When in April 2015 Tsem Tulku Rinpoche announced to the world that Kechara Forest Retreat houses the largest Dorje Shugden statue in the world, it goes without saying that it created ripples across the Tibetan Buddhist communities the world over. Many messages of congratulations poured in, and unfortunately, those of abuse and insults, too, especially on his Facebook Page. It’s not hard to guess that those responsible for the derogatory comments claimed they were defending His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama who discourages the worship of Dorje Shugden.

The sorry episode, however, only revealed that Tsem Rinpoche is nothing short of courageous and determined in his defense of dharma. Not only did he remain calm following the online slurs, he went on to make a brilliant series of video clips in which he discussed his experience and history with Gyalchen Dorje Shugden. The lecture is delivered in the light-hearted and sometimes humorous way that seems to be characteristic of this charismatic teacher.

In perfect solidarity with their guru, the Kecharians, the name of Tsem Rinpoche’s students and followers, started making their own Shugden video testimonies. Such a class-act of “coming-out” is a new phenomenon for Dorje Shugden practitioners who have had to hide their identities, especially in countries where open identification with the deity may entail trouble and discrimination.

It is also refreshingly different in the sense that the Shugden testimonies we often witness on news reports are tales of prejudice and suffering. By contrast, the Kecharian testimonies are positive empowering narratives of how Dorje Shugden practice has benefited them.

The success and strength of Kechara can’t be separated from its founder and spiritual guru Tsem Rinpoche who was born October 24, 1965 in Taipei of a Mongolian princess by the name of Dewa Nimbo, a daughter of Prince Palta of Xinjiang. His father was Lobsang Gyatso, a Tibetan official with the Tibetan government-in-exile.

Because Lobsang Gyatso was already married to another woman, both Tsem Rinpoche’s parents were unable to legally get married. In keeping with the conservative environment of the period, his mother didn’t bring him up herself. At seven, he was given up for adoption to a Mongolian couple living in New Jersey, USA.

From an early age, he showed a great interest in Tibetan Buddhist imagery, particularly that of Vajrayogini whom he described as a “red lady.” Although his adoptive parents didn’t approve of his religious leanings, preferring that he study at normative schools, earn a degree and get a “decent” job, the young Rinpoche continued his venture into religion by visiting the local Mongolian temple, Rashi Gempil Ling, where the Abbot Emeritus of Sera Mey Monastery and an accomplished practitioner of the Vajrayogini Tantra, Kensur Lobsang Tharchin Rinpoche, taught. Kensur Rinpoche was a direct disciple of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche and Kyabje Pabongka Rinpoche. It was here, too, that he received teachings from the Dalai Lama in 1979.

Two years later, the 16-year-old ran away from home after an argument with his adoptive father and landed himself in Los Angeles, California. He was fortunate enough to be allowed to live at the Thubten Dhargye Ling dharma center, exchanging board for services within the temple. Here, the young Tsem Rinpoche became a student of Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen. In a moving story, he had called his old teacher Sermey Kensur Lobsang Tharchin in New Jersey to ask permission to become a student of Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen, which was graciously granted by his first guru. So he happily spent the next eight years at Thubten Dhargye Ling.

H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche (left) with H.H. Kyabje Zong Dorjechang (right)

Notable during his stay there was his meeting with the guru of his guru, H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche. When young Tsem Rinpoche heard about Zong Rinpoche’s impending visit to the center, he was very happy. Moreover, he was thrilled to find out he had been assigned to serve the venerable teacher for the next six months.

Tsem Rinpoche recalled in a lecture that he would deliberately put extra food on Zong Rinpoche’s plate in the hope of eating the guru’s leftovers, which he considered blessed food. It was during his six-month service that he received a Yamantaka initiation from his root guru H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche who encouraged him to become a monk. After his root guru returned to India, Tsem Rinpoche met H.H. the Dalai Lama and asked His Holiness to ordain him as a monk. The Dalai Lama, like his root guru, told him to go to India.

In 1987, three years after the passing of H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, Tsem Rinpoche finally made it to India where he visited Zong Ladrang in Ganden Monastery. Having been ordained by the Dalai Lama, he continued to study at Ganden Shartse, Mundgod, Karnataka, for the next nine years.

H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche was recognized as the 72nd Abbot of Ganden Shartse by H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama

During this time, one of his gurus Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche introduced Tsem Rinpoche as the reincarnation of the 72nd Abbot of Ganden Shartse to H.H. the Dalai Lama, who confirmed his status as a tulku. Another famous teacher who became Tsem Rinpoche’s guru was H.E. Kyabje Lati Rinpoche.

At the suggestion of H.E. Kyabje Lati Rinpoche, Tsem Rinpoche went on a fundraising tour in Malaysia where he impressed many Buddhists. Subsequently, he was requested by his students in Malaysia to return and teach there, where he founded Kechara, a Buddhist organization dedicated to the teachings and practices of Dharma, in 2000. Four years later, he also established Kechara House Buddhist Center.

Among Tsem Rinpoche’s passions are nature, the environment and animal welfare. It was in this spirit that he conceived the idea for a rural retreat dedicated to contemplation and union with nature. In 2012, work began on a project that would eventually become the 35-acre Kechara Forest Retreat, where the Wisdom Hall dedicated to Dorje Shugden is located.

The largest Dorje Shugden statue in the world is located in Kechara Forest Retreat, H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s Buddhist Organization in Malaysia

Tsem Rinpoche’s unique personal history has in many ways prepared him well for his encounters with the modern world. As a tulku, he represents hundreds of years of Tibetan Buddhist history of continuation. On the other hand, Tsem Rinpoche is a 21st-century lama conversant with technology and the everyday challenges faced by the modern day Buddhist. Both his lineage and his progressive thinking are currently the anchors around which his Kecharians build their lives in dharma. May his auspicious work continue for a long time to come!

Until today, H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche continues the practices that were given to him by his teacher, H.H. Kyabje Zong Dorje Chang