MY FIRST GURU IN NEW JERSEY
When I was 7 years old I was taken to New Jersey, USA. That was in 1972.
In 1971, the great Sera Mey Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tharchin arrived and was residing 10 minutes away from me.
I started recieving teachings from him. I found out that he had met Pabongka Rinpoche in Tibet and recieved teachings. Kensur Rinpoche was a very devoted disciple of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Zong Rinpoche. And also was a great Abbot of Sera Mey Monastery who uplifted the educational standard of the whole monastery and paid off all their huge loans during his tenure. Sera Mey respects him tremendously.
I took my refuge vows and first iniations from this great master while in New Jersey.
What are the chances that I end up in faraway distant America and ten mins away is one of the greatest living masters of this century. I believed I collected very good merits from my previous life to be able to live so near a great master like this.
In the 1970′s USA, the Dharma was not very mainstream and teachers were very rare. So how lucky was I?????? I always rejoice in this fact.
And amazed at my good fortune! Really I do.
When i recieved my initiations from Kensur Lobsang Tharchin, I determined to do the sadhanas and practices and up till now I have. I am forever grateful to him.
When I entered Gaden and was going to be a monk, Kensur Lobsang Tharchin was very pleased and gave me a big smile and said I was doing the right thing. Wow. He said I was doing the right thing. You wouldn’t know how much his words gave me great bliss. I trusted him fully.
When I met Zong Rinpoche later, I asked Kensur Lobsang Tharchin’s permission to study with him as Kensur Rinpoche was my first guru and I must have his permission. I had to move to California and hence couldn’t be with Kensur Lobsang Tharchin anymore. I left New Jersey at 16 and went to California because my step parents and I didn’t have karma to be together.
Kensur Lobsang Tharchin again was very pleased and granted his permission when I called him from California. If he didn’t, I would definitely not have gone.
When I arrived in Gaden and was very poor and had very little food to eat. I wrote relatives, parents and other ppl, but no one helped at all. I asked Kensur Lobsang Tharchin and he immediately arranged for one of his students to send me US$50 per month. Which at that time was more than enough for me to survive and be ok in Gaden.
I owe so much to this great master. As a child I would try to visit him as often as possible in New Jersey, but I was deathly afraid of him. I saw him as an enlightened being and I was just a cockroach or a nothing and felt so scared to disturb him.
I remember him fondly and miss him very much. I wish so much he was still here with us, as I would love to invite him to Kechara House to turn the wheel of dharma and bestow empowerments.
I trust him so much and tears stream down my face as I write this. I love Kensur Lobsang Tharchin so much and have tremendous faith in him. I always will. I hope one day I can benefit ppl like he did and gain the attainments that he definitely had.
He was a grand master of Sutra and Tantra. And he spoke wonderful English. But his specialty was the Lady Vajra Yogini. He is definitely one with Her. I am more fortunate to have met him than Lady Vajra Yogini Herself. I am sure She will understand why I say that.
I prostrate myself on the ground fully to you, Great Kensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Tharchin Pelsangpo and humbly ask you to bless my wild mindstream to think of others more than myself……
Tsem Tulku
The immaculate incarnation of Kensur Jetsun Lobsang Tharchin has been found and recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His name is Tenzin Namdrol and is four years old and found in Mundgod, South India. He will be escorted to Gyalrong Khangtsen in Sera Mey (Bylakuppe-12 hours by car from Mundgod in South India) to be enthroned. My precious first guru is back!! I have never doubted him in any way, but seeing his precious incarnation again shows his great compassion to continue his works. I pray for his long life, and excellent activities to continue. His previous incarnation was a great master, lineage holder and accomplished Vajra Yogini Mahasiddha who was a direct disciple of the Incomparable Kyabje Pabongka Dorje Chang. I bow my head to the feet of this illustrious Choktrul Tenzin Namdrol.
Tsem Tulku
Rinpoche
My tears stream down my face as I read this.
My heart is hot.
I prostrate myself to you
Thank you so much. I am so grateful to Know you on line and to be able to get strong lessons each time after reading you. I am very touch by your generosity towards us and all beings. When I read you I feel so much, but what really count is to practice what you are teaching. I keep falling off the track and than come back on it.
You guidance is so precious and I am forever grateful for being so lucky to have met you on line. With all my heart.
Thank you for sharing this very warm post. I already consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet Rinpoche when I was in my late 20′s, in a wild barbaric place (in the Dharma sense) such as Malaysia. I can imagine that New Jersey in the 1970′s would have been similar.
So for Tsem Rinpoche to be so close to Kensur Rinpoche and to be able to receive the highest teachings from him at such a young age is clearly a result of his imprints and incredible good merit – merit that is accrued from lifetimes and lifetimes of dedication to the Dharma.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this heart felt real life story of yours. It really shows that Rinpoche definitely have very very strong Dharma imprints from your previous life. Your determination and courage to hitch-hike, live on the streets and work many odd jobs to support yourself so that you can do Dharma is truly inspiring.
It also makes me reflect on how lucky we are, I am, to have been able to meet Rinpoche in my 20’s and without having to go through so much obstacles like what Rinpoche did. In deed we/I am very LUCKY/Blessed. Rinpoche you are my first and always will be the Guru that change my life. For without Rinpoche, I will not be in Dharma now.
“And also was a great Abbot of Sera Mey Monastery who uplifted the educational standard of the whole monastery and paid off all their huge loans during his tenure. Sera Mey respects him tremendously.” – this sounds oddly familiar, with Rinpoche’s work to lift the education standards of Gaden, and also his fundraising work in 1992 to build living quarters for the monks of Phukhang Khangtsen.
There are so many teachings in Rinpoche’s sharing…lessons in guru devotion, in humility, in care, in gratitude. I think stories of lamas always touch us because they reflect the attainments we want to achieve. And I’m not talking about the esoteric stuff like walking on water or the power of speed, but the qualities that everyone (whether Buddhist or not) will understand and appreciate. I think one of those qualities is that of thinking outwards. We live with such selfish minds that when we come across beings who operate from the basis of benefiting others, we’re affected by the compassionate minds that they generate. To come across such a being is a blessing, because they remind me that I can learn to think like that too.
Rinpoche must have really been someone amazing to have such great fortune to meet all the great Masters of our time – from Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tharchin, to Zong Rinpoche to Lati Rinpoche and all the way to HH Dalai Lama. They were all Rinpoche’s Gurus. What makes Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tharchin so special is that he was the disciple of the Grand Master, Pabongka Rinpoche. Pabongka Rinpoche is the Guru of all the Gurus such as Trijang Rinpoche and Ling Rinpoche. Both are the Tutors of the HH Dalai Lama. You can read all about Pabongka Rinpoche in http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/2010/07/pabongka-rinpoche-18781941.html. How lucky are we all to have the precious opportunity to be Rinpoche’s students in this lifetime. Rinpoche is a most precious ‘vessel’ which holds all the most significant transmissions in the Gelugpa Lineage from all the greatest minds of this century!
I prostrate to Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tharchin because his kindness and wisdom is the ignition spark that caused Dharma to flourish in Malaysia.
Meeting Tsem Rinpoche and pure Dharma is the most precious blessing I ever received. The Dharma Tsem Rinpoche so generously shared has given greater meaning and value to the goals I pursue.
An example: Create self worth by giving worth to others. This breaks the perception that self worth is created by focusing on me, myself and I…by grasping onto to “having” so that these possessions add to how much we are worth. In the little instances I managed to be in contribution to others at work, I experienced a freeing and fulfilling happiness. A little “taste” of goodness from Dharma practice ☺
With this, my deep admiration and appreciation to the dedicated Kecharians who have consistently lived by the principals of Dharma to benefit Malaysia through the 13 departments of Kechara House (www.kechara.com).
To end, I pray that I will be able to honor the precious Dharma teachings of Kensur Rinpoche, Tsem Rinpoche and all the Lineage Guru (all the way to Pabongka Rinpoche and Trijang Rinpoche…WOW!!!) by making consistent effort to develop a habit of creating self worth by giving worth to others. I also pray for all Dharma practitioners to have a successful journey to liberation, which is the very reason our venerable Lineage Gurus imparted the Dharma upon us.
I can’t imagine how heavy Rinpoche’s heart must be, when he had to leave Kensur Lobsang Tharchin because of the circumstances with his step parents, his only family who never really accepted him. Rinpoche loves Kensur Lobsang Tharchin so much and at the same time, not knowing who he was.
There’s an amazing teaching by example in this blogpost about guru-student relationship. It is important to take note how Rinpoche requested permission from his first guru before he studied with Zong Rinpoche, his root guru!
Lama and centre hoping is such a common practice today resulting in no attainments and a is waste of time. Do read GURUS FOR HIRE, ENLIGHTENMENT FOR SALE http://www.kechara.com/publications/publications/tsem-tulku-series/gurus-for-hire-enlightenment-for-sale/ where Rinpoche provides an insider’s guide to the precarious, often tricky Guru-disciple relationship.
This article brings back vividly the 1st glance I had of Tsem Tulku Rinpoche at KYCO in 1992. When he was giving a dharma talk at The Chinese Mahayana Centre. Tsem Rinpoche looked thin at that time as compared to how he looks today and seemed very underfed!! But his Dharma teachings was attractively wonderful and easy to understand, as evidence later by the long line of audience who were waiting to see him for consultation later. Though I had already met a few other lamas before meeting him at this centre, yet I felt somewhat “fatefully” attracted to him at my first glance of him. Instant thoughts straight away came to my mind that should I seriously want to venture into spiritual practice this would be my first and last guru. A few other later meetings of him later with anila, together a few other family members finally brought about my 1st refuge with Tsem Rinpoche at Brains Trust Centre at Malacca in 1992.
Now I understand why Tsem Rinpoche loves Zong Rinpoche and Tharchin Rinpoche so much from what I have read what Tsem Rinpoche has written. Tsem Rinpoche has followed both his beloved Guru’s same methods to teach his students. I also know the reason why Tsem Rinpoche was so grateful to Kensur Tharchin Rinpoche. When Tsem Rinpoche cannot find any financial help from his relatives and friends when he was in Gaden. Kensur Tharchin Rinpoche found him a sponsor who gave USD 50/- which was more than enough at that time. And is turn Tsem Rinpoche took very good care of his students. I can vouch for that. Tsem Rinpoche has taken care of me and my family spiritually, emotionally and financially not only to me but others too. He has taken the responsibility and commitment to take care of his students.
The determination of Rinpoche wanting to learn and practice dharma from young is really amazing! Despite the objections from Rinpoche’s stepparents, Rinpoche had never ever given up hope in pursuing to learn dharma at any cost!
The amount of merits Rinpoche collected from life time after lime time had resulted Rinpoche being able to meet all the high lamas and to learn under their feet.
Rinpoche’s trust and devotion towards all Rinpoche’s guru are good examples for all of us especially me to emulate. Rinpoche had always led by example just like how Rinpoche had been taken care by Rinpoche’s gurus. We, student in turn, should learn this from Rinpoche.
Rinpoche is so compassionate that Rinpoche had chosen this ‘tough path’ in this incarnation in order to help us the ‘lucky ones’. It is a fact that highly reincarnated Lamas can choose their parents and environment to be reborn. Instead of being enthrone in at a young age like most of other high lamas, Rinpoche had chosen to be in an environment where family support in practicing dharma is none! And yet Rinpoche had persevere and hence the manifestation of Kechara organization.
Rinpoche had mentioned many times that Rinpoche does not need to build another big temple or learning institution as Rinpoche had done that life time after life time, it is us who needs to collect tonnes of merits in order for us to improve our life and gain enlightenment in the future.
Thank you Rinpoche for not giving up on anyone of us! Even for those who had left due to their lack merit or under other circumstances, Rinpoche always say prayers for them and hope that they will be taken care of later, an act of a Great Bodhisattva!
Tsem Rinpoche did not cultivate an attitude of “blaming” or “poor me” when he begged for sponsors when he went into Gaden monastery. It is very easy for us to give up on what we believe in but Tsem Rinpoche did not let his condition deter him from his pursuit. It took determination and great trust to be able to achieve what he wants to do in the monastery to serve the dharma.
Tsem Rinpoche did not let external conditions defeat his purpose or allow them to be obstacles to continue his practice. Rinpoche understands when his students need his help and he sponsors generously with sincerity without expecting in return.
When Rinpoche’s mother was approached by the sangha to send her son to the monastery as they recognized him to be someone special, Rinpoche’s mother rejected saying if he were truly what the monks claimed he was, he would find his own way to spirituality.
This prophecy is uncannily fulfilled when Rinpoche met his first Guru, Kensur Rinpoche.
I can understand the very special relationship between Rinpoche and his first Guru. It must had been somewhat like meeting one’s long lost relative after all the trials and tribulations.
Another thing that strike me is the strong imprints of spiritual attainments these great masters have that no matter how difficult the circumstances are, they are attracted to spirituality like a magnet to magnet.
I have always loved the stories that Rinpoche has shared with us about his time in Rashid Gempil Ling under Kensur Lobsang Tharchin. These stories are all the more poignant when you know what Rinpoche had to go through at home with all the abuse from his foster parents. RGL and Kensur Rinpoche were the only glimmers of respite and hope that he had in his difficult young life.
These accounts of Rinpoche’s teachings are so especially dear to us, Rinpoche’s students, because it we realise that it is also by their kindness that we now have Tsem Rinpoche and are receiving this unbroken, sacred lineage of teachings and blessings. For example, Kensur Lobsang Tharchin was a direct disciple of Trijang Rinpoche, making us extremely close to the lineage of his great master, the spiritual “father” of almost all Gelug teachers in the world today.
We are just so fortunate to be so close to the teachings, and to have them so easily handed to us on a silver, gem-studded platter.
More than that, it is also because of Rinpoche’s impeccable Guru Devotion to every of his 14 gurus, starting with Kensur Lobsang Tharchin, that we are now able to receive these teachings. If Rinpoche (like many of us) had not followed his Guru’s advice, not been loyal to them, run away, given up or not completed any of what they had advised him to do, then we would not be here. We hold these old Lamas in very high esteem but more importantly, we must always remember Rinpoche’s incredible devotion to these Gurus, hard work over the years and commitment to Dharma that have preserved these teachings – and this is the amazing legacy that has been passed down to us.
While I read Kensur Lobsang Tharchin post, can feel the love Rinpoche toward his Guru. Rinpoche guru devotion is amazing. Rinpoche respect Kensur Lobsang Tharchin very much. In this post Rinpoche has shared with us the kindness, compassion, care and love his guru has given him. Guru’s love and compassion seems like a very strong support for him to continue his spiritual journey.
The article really makes me think about the real guru devotion? What is the real guru devotion? After you read this article you will understand more and even can feel the real love between a guru and student. Even though, I not enough merit meet with this such as high lama, but I still can remember all the good quality of the great lama.
Very nice article, MUST READ!!!
This is one of the earliest life histories of Rinpoche and the first connection to dharma.
How incredibly slim the chances are to be brought to USA at a time when Tibetan Buddhism was not so popular compared to now. How remote to stay so near to an elite master of the Gelug sect, Sera Mey Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tharchin, who was the disciple of H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and H.H. Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and who have met H.H. Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche!
It is not good fortune but enlightened attainments that Tsem Rinpoche chose so.
How very fortunate we, at Kechara House, are to have H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche as our guru who patiently and tirelessly teaches us the holy and profound dharma. Thank you, Rinpoche.
“At 7 months old, monks came and recognised Tsem Rinpoche as an incarnated Lama. They requested his mother to take the child to the monastery for his spiritual education but she refused. In return, she said that if Rinpoche was what they said he is, he would eventually find his own way to the monastery”
And INDEED Rinpoche did! By being 10 mins away from Rinpoche’s FIRST GURU when Rinpoche was 7 yrs old was the first step to finding his OWN way to the monastery. Can you imagine the probability of having a dharma center with such a great guru from the same lineage 10 mins away from you in the 70′s in AMERICA!
There is NO such thing as a coincidence.
This article strike me most was Tsem Rinpoche GURU DEVOTION is 100%.
Tsem Rinpoche trusted his first Guru, Kensur Rinpoche fully and listened to his every advise even when he met Zong Rinpoche, his root guru, Rinpoche also seek Kensur Rinpoche permission if he allow to follow Zong Rinpoche teachings
Unlike nowadays in Malaysia , we have the scenario that, even a great high lama is close to us, care for us, and yet we still choose to run away or create causes to be away from our lama. Some students even like to be center hoping.
I am grateful that have the great fortune and merits to meet Tsem Rinpoche in this degenerate age, I must consider very lucky and I have no excuse not to practice and not to transform….
This story brings tears to my eyes because Rinpoche’s love and devotion to his Guru is so real and so sincere. I heard or another story not recounted here of how much Kensur Lobsang Tharchin had impacted the mind of young Rinpoche. This was especially when Rinpoche’s parents were oppressive and wouldn’t allow Rinpoche to go for teachings and initiations, Rinpoche would still make it for teachings.
When this went on and on, Rinpoche’s mother, out of spite, spread false rumours of Kensur Lobsang Tharchin’s clandestine affairs with numerous women in the center. Rinpoche was heartbroken and very upset with his mother for creating such falsehood. So he sought audience, explained to his Guru and sought forgiveness. His Guru surprised him and told him to forgive his mother and it was Dharma practice for young Rinpoche to not come for teachings for his mother’s sake. He was not upset for himself at all and for the first time, Rinpoche felt real compassion and it went down very deep in Rinpoche’s heart. That was the quality of Rinpoche’s Gurus and that was what Rinpoche lived by all these years.
No matter where you go and what you do, if you have strong karma from previous life to be near the three jewels to continue on the path to benefit others, you will always meet your Guru. H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche explained this to us before, and H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche himself is a living example of that.
Both parents are Tibetan and Mongolian descent and he was born in Taiwan, and raised in the US. H.E. Tsem Rinpoche has strong karma to meet the Dharma since he was very young. Getting near and studying under great masters is just another natural progression for Rinpoche.
Normal kids probably waste their time playing football, running around making noise and fighting for toys. However, Rinpoche’s spending his childhood learning the Dharma, reciting mantras and studying under a great Guru.
This evidence suggests that he is an unusual child with an enlightened mind. I wish everyone would meet the three jewels and their own Guru in every single lifetime!
PAUL
Rinpoche’s sincere and personal account of Guru Devotion is extremely touching. My heart moved greatly when i read this post. There is so little sincere things in this world these days, and even ‘sincere’ articles dont turn out to be completely sincere, but Rinpoche’s post has an unusual amount of sincerity and clarity, one of the few on the vast internet. It is exceptionally rare and refreshing.
At this moment, i am very ashamed and humble to admit that i do not have that level of Guru devotion yet but hopefully one day i will attain Guru devotion of that level so that i can achieve so much more than i can now. I’m not gonna give up and im gonna keep trying until i can!
It’s definitely Rinpoche’s great merits and imprints from previous lives that bring Rinpoche to meet Kensur Rinpoche (1st Guru) and get initiation from young age. This is also the beginning of Rinpoche spiritual journey. Rinpoche incredible guru devotion is what everyone should learn and practice as this quality is a foundation for anyone to be success in their spiritual practice. I hope I can meet the Rinpoche at the young age too but it’s all tie back to my merits & karma. But I think I wouldn’t complain much as at the age of 30 I met the dharma. Is my positive karma ripening I believe. Better than later.
The circumstances of HE Tsem Tulku Rinpoche meeting his first Guru; Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tharchin shows that Rinpoche not only has a lot of merits but also has a lot affinity with Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tharchin. All of us who gets to meet great Masters definitely have a lot of affinity with the Masters. I for one lives a few minutes away from Kechara House and we have the great Master HE Tsem Tulku Rinpoche as the Guru. How fortunate!! Except I do not have the merits to become a monk. At least I can’t imagine it now. I certainly hope to be able to in future lives if I practice well from now to benefit all sentient beings.
This post is a lovely sharing from Rinpoche’s heart about his first Guru. Can you imagine how Rinpoche felt as a seven year old boy, fresh from Taiwan and a stranger to his new foster family in United States? Everything was strange to him – even the language as he did not speak English then but only Mandarin.
Then he found Rashi Gempil Ling with this amazing Seramey Abbot Emeritus Kensur Lobsang Tharchin, literally only ten minutes away from his home and it is there that he finds happiness but yet his parents often did not allow him to go there. Rinpoche always said that his happiest memories of his childhood were times he spent at Rashi Gempil Ling, and that it was worth the punishments his mother put him through if he was found there without permission.
Rinpoche’s Dharma imprints are really unmistakable – when his parents asked him what he wanted for his birthday, while other children would name a toy or game, Rinpoche would say that he wanted to attend an initiation at RGL. His exasperated parents might say yes but then later retract their approval. Such was the anguish that the young Rinpoche would go through.
Rinpoche’s love for Buddha images also began at RGL. Rinpoche said he loved to go to RGL and look at the thangkas there, and meditate in front of them. He was especially drawn to the fierce deities and Rinpoche recounted once about how he first saw Vajrayogini’s image at RGL and how he immediately had faith in her because his Guru had faith in her. This reflected Rinpoche’s natural Guru devotion – to his first and every subsequent Guru whom Rinpoche has received teachings from.
For example, when Rinpoche went to L.A. and met Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen at Thubten Dhargye Ling, he called back to New Jersey to ask Kensur Lobsang Tharchin for permission to take Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen as his Guru. This and many, many examples of Guru devotion was natural to Rinpoche, which again shows the deep Dharma imprints of his past lives.
Rinpoche is a perfect example of Guru devotion for us. Even though Rinpoche is so attained, Rinpoche always is so humble and respectful to his Gurus, how much more humble and respectful should we be and appreciative of our own Guru.
Such is one fine example of guru devotion set by both master and disciple. The Guru doesn’t hesitate a single moment to help his student in his need, even looking for sponsors to solve his financial difficulties. And later send his own student to study under his own guru (HH. Zong Rinpoche). Tsem Rinpoche repay to his guru (Kensur Lobsang Tharchin) by hold to his commitments to his guru that he will do sadhanas and practices even until today that he has many students of his own. He even compared him self as only a cockroach as compare to all his gurus.
His practice of humility, example for all!
Dear Rinpoche, thank you for sharing about your childhood , my heart felt warm after read about how strong your guru devotion towards your first teacher, Kensur Lobsang Tharchin. It must be from Rinpoche aspiration from many life times to meet the high lama, taken refuge vows and practice Dharma in such a young age.
Even the enviroment and condition that Rinpoche facing is very difficult for rinpoche to attend the class but rinpoche never use it as the excuse to stop practice Dharma. Rinpoche chose to leave from house to continue your spiritual journey show the very strong imprint from many life time. Rinpoche treasure Dharma and fully respect your teacher unlike people now a day that run over the centres to follow the lama with big name and big title.
Thank you Rinpoche for your compassion to chose to stay and spread Lama Tsonkghapa teaching in Malaysia, the country that need Dharma.
I truly believe it is a collection of very good merits from previous lives to live so near a great master and also for a seven-year-old boy living in New Jersey, USA to appreciate that fact. Most seven-year-old boys would have a host of other things they would rather do than to think of taking refuge vows and initiations.
It is also amazing for a child to even recognize and see someone as an enlightened Being. Is it also an imprint from previous lives? And yes, there is nothing better in the whole wide world than to have our Guru’s blessings and approval for the things we pursue.
Dear Rinpoche,
Just by reading this few paragraphs on your relationship with your Guru brings out a mix feeling of awe and shame in me at the same time.
I am awed with your example of ultimate Guru devotion, your unwavering conviction and faith in your Guru. How after many years on since his passing, you still hold him so, so dear to your heart. How his imprints in you have made you who you are today. Just by looking at your conduct/ motivations. I can vaguely imagine what a great master he is, as the student is a manifestation of his Guru. (In a certain degree) You are truly blessed to have found such a master and we are lucky to have found you.
The shame in me arises from my conduct & though I ‘truthfully’ do not have anything to show in my Guru devotion to you. So shameful… As much as I hold you in high regards, it is nothing compared to your level of devotion to your Guru… You have really set the bar very high…
I’ve only met you in person a few times, I hope I will have the time and opportunity to work on my Guru devotion. As who else would offer me salvation without any conditions.
Kenny Wong
(Kwok Wai’s bro)
Rinpoche’s love for his gurus is very admirable. Even by reading Rinpoche’s accounts of his guru moves my heart to the brink of tears.
It is because of Rinpoche’s previous lives’ dharma work and of course, attainments that created the karma for him to be near elite dharma teachers.
What stuck out in my mind after reading this post is that Rinpoche still has a strong bond and love for his first guru even after so many years have past. It is very rare nowadays to encounter anyone who’s faith and love for another person to remain so strong irregardless of time.
Rinpoche always say that we should never forget other’s kindness to us and that we should always repay their kindness. With the study and practice of the dharma as shown by Rinpoche’s actions and results, I am certain that we can all acquire this wonderful trait. Then, there would be less suffering around us.
It is a harsh and hard life that His Eminence Tsem Tulku Rinpoche has experienced. But what is even harder and rare is the precious opportunity he had to be with such
great teachers.
And now, it is my great fortune as well as others to have received teachings from him without the harshness of life that our Guru has experienced. I am really happy as I get to be a part of Kechara House and to have Tsem Tulku Rinpoche as my guru. I understand that in order for us to have a better life, all of us need as much merits as we can accumulate to gain enlightenment in future.
Thank you, Tsem Tulku Rinpoche for everything!
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing with us about Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tarchin, who was Rinpoche’s first guru. Kensur Rinpoche was the student of Kybje Trijang Rinpoche and Zong Rinpoche who are both students of Kybje Pabongka Rinpoche. I am so glad that Rinpoche somehow or rather connected back to Rinpoche’s lineage again although Rinpoche was forced to be sent away. The merits was so strong and i believed Rinpoche is the lineage holder. At the end, the great master was so near to Rinpoche once again. There is Rinpoche’s guru devotion is so strong that no one can compete which we all must learn. i will push myself and have good guru devotion with Rinpoche. Commitment is the key..
Dear Rinpoche,
With great respect, I would like to humbly offer my opinion and say that you have done the great masters, under whom you studied, a great service by being such an excellent reflection of their compassion, wisdom and virtue.
As a result of Kensur Rinpoche’s great kindness to instruct you in the Dharma, we your students have come to be greatly blessed to be instructed in the Dharma by you. Your infinite patience and tireless dedication to teaching the Dharma to us is certainly something I can never put into words in terms of how much gratitude I feel towards your selfless commitment to benefit others.
In my continuous struggle to push myself free from my ignorant mind, I humbly fold my hands to you and pray that I continue to receive your wisdom and complete guidance until liberation.
Kindest regards,
Sandy
It really takes a tremendous amount of merits in the 1970s in New Jersey, USA, for Tsem Rinpoche to have the opportunity to have met Kensur Lobsang Tharchin and gained so much teaching from a great master. This is evidence of the amount of good Karma which Rinpoche has accumulated lives after lives.
How very fortunate that I now have the chance to be Tsem Rinpoche’s student. Having the opportunity to be Tsem Rinpoche’s student is just the beginning for me to be very aware to emanate my Guru’s virtues and of this, I will do my level best. Rinpoche teaches that the best way to live life is to be in contribution to benefit others. This seems like a simple teaching but practice can be daunting. In practising this one single teaching of Rinpoche, has given me great purpose in my life.
Reading Rinpoche’s article on his first Guru, shows how much respect, Rinpoche has for his teachers that Rinpoche would seek Kensur Lobsang Tharchin’s permission to study with Zong Rinpoche. True Guru Devotion stamps from great gratitude for what our Guru has taught us whereby we have a better life.
Thank you, Kensur Lobsang Tharchin and Tsem Rinpoche.
Reading Rinpoche’s post of meeting Kensur Rinpoche, His first Guru, got me thinking and recalling my life BR and AR (Before Rinpoche and After Rinpoche). I cannot express myself with the same spiritual eloquence as most of Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s students…my experience with Dharma is less than 3 months old. Until recently i was a strong believer and practitioner of another religion but it was only after meeting Rinpoche that i realised the true meaning of spirituality.
To what do i owe this privilege of meeting Tsem Tulku Rinpoche in my mid 40′s after having spent at least more than half of my life in wordly pursuits and travelling down the wrong path. Reading through the other comments herein, i can only guess that i had gathered sufficient merits previously to meet Rinpoche in this lifetime – i certainly did not earn it myself this time.
Friends ask me how i could so easily change and convert.I can only tell them that the truth in the words that come out of Rinpoche’s mouth, the strong and undeniable compassion and care that one feels when in His presence and the sudden uplifting of the heavy load of grief in that moment of epiphany and understanding, and the serendipity of it all…made it very easy.
In a similar way to Tsem Tulku Rinpoche owing much to Kensur Rinpoche, i owe all to Tsem Tulku Rinpoche for reaching so deeply into the abyss to pull my head out of the water. My life has changed forever and i am all the better for it. For a start i am happy…and happier when doing something good for others, and happiest when Rinpoche suddenly drops in.
Every day Rinpoche teaches me, and even though i have yet to take my refuge vows, in my heart Tsem Tulku is my Guru. And I agree fully with Datuk May that, in gratitude, i must live a better and meaningful life.
I rejoice for i have met my Guru. Thank you Rinpoche.
Thank you for sharing this photo of Kensur Rinpoche’s new incarnation. I love seeing the incarnations coming back. It is 100% proof that reincarnation exists. There is no other explanation. The only difference between us and these precious incarnations is that they choose to come back to benefit others. Right now, most of us have no choice where we will end up when we die, and yet so many people do not even worry about this. I pray that I will have the merits to receive Vajrayogini’s practice in the future and to do so, Rinpoche has been so kind to give us the steps to get started: http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/2010/06/starting-on-vajra-yogini-now.html.
Like all the great Masters, Tsem Rinpoche’s sole purpose to be here is to benefit others and I know Rinpoche has been continuously returning life after life for this reason. May I create the causes to always be near Rinpoche until i am enlightened. Thank you Rinpoche for being here with your unworthy student and blessing my family and i with the Dharma.
I am most touched by what Rinpoche says here:
“When I entered Gaden and was going to be a monk, Kensur Lobsang Tharchin was very pleased and gave me a big smile and said I was doing the right thing. Wow. He said I was doing the right thing. You wouldn’t know how much his words gave me great bliss. I trusted him fully.”
Rinpoche shows us really, what Guru devotion is about – having such utmost respect for what the Guru represents and his teachings to us. It takes so little from Rinpoche’s Gurus to inspire him to practice because he holds every word dear and true and powerful.
There is much for us to contemplate on ourselves – are we taking our teachers’ words seriously and with the respect he deserves? Or do we take him and all his teachings for granted? Rinpoche does SO MUCH for us – so much praise, compliments, jokes, cajoling, love, counselling, advice… what are we doing to repay all his teachings and reflect them well?
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing your experiences; it is by these deeply personal insights that we too are inspired towards a much more meaningful and beneficial practice following Rinpoche’s own example.
with folded hands, Paris
May many more great masters return to turn the wheel of dharma for unfortunate migrators all over. So nice to know another eminent master has returned once again to bring happiness to others.
Tsem Rinpoche started getting teachings from Kensur Rinpoche Jetson Lobsang Tharchin Palsangpo when he was 7 years old. Rinpoche took his first refuge vows from Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tharchin in New Jersey. When Rinpoche came to Ganden Monastery to become a monk he was very poor. Hed contacted his Guru Kensur Guru Lobsang Tharchin and told him of his plight. Kensur Rinpoche then sent our Rinpoche money to help him survive in the Monastery. Tsem Rinpoche is doing the same thing his Guru has done for him to some of his students. Giving them financial aid when needed. Even buying necessities for everyone. When I read this blog I think about my own situation. How much Rinpoche loved me and that stupid mule in me never realised it. I can never ever be able to repay Rinpoche’s kindness and love in this life.
[...] http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/2010/08/my-first-guru-in-new-jersey.html [...]
When I was in the agr of five to six, me and my parents and my grandmother lived for a period of one year in Westfield, New Jersey, USA. This must have been in 1967/1968. My father, a mathematician had been invited to the USA to work on an institute for shipbuilding.
This was probably the beginning of the most beautiful time of my childhood, and I had the great advantage to have many friends and to learn the english language in an early age… not knowing that this would change my life forever.
the baby is very cute but he seems to be giving someone the look… it’s like a teaching not to make a fuss over things while everyone is making a big fuss
I am very happy that I can be connected to Sera Mey Kensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tharchin. He was Tsem Rinpoche’s first guru. It is through Tsem Rinpoche being my Guru that I am able to connect with these great masters. As my Karma is to be connected with the Gelupa Lineage. I feel I have the affinity to be connected to most Gelupa Lamas and gurus that happen to be Tsem Rinpoche’s Guru also. Great Masters and Gurus like Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche, Lama Zopa, Lati Rinpoche, Zong Rinpoche,Trijang Rinpoche and Dalal Lama eventually leading to Lama Tsongkapa. I also have to thank my first Mahayana guru who has been the link for me to be in Vajrayana Buddhism.
The amount of merits collected by Rinpoche through many life times had created the cause for Rinpoche to meet Kensur Rinpoche at such a young age and to live so near his Guru. Even after so many years had past yet Rinpoche’s still showed the great affection and Guru Devotion to Kensur Lobsang Tharchin. It is very rare nowadays for students to show so much guru devotion. Even though the Guru is near us and care for us, we take things for granted and find every excuse not to listen to what the Guru tell us and create the cause to be away from the Guru.
How fortunate we are to have Rinpoche here with us in Malaysia to guide us in our spiritual path. Rinpoche is a perfect example of Guru Devotion for us to emulate. May we never be separated from our Guru who has given us so much love and care. Thank you, Rinpoche.
Words are a pale reflection of what I feel in terms of realizing the preciousness of Rinpoche to us, his students.Reading about the return of your precious first guru as a four year old, makes me feel so scared and frightened at the thought that I’m letting every day slip by without creating great causes for you to remain, and for you to have no obstacles to continue to rain down on us in Kechara, all your students and all mother beings, your immeasurable acts of equal and great compassion.
If anything were to happen and we lose you,we will lose all our hopes and dreams of realizing the benefits of this precious optimum human rebirth used meaningfully for the benefit of all.
May I in every moment of my life, remember your great kindness and love,may I always hold dear to my heart Guru Devotion, may I always work hard at mind transformation and to realize the Dharma in me, may you live in my heart and mind always.