaysia from a successful spiritual trip from Nepal today Saturday, June 4, 2011. Everyone felt the trip was too short and the time sped by too fast..hehe..Nepal will do that to you..it’s a very exciting place to be…. They visited many holy places, made offerings, did powerful aspirational prayers, did dhana for sangha and visited wonderful spiritual people. Caught up with friends, gave gifts, recieved gifts and shared updates. Our group stayed in Tsem Ladrang (my residence) in Kathmandu. I was told they loved Tsem Ladrang up in the hills of Kathmandu, green, cooling and spectacular views of Kathmandu city….I am happy they can stay in the Ladrang in Kathmandu. I welcomed them very much.
Here’s some quick nice pictures….I am sure our group will post up alot more….
I am very happy for them and welcome them back. Glad it was a safe and powerful trip planting seeds of enlightenment in their minds.
Tsem Rinpoche
Our pilgrims at the holy stupa in Bodhananth (Kathmandu) where hundreds of thousands of Buddhists visit per year to make prayers. This stupa contains the relics of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha. Very sacred spot.
At the cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated before Guru Rinpoche went to Tibet…very holy spot.
Walking up to Bijyaswari Vajra Yogini’s chapel…this chapel has all four forms of Vajra Yogini..
Top of the stairs..Entrance to Vy chapel…in Bijyaswari which is 20 mins taxi from Thamel (downtown Kathmandu)..Remember there are four very sacred chapels/temple of Vajra Yogini in the Kathamndu Valley…they are: Bijyaswari, Sangku, Patan, Parphing…These are must go Vajra Yogini Chapels…
Bijyaswari or Vijyaswari is 20 mins by Taxi from Thamel (centre of Kathmandu town).
Sangku is around one hour away from Thamel and then a half hour walk up the mountains to the very nice temple.
Patan is 45 mins by Taxi from Thamel.
Parphing is 1.5 hours from Thamel…it all depends on traffic also. But everyone must visit these four Vajra Yogini temples..they all close around 5pm and some 6pm..so must go up early..early morning is best..cooling and breezy.
If you absolutely have no time and really have a squeezed schedule..then GO TO BIJYASWARI VAJRA YOGINI CHAPEL…The locals call it Bijyaswari Yogini Mandir…Most taxis in Kathmandu know that…Bijyaswari is half way to Swayambunath area.
Click here for the book published by Kechara Media & Publications about Vajra Yogini and other Sacred Power Places in Nepal.
Lucky William with his offerings ready to enter the inner sanctum to meet the Diamond Lady Herself-Vajra Yogini…
Sacred Bijyaswari Vajra Yogini Chapel..
In front of the Vajra Yogini Temple where all four of Her forms resides. Some temples only have one or two forms, this particular one has all four. I have taken many to this place to create affinity with Vajra Yogini. I am most excited to see our people here. Excellent!!
The offerings our people prepared for offering to Vajra Yogini. Very auspicious. Never meet a holy Statue or holy sangha empty handed. Always make offerings from your heart. It is a wonderful opportunity to create merits for one’s spiritual practice.
Making prayers in front of the Vajra Yogini temple before entering the premises where photographs are not allowed….
At the doorway of the Bijyaswari Vajra Yogini Temple with offerings in hand…lovely. So much good merits and good fortune to be able to do this.
Mahabodhi Temple in Patan that houses the holy sacred ‘Flying’ Vajra Yogini….
Sacred Vajra Yogini in the ‘Flying Over Samsara’ stance within the sacred Mahabodhi Temple in Patan, Nepal. They usually do not let you take photos, but our group obtained special permission from the caretaker. Maybe because our group has powerful connection to Vajra Yogini and by the power of this affinity, the rules were relaxed to snap this sacred photo.
Must click here for more beautiful and sacred pictures of the Flying Vajra Yogini in Patan.
Beautiful painting over the door to the Temple of sacred Vajra Yogini…She is in Her ‘flying over suffering and samsara’ form…..Vajra Yogini has been worshipped throughout Nepal for nearly a thousand years now….She blesses all those who wish to use their passions, attachments, and desires to benefit others. She teaches us to use the delusions on the path to full liberation which is appropriate for Kali Yuga, the age of materialism.
Back on the tourist van….even stars like Bryan Ho have to catch 40 winks…but always with the shades on please…just more glam..Pilgrims can be glamorous also…
Our group in front of the sacred Avalokitesvara (Chenresik) Chapel..
Avalokitesvara chapel..
Very sacred Avalokitesvara within the Chapel….Our group is very lucky to make offerings and have audience here…
On the way to the Chapels, James kindly blesses a dog with prayers, mantras, etc…the dog was very sick…Let’s hope he gets well…poor thing.
Su Ming meeting up with our good friend Mr Raju….Nice gentleman….
Strolling around and not finding anything to buy…But beautiful sights…I mean why carry shopping items back to Kuala Lumpur when you have purchased everything in Kechara Paradise already..hehehe
Yes, we have a Kechara Lounge set up in Kathmandu (Bodha-right next to stupa)…beautiful place to visit….
Entering Kechara Lounge.
Inside Kechara Lounge is sacred Vajra Yogini. She is five feet in height and ornamented in a traditional manner. Anyone who enters Kechara Lounge will be blessed by Her.
Kechara Lounge in Bodha….nice cafe upstairs also…has view of stupa while you are dining…
Kechara Lounge from the outside..Su Ming is in charge of this division of Kechara in Nepal..
Looking out the window from Kechara Lounge..
Yes this is THE VIEW from Kechara Lounge…the holy Bodha stupa containing the relics of Shakyamuni Buddha.
People prostrating and doing prayers in front of the Bodha Stupa.
Thousands of people circumambulate around the holy stupa daily..
Scenes of holy Nepal….
Outside Sacred White Tara temple….HH Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche highly recommended all to visit this particular White Tara. This image here is very blessed….
White Tara in the centre…..must visit..
The area where sacred Naropa’s cave is….
Doing prayers outside Naropa’s cave..
Our lucky group inside the VERY CAVE NAROPA MEDITATED IN…it’s here where he had authentic visions of Lady Vajra Yogini..She Herself initiated Naropa who meditated here for years….It is here where Naropa then gave Her initiation to Nepalese disciples (Pamtingpa brothers). The Nepalese brothers practiced, gained attainments and then in turn initiated the Tibetan disciples and then Vajra Yogini’s tantra was brought to Tibet. From Tibet to the world….and soon Malaysia!!! This is such a sacred spot…must visit and make offerings…everyone must visit..
Click here for more pictures and writeup about me doing pujas by Naropa Cave
Vajra Yogini chapel in Parphing…..
Downtown Kathmandu!!
Nice hotel…nice place to eat…I like Kathmandu Guest House..
Lunch with good friend Elizabeth of Pilgrims bookstore..the biggest and nicest bookstore in Kathmandu..It has been there for decades and I love it…I always go…or send friends there…
This is Elizabeth of Pilgrims bookstore…She is a very intelligent and hardworking girl…I’ve got a entertaining story to tell you. I have been going into Pilgrims bookstore for over a decade..but never really spoke to Elizabeth… But a few years back I wanted a thangka they had for a Charity dinner. The thangka was going to be used for auctioning for our Kechara dinner. I told Elizabeth and we debated on the price for half and hour..hehehe,. During our debate we got to know eachother better and talked about other things…and that is how we became friends. Recently our group of eight met her and she presented gifts to everyone. She also sent a thangka gift to me with a very sweet card thru Su Ming. Thank you Elizabeth for your beautiful gift… She mentioned in the card, she never forgot the thangka incident…sweet. I do like her as she is very quick person…I am glad Pilgrims bookstore and all of us our friends. I am glad to know Elizabeth.
Lunch at KGH…one of our favorite hangouts for breakfast and lunch in Kathmandu….KGH stands for Kathmandu Guest House..Very nice Buddha Garden and great to sit outdoors for breakfast.
Susan is a nice lady and friend who is part of the family that owns Kathmandu Guest house and we always meet her when our group is in Kathmandu…
Vegetarian lunch at KGH is delicious…can see…Ethan (white shirt) looks like a model on lunch break from a photo shoot…
Gentle Lew of E-division making friends with someone who kept gently pawing him for attention…sweet..
Cynthia of E-division couldn’t find a thing she liked that we didn’t have in Kechara Paradise here in Kuala Lumpur already…hehehe
Oh….looks like a ’gang’…hehehe…YOU DON’T WANT TO MESS WITH THEM ON THIS KATHMANDU BUS…They’re not in the mood….hehehe
These are the staff that work in Tsem Ladrang Nepal. Su Ming and Raj Kumar on behalf of myself are giving them supplies of rice, lentils, oil, cleaning items, teas, soap, shampoo, grains, flour, etc..I always give them food gifts as they come from very simple backgrounds and work hard. The elder lady Sabina shed tears I was told upon recieving these items….
Tsem Ladrang
Tsem Ladrang grounds…
Tsem Ladrang Kathmandu has beautiful green lawn and trees. I love it.
Tsem Ladrang from the front view as you enter..
Our very super cute and nice dog at Kathmandu Tsem ladrang…her name is Doggie….She is very friendly…very sweet. Everyone loves her.
Our group inside the sitting room of Tsem Ladrang Kathmandu….All are text messaging as James said, very Kechara style…busy..busy…busy…
This is our butterlamp house which is a seperate building on the same property. We offer thousands of butterlamps per day to Vajra Yogini. The butterlamp house is dedicated to Vajra Yogini. Butterlamps are offered all year round for whomever engages in this great practice…Many people have sponsored the offerings of 100,000 butterlamps in a year. Some do all, some partial as per ones budget of course… It’s inconvenient for us to do it here, so we can do it in Nepal.
Offerings butterlamps or light to Vajra Yogini increase clarity, understanding of dharma, great preparation for death, great for life too, affinity with Her special practices, causes to accomplish Her 11 Yogas, the causes to gain seven types of wisdom, causes for wealth and attainments. It is powerful for purifications also. If we have done actions in our life that we regret, butterlamps are helpful for purifications. When it is offered for us there, which is daily but will take a few months, everyday we do our prayers/dedications to Vajra Yogini here from our homes. It is a wonderful practice. Everyone should do 100,000 butterlamp offering as one of our ‘preliminary practices.’ I highly recommend the offering of lights to Vajra Yogini. I highly recommend any offerings to sacred Vajra Yogini, the most powerful Being in the Universe.
We have people to clean, wash, prepare, and offer the lamps on our behalf. Our people there really love this job as they have faith in Vajra Yogini also….It takes 6-8 hours a day to prepare all the lamps. So when we sponsor the ghee, wick and cleaning, then our wonderful staff will make offerings to Vajra Yogini everyday for us till we reach 100,000 butterlamps. For more information please contact Jp, Su Ming or Beng Kooi. Our Ladrang people have worked very hard and set up the Tsem Ladrang in Kathmandu to benefit people in many ways…Wonderful.. I thank them.
I was very fortunate, I have had 100,000 butterlamps done on my behalf two years ago…I was very happy about that..I wish to do it yearly when I can… I want to do again many times when my budget allows…
Please click here for more information, pictures and videos of Vajra Yogini
Click here to see the photo album of me bringing 61 pilgrims from Kechara to Nepal in 2008 to visit the holy power places in Kathmandu valley.
Thank you Tsem Rinpoche for sharing. The photographs are beautiful. Everyone in the group seem to have an aura of serenity about them in the photos – a peace that everyone is searching for. May many more Kecharians get to go on this pilgrimage in future. I plan to go one day soon, hopefully.
Nepal is surely a place that I would also like to visit again and again, simply because there are so many powerful and holy places to visit, make aspirational prayers and offerings,…….
I went there with Tsem Rinpoche and a group of Kecharians twice between 2005 and 2008. It was one of a life time experience especially we were fortunate enough to travel with our dearest Guru.
If anyone would like to find out more, Kechara In Motion (KIM) has made a DVD “Nepal Pilgrimage 2008″, you may like to have a copy and follows our pilgrimage to the world-famous stupas, legendary holy sites, hidden chapels that were never open to the public, etc…what’s more, you will also be interspersed with energetic and deep meaningful dharma teachings from Tsem Rinpoche who gives wonderful insights into what going on pilgrimage really means.
If you are a Kecharian and has never been to Nepal, you are missing something big…..
Perhaps our dearest Su Ming, head of Kechara Care and Paul Yap, head of Kechara Discovery, can arrange more of these meaningful and spiritual pilgrimages….I would for sure be joining again!
Margaret, I’ve never been to Nepal. How fortunate of you to be able to visit Nepal with Rinpoche!
I would love to go.. It is such a beautiful, beautiful place! Just looking at the pictures makes me hop on the next flight there. LOL!
Perhaps, I could join the next pilgrimage. One can always hope, right? hehe..
Hi Jessica,
I am sure you will have a chance to visit Nepal with our happy Kechara family one day, it is such an empowering trip that I could not describe any better in words, only experience will tell.
Fond and precious memories like taking pictures with Rinpoche inside Naropa cave…..Kecharians making a candle pocession up the stairs to Naropa cave at 10pm at night…..making offerings with Rinpoche together to the sangha, making aspirational prayers in front of power places, then imagine when our guru started giving dharma teachings at each holy place…..it moved me to tears….
I remember Rinpoche gave a powerful teaching in the vajrayogini chapel in Parphing, he told us to think of a person whom we have benefited but have done harm to us, he asked us to forgive this person from that moment on in front of the sacred vajrayogini statue and when we decended the stairs down from the chapel, visualized ourselves as Vajrayogini messangers, bringing benefits to whoever we meet. It literally brought me tears…..even when I think of it now.
I agree with you Jessica, seeing all these wonderful and beautifully captured moments from our Nepal pilgrims, has rekindled a strong wish inside me to pay homage to all these sacred places again.
Pilgrimage to Nepal especially where Vajrayogini has been worshipped for thousands of years there is so precious and is far better and more supreme than any normal holiday trips you have taken ever.
I wish everyone will have a chance to go to Nepal, visit our Tsem Ladrang and all the holy places and make connection with our indestructible diamond lady, Vajrayogini!
There are many newly joined Kechara members, family and friends who would love to join in these sacred pilgrimage trips to Nepal and even India but in the last 2 years, since I have been involved in Kechara, only very limited students were given the opportunity to join these trips.
Kechara Discovery, Kechara Care or Ladrang should organize more of these regular pilgrimage tours for Kechara members to further enhance their spiritual journey paying homage at these holy sites and making a connection and offerings.
I hope to hear more good news from these departments soon on pilgrimage trips.
Dear May, You get around 20 ppl or more together and then contact Paul of Kechara Discovery…now the weather is nice in Nepal. TR
Dear Rinpoche
To-date as of yesterday, there are 15 KH members who registered with me for the 10-days Nepal Pilgrimage trip (Kathmandy and Pokhara) in early December 2011 to go with Paul of Kechara Paradise. We need another 5-10 more persons to join in also.
Anyone interested in this trip, please contact myself at KH. Thanks
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful pictures! They all bring such warm memories of my personal trip to Kathmandu in 2009. Su Ming and Beng Kooi took such good care of me. I feel most fortunate that I also had the chance to visit some of the holy places above.
I would love to visit again. I did not get to visit Naropa’s cave. Another reason to return to Kathmandu.
Tsem Ladrang is truly wonderful. I love the Butter Lamp house! I remember Su Ming taking me to the Butter Lamp house in a cold Spring night in April 2009. It really took my breath away. So many butter lamps being offered to the great Queen VY every day. Truly fabulous!
The lucky 8 are really blessed and fortunate to go on this pilgrimage. To this day, it amazes me how very fortunate we are. None of this would be possible without Rinpoche being in Malaysia. None of this would materialize if we have not met Rinpoche.
Thank you so much, Rinpoche.
Dear Rinpoche, thank you so much for sharing the wonderful updates! These pictures remind me of our initial pilgrimage to Nepal back in 2008. Reading it brought joy to my heart! I sincerely wish that more people would be able to join as it truly is a life changing experience. It has for me! There will always be a place in my heart where i had audience with holy Vajrayogini herself with my kind Guru leading the way and drawing the connection between us…amidst all my hangups and mental clutter. It is from there that i gained the courage to face things that i normally is unable to face….
Thank you Rinpoche and the pilgrimage group for sharing such lovely photos! going thru the photos was like taking me back memory lane, I cherish the time I spent in Kathmandu with great company, visiting holy places and pay homage.
Kathmandu will always remain to be a special place in our heart and mind.
Kathmandu is a very beautiful place. It is such a spiritual place. There are so many buddhist and hindu temples and monasteries there. I’ve been there many times to set up the ladrang there and bring people on pilgrimages. It’s always very exciting!
There was once when I returned to Kuala Lumpur, as soon as I stepped into our international airport, I was reminded of the comfort of modern amenities. However, minutes after I enjoyed the cleanliness of the airport, I realised that there was something missing. The people in general looked cold and empty. Everyone was just walking around like robots, going through the motion. It was very different in Kathmandu. I really missed that.
I highly recommend everyone to visit Kathmandu and all the sacred places. I’m so happy that friends went there recently. The pics showed how everyone was radiating with happiness and peace!
Rinpoche, thank you very much for uploading the photos. Particulary like the captions!These bring back lovely memories…
Dear Rinpoche and Nepal pilgrims,
Thank you for sharing all these amazing photos – what good memories it brings back!!! I’m so happy you all got to go to these places, and also of course, TERRIBLY JEALOUSSSSSS! hahahahaha
You can’t help but be changed by Nepal – oh how I hated it the first two weeks I was there! Then it became among my favourite places in the world. The short time I was there are among the happiest and best memories I have. What amazing places, beautiful people and fantastic adventures and scrapes you find in Nepal!! Seeing all those photos of Tsem Ladrang, Kechara Lounge and the sites of Nepal bring it all back – the dust, the traffic, the load shedding (though I heard there was none during your trip), the lovely butterlamp lamps, milky sweet tea, bargaining in Nepali…and and and, the temples, the butterlamps, the holy Vajrayoginis, the prostrations, the stupas, the monks, the monasteries…! I would do it all over again if I could.
Thank you for sharing a little piece of your trip. May there be many more!
PS Did you draw yourselves into the Ladrang kitchen whiteboard?
hehe
I love your comment! hehe.
and…OH NO!! we forgot to draw ourselves onto the white board!!!
What a beautiful trip for everyone.would love to have a chance to do such a different n spiritual trip to Nepal again:)
You will love it Christine as you are very spiritual and the holy places will blow your mind to another level.
I will keep you inform on the next trip.
Kechara as always fly sky high even in Nepal. The window of the world ! You can see from Kechara Lounge , Rinpoche ” FLAG ” !!! Neat… Thanks for the photos , next time we can organise the trip based on their experience.
Wont get lost ! : )
I love the holy sites of Nepal especially Tsem Ladrang in Kathmandu. To me that is the best place in Nepal to be as it is Rinpoche’s home. It was created with a lot of devotion from Beng Kooi, Jamie, Shin, Jp and Datuk May. The energy in the house till today is amazing as you can feel the sincerity, hard work and devotion. It was no longer “work” but the renovation was an offering from their heart. You can read this in the Call Me Paris book by Jamie.
It was also really fun to travel with this recent group and we had a wonderful time together. What I find it amazing about this trip besides the holy sites are the ENERGY from the group. They are committed, hard working and they really pushed themselves to learn more. We had a very tight schedule (Oh gosh!!! 5 days in Nepal is really short) and they just went with it. Non of them complained, they did not need to be served. And everyone took themselves out from their own comfort zone for their spirituality advancement.
So many fleeting emotions, Rinpoche, as i scroll through this blog reading your words and enjoying the photos. I had just seen the images of Vajrayogini, and here my breath was taken to see holy Avalokitesvara, whom i love deeply. It is a joy to go on a mini-cyber-pilgrimage with you and your students. It is fun to see the sights of Kathmandu. Kechara Lounge is awesome, and your Ladrang is an oasis of lush coolness and calm amidst the busy-busy. To enter the butterlamp house and see those pure and beautiful offerings was very special. And I laughed at your comments about your students. It is so true that anyone can be a pilgrim – it doesn’t matter what you look like on the outside, it is the open and vulnerable heart on the inside that counts, and no-one can see that except your pure Teacher and the Great Ones. Thank you so much.
Kathmandu, with its rustic charms, is one of THE pilgrimage sites to visit for those who have not been. Language, hotel and food are easy and most Nepalese are friendly. The worst is the roads and like everywhere else, traffic.
Best time to go, for me, is either during the fall or spring. Summertime is hot and dusty while winter could be chilly.
WOW!!!..Thank You Rinpoche for sharing the photographs..felt like I was actually on the “Nye kor” too..Visiting Nepal has been on my “to DO list” for a pretty long time..Hope n Pray I can make it this Winter! _/\_