My Official and Non-Official Portraits
Here is a collection of photos taken of me from the time I first arrived in Malaysia… right up until today! They sure do bring back a lot of memories when I see myself in robes back in India. I was there because my root guru His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche had asked me to go to India to become ordained, so I kept my promise to him. Times were difficult for me, but I was very happy to be in the monastery and also living in my Guru’s Ladrang.
Anyway each photo is special to me, not because they’re my portraits… but because of the significance of the time the photos were taken.
I hope you like them.
Tsem Rinpoche
Giving teachings in Kechara House in 2011.
I had the great honour to be ordained by H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama. It was one of the most ...
A picture of me after being recognised as a Tulku.
On a pilgrimage in Nepal. I have always loved big Buddha images.
Skinny me when I was in India. Though I had no sponsors then, it made me very happy to be ...
Another picture after my enthronement in the monastery.
Close up portrait from the monastery
Being ordained as a monk was the happiest time in my life. Since young, I had always wanted to become ...
When I left L.A. to become a monk, which I did because I promised my root guru His Holiness Zong ...
My Tsongkhapa pandit hat was given to me by my guru His Eminence Kensur Jampa Yeshe.
When I was in India, I had very little money even to eat but I was most happy.
In Gaden Monastery in the 1980s.
In my ceremonial hat getting ready for puja in Gaden...a few years before this picture was taken, I was in ...
I received my ordination vows from Chenrezig himself, H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama.
In Kechara House Gompa 2011... I really love our beautiful new gompa.
A current picture of me giving teachings in Kechara House 2011.
In 2004 when Kechara House was first built... we were one shop lot when this photo was taken. Seven years ...
One of the teachings in Kechara House this year 2011. See the lovely 8ft Vajrayogini next to me? I am ...
In 1992 I started teaching in Malaysia at the request of my Gurus. This was taken during one of my ...
I was recognised as a Tulku a few years after joining the monastery
Blessing a gathering in the Ladrang in 2009.
This picture was taken in India when I went back to make 3000 offerings of Manjushri statues to the monks ...
A thangka portrait of me commissioned by one of my older students.
Doing prayers in Kechara House during the new Gompa (Prayer Hall) opening in 2011.
This was taken around 1999 to 2000 when I was in Malaysia and Singapore giving teachings. After I first travelled ...
Doing prayers for Kechara House's grand opening of the new Prayer Hall (known in Tibetan as a gompa)
In 1987 when I was in Gaden Monastery, India. It was a difficult life in many respects, but I was ...
A simple portrait of me in 1999.
Kechara House in 2004... this was one of the shots we started to take with a professional photographer. Back then ...
Doing prayers in Kechara House in 2011, wearing the pandit's hat.
Giving teachings at Kechara House in 2011.
Giving teachings at Kechara House in 2011.
Another picture of me in Kechara House in 2004... behind me is the wall of our original Setrap chapel, which ...
Prayers for New Gompa (Prayer Hall) in Kechara House this year.
Kechara House in 2004
Giving teachings in 2011 at Kechara House
I love our 10ft Lama Tsongkhapa who is in long life form... and it was made by our wonderful department ...
During my first Land Blessing ceremony at KWPC's land which will be our centre for alternative healing and methods for ...
Blessing the land where we will built a Kechara World Peace Centre.
Giving teaching in Kechara House some time in 2009 before we moved to the new Prayer Hall. I am so ...
In my official robes in 2004
Giving teachings in the new Gompa in 2011...don't you just love Lama Tsongkhapa...
Receiving Body, Speech and Mind in Kechara House 1, the location of our old gompa
In 2006, I went back to my monastery - Gaden to offer 3000 Manjushri statues and 3000 sets of monks ...
Doing Tsog in 2004
Doing Tsog in 2004
In my ceremonial robes
Doing prayers for the success of Kechara House's new Gompa in 2011.
A nice black and white of me doing prayers...
Another nice black and white...giving teachings at the new KH Gompa
A nice black and white of me giving teachings during the auspicious opening of KH's new Gompa on 27 November ...
This was taken when I had just arrived at the 1st Kechara World Peace Centre land blessing.
When I was very poor in Gaden Monastery, I used to use aluminium rings and dried beans as my mandala ...
Me in front of Lord Setrap in Kechara House Gompa
Me in front of Lord Tsongkhapa in Kechara House Gompa
Me in front of Buddha Vajra Yogini in Kechara House Gompa
Me in front of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's throne in Kechara House Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Wesak 2012 @ Kechara Gompa
Each day it is a JOY to come at computer and see what you Rinpoche, and your team, have done for us! Today so much Beauty and Meaning all in one place!! Thanks for this most beautiful gift, the photos are wonderful, all of them, your kindness shines, your heart shows completely!!
Dear Rinpoche:
Thank you so much for uploading these beautiful pictures! It’s very kind of Rinpoche to share these pictures with us, as these memories must have meant a lot to Rinpoche.
Rinpoche has gone through so much in life for the love of the Dharma. We are truly blessed to have Rinpoche with us, leading us to the Dharma and learning from Rinpoche. It is because of Rinpoche that we are where we are today, and we look forward to creating more memories with Rinpoche as Kechara grows. These pictures will remind us of Rinpoche’s kindness always, and we hope to obtain all our good qualities through the guidance of Rinpoche.
Thanks again, Rinpoche.
Your Eminence,
those pics, in a nutshell, uplift my mind and my heart.
thank you for being with us