The largest Dorje Shugden statue in the world

It is a known fact that many Dorje Shugden lamas, Gelugpa or otherwise, have opted to lay low with their practice ever since the ban on Dorje Shugden was enforced in 1996. However, in recent months, a number of lamas have either revealed their practice or reconnected with other practitioners.

In late 2014, H.E. Zasep Rinpoche, who had been relatively low key about his practice, attended the opening of Gaden Khachoe Shing in Bloomington, Indiana, a Buddhist monastery under the spiritual direction of the Venerable Kuten (Choijin) Lama. While in early 2015, another lama, H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche began teaching extensively about Dorje Shugden’s practice on his blog and other online platforms.

H.E. Tsem Rinpoche has since become progressively more vocal about Dorje Shugden’s practice and the social impact of the ban. He has also unveiled the largest Dorje Shugden statue in the world! The massive 24ft statue is housed in Kechara Forest Retreat, an hour’s drive from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

This retreat center is the latest initiative of Kechara, a Buddhist organization founded by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche in the year 2000. Over the span of 15 years, Kechara has established its presence in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Nepal and USA, upholding the precious lineage of Je Tsongkapa through methods both traditional and contemporary. Alongside its efforts to encourage the growth of Buddhadharma through publications, art, multimedia and the Internet, Kechara is also focused on various charitable works in the local community.

H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

History

What would eventually become Kechara Forest Retreat

Rinpoche and a group of us went to view a few pieces of land identified by our search party … The last piece of land to view was along Jalan Chamang, Bentong. We stood on the outside of the land and everyone of us liked it.

Then Rinpoche asked for a sign from our Protector. Without overhead clouds nor lightning and thunder, large drops of rain fell on precisely where we’re standing and then there was no more rain. That was the sign from our Protector.
~ Datuk May Phng, President of Kechara

In early 2012, H.E. Tsem Rinpoche and his students set out in search of a piece of land that would eventually house a retreat center from which the lineage and teachings of Je Tsongkapa’s tradition would spread. On that fateful day and on numerous other occasions, many auspicious portents were noted, including drizzles of rain, rainbows, and even an anonymous yet prophetic postcard.

A postcard from an anonymous Mongolian lama, which closely resembled Kechara Forest Retreat.

Kechara Forest Retreat in the early days. The uncanny resemblance is indicative of its potential in furthering Lama Tsongkapa’s lineage and tradition.

Through sheer effort, dedication and the blessings of Dorje Shugden, remarkable progress in the acquisition of land and construction of the initial phases of the retreat center was achieved in less than two years. Today, residents and visitors to Kechara Forest Retreat can enjoy its contemporary facilities including:

• Wisdom Hall (Main prayer hall and protector chapel)
• Tara Walk (Walking meditation path)
• Manjushri Hill (Majestic stone statue of 4-armed Manjushri)
• Vajrayogini Stupa
• The Aviary and Organic Farm
• Dukkar Apartments (Guest accommodation)

Images of Dorje Shugden’s 32-deity entourage

Dorje Shugden pujas are performed monthly according to traditon

Statues of the lineage lamas are prominently displayed in the protector chapel

Throne for the oracle of Dorje Shugden

A chapel to Gyenze or Ratna Shugden, the increase form of Dorje Shugden

We at DorjeShugden.com extend our gratitude to H.E. Tsem Rinpoche for his great works in spearheading the growth of Dorje Shugden’s practice and the Buddhadharma, and bringing it to greater heights. May he live long to continue his activities to spread the teachings of Je Tsongkhapa throughout the world.

How To Get There

Kechara Forest Retreat
Jalan Chamang
Bentong
Pahang
Malaysia

Phone: +603 7803 3908
Website: retreat.kechara.com
Email: retreat@kechara.com

More Pictures of Kechara Forest Retreat

Kechara Forest Retreat in Bentong, Malaysia

The main prayer hall in Kechara Forest Retreat which is home to the 24ft Dorje Shugden statue

The imposing 24ft Dorje Shugden statue, the largest in the world

Lama Tsongkhapa in a long life form

Vajrayogini Stupa

Four-armed Manjushri

Dukkar Apartments

The aviary

Plans for further expansion are underway

Those who wish to discover, explore or study the teachings and tradition of Lama Tsongkapa need look no further. Here are some of the interesting and outstanding activities offered this summer in July 2014:

USA & CANADA

Trijang Buddhist Institute (TBI)

Vajrayogini Retreat

Requirement: Lamrim training and Highest Yoga Tantra initiation
Date: June 28th, 2014 to July 13th, 2014

For more information or to reserve a place in this retreat, visit https://www.tbiusa.org/retreats/2014/vajrayogini

Kadampa Meditation Centre, New York

Family Break Weekend

Requirement: Open to Public
Date: July 11th, 2014 to July 13th, 2014

Event Description: Life gives us so much to learn, but no knowledge is more important than how to be peaceful and happy and how to solve our problems through kindness and wisdom. This weekend will give the whole family a chance to relax and to learn how to enjoy life in the beautiful environment of Kadampa Meditation Center New York and its grounds.

The weekend will include teachings for both guardians and children, crafts, short meditations and fun outdoor activities. The weekend will be organized around simple themes that enable everyone to experience the confidence and happiness that arises from connecting with their good hearts. Recommended for children ages 4-12.

For more information or to reserve a place in this event, visit http://kadampanewyork.org/events/kids-family

Kadampa Meditation Centre, California

Dharma for Kids Day Camp

Requirement: Open to Public
Date: July 14th, 2014 to July 18th, 2014

Event Description: During this 5-day Summer Camp, our wish is to give children the opportunity to learn meditation and Dharma life lessons in a safe, kind and fun environment. Through a variety of creative, engaging activities and teachings, this unique Summer Camp is focused on teaching children how to reach their personal, social, emotional and academic potential.

All children ages 6-11 are welcome – including newcomers – to this special Summer Camp.

For more information or to reserve a place in this event, visit http://www.meditateinla.org/courses/kidscamp

Kadampa Meditation Centre, Texas

Guru Yoga and Mandala Offering Retreat

Requirement: Open to Public
Date: June 30th, 2014 to July 5th, 2014

Event Description: In this annual retreat we focus on the preliminary practices of accumulating merit, or positive energy, by making mandala offerings and receiving powerful blessings by engaging in the Guru Yoga practice of Je Tsongkhapa.

Je Tsongkapa, whose ordained name was Losang Dragpa, was a great 14th century Tibetan Buddhist Master who promoted and developed the Kadampa Buddhism that Atisha had introduced three centuries earlier.

Mandala offering is n offering of the entire universe visualized as a Pure Land, with all its inhabitants as pure beings. See Guide to Dakini Land and Great Treasury of Merit.

For more information or to reserve a place in this event, visit http://www.meditationintexas.org/workshops-and-events/guru-yoga-and-mandala-offering-retreat/

Kadampa Buddhist Temple

Urban Retreat – Peace in a Hectic World

Requirement: Open to Public
Date: July 19th, 2014

Come escape from the stress and worries of the day into the stillness of your own mind. The retreat is excellent for beginners, and is a great opportunity for anyone to relax and become peaceful.

For more information or to reserve a place in this event, visit http://kadampa.ca/coursesevents/retreats/

EUROPE

Rabten Choeling, Switzerland

International Buddhist Children’s Week

Requirement: Open to Public
Date: July 13th, 2014 to July 20th, 2014

A great week for children and youngsters to learn Buddhist ethics and meditations for improving the mind’s precious qualities.

Under the care of the Venerable Gonsar Rinpoche and many experienced helpers there are teaching and meditation sessions, as well as a great choice of workshops for various crafts, dances, printing of prayer-flags, Tibetan language and script, and much more!

There is also plenty of time for play, fun, and picnic!

For more information or to reserve a place in this event, visit http://www.rabten.eu/children_en.htm

Albagnano Healing Meditation Centre, Italy

Summer Retreat of the 84 Mahasiddhas: Spirituality in our daily life, The Bodhisattva’s Guide to the Supermarket of positive thinking – NgalSo Tantric Self Healing III

Requirement: Open to public
Date: July 5th, 2014 to July 20th, 2014

Lama Ganchen Rinpoche will confer these empowerments; Mahasiddha signifies ‘great realised one’ and refers in this instance to 84 great yogis and meditators of the past who have contributed to the spreading of tantric teachings. Following their example one may lead a spiritual life without changing one’s daily life.

For more information or to reserve a place in this event, visit http://ahmc.ngalso.net/events/ritiro-d%E2%80%99estate-gli-84-mahasiddha-la-spiritualita-nella-nostra-vita-quotidiana-guida-al-supermercato-del-pensiero-positivo-autoguarigione-tantrica-ngalso-3-e-i-voti-del-bodhisattva-2/?lang=en

Albagnano Healing Meditation Centre, Italy

A Week of Wellbeing

Requirement: Open to public
Date: July 21st, 2014 to July 27th, 2014

This is a week of practices dedicated to health and inner wellbeing. There will be teachings on Tai Chi Mui FA, Qi Gung ‘the jade spider’, reflexology, tibetan yoga (basic Trulkor), rebalancing exercises using Dro Drakpa stones, etc.etc.
(Please book before the 15 July)

For more information or to reserve a place in this event, visit http://ahmc.ngalso.net/events/a-week-of-wellbeing/?lang=en

Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre, UK

NKT – IKBU International Summer Festival 2014

Requirement: Open to public
Date: July 25th, 2014 to August 9th, 2014

Week 1: Conquering Adversity – The Power of Kadam Lamrim
with Gen-la Kelsang Kunsang
We all experience problems and adversity. Usually these make us feel frustrated or despondent, but through the power of Kadam Lamrim we can learn to confront them with a happy mind and transform them into positive experiences.

On this course, Gen-la Kunsang will teach practical scientific methods based on meditation and other practices to conquer adverse situations and use them to advance on the spiritual path. Through these methods we can become completely free from problems and experience only happiness.

Week 2 Buddha Avalokiteshvara Empowerment and Teachings on Powa
with Gen-la Kelsang Dekyong
One of the most compassionate acts we can do is to help others at the time of death. At death our mind separates permanently from our body of this life; but although our body dies, our mind never dies – it simply goes to another life.

On this course, Gen-la Dekyong will first grant the empowerment of the Compassion Buddha, Avalokiteshvara, and then teach transference of consciousness (powa) whereby with the blessings of Buddha Avalokiteshvara we can help the recently deceased, the dying and ourself to go to a Pure Land where there is only peace and happiness.

For more information or to reserve a place in this event, visit http://kadampafestivals.org/summer

That was the first time I heard the name of Dorje Shugden. I remember that when I first heard his name, I thought, “Wow, what an interesting name!” It rang a bell. Even today, I still feel excited whenever I say the name “Dorje Shugden”. My Lama told me to complete 100,000 of this Protector’s mantra by the time he returned which I did happily.

The first few days were quite challenging as it was my first retreat. Everyday, after completing my sadhana, I would recite the Protector mantra. I must admit that I did the retreat without any visualisation and did not fully comprehend what it was all about. I did it because there was nothing else to do at the time. I also had a lot of trust in my Lama and since he had prescribed me this method to clear my obstacles, I was very diligent in wanting to complete it… and I did complete it by the time he came back 10 days later.

However, there was not much improvement in my financial situation after this retreat. A few months went by and my frustrations grew. I was without a maid and I remember vividly doing housework and sweeping the floor one morning after my kids went to school. I was feeling very sorry for myself and, at the same time, frustrated with the situation I found myself in. Then my untamed mind challenged the Protector, saying to him that if he was real, then he should show me a sign.

A few weeks later, on a Saturday morning just before my husband went to work, I told him angrily to remove my jewellery from the safe in the house as I did not know how to open his safe. I was annoyed that each time I wanted to wear any jewellery, I would have to wait for him to be around. I used to collect a lot of watches and jewellery during my better days but by this time, I had sold most of my things to convert them into cash so that we could start a new business in money lending. I think that the jewellery I had left in the safe at the time would have amounted to about USD150,000.

That evening, my husband took me and the kids out to dinner. He came home late and we rushed out to dinner the moment he came back. He barely had time to leave his briefcase by the side of the door. The briefcase contained several legal documents of the clients who had come to him for financing during the day in the office; he would usually keep these documents in the safe as they were highly confidential.

We returned from dinner at about 10pm and noticed that our gate was unlocked. I remembered clearly that I had locked it before we left. When I tried to open the grill door, I found it had been left ajar. I panicked, realizing immediately that someone had broken into our house. I freaked out as it hit me that my husband’s briefcase had been left by the front door and all my jewellery was stored in my unlocked bedside table! That was all I had left! And what about the documents that belonged to our borrowers?!

We called the security guards who were assigned to watch over our gated community. They came immediately, but couldn’t open our main wooden door. We feared the worst which was that the robbers were still in the house and had locked the door from the inside. Finally, the guards had to break down our door and charge into the house…. From a distance, where I was watching and waiting, everything inside seemed intact, just as how we had left it a few hours ago!

The guards searched everywhere; they opened up the wardrobes and even went up to the ceiling to check if anyone was hiding. Everything seemed normal. A neighbour, upon hearing the commotion, came over and said he saw four well-dressed Chinese men getting out of a white car and walking into our car porch as soon as we left for dinner. The neighbour had thought that they were our friends who had come to visit!

We found the broken lock left by the robbers in our shoe cabinet in the car porch. The next day, we called the locksmith over. He checked the broken lock and told us that we were indeed very lucky. According to him, the inside of the lock jammed when the robbers tried to open it with a master key. If they had succeeded, they would have gone into the house. Imagine the horrifying episodes we would have had to face had the robbers taken not only the remaining jewellery I had left but our borrowers’ documents too! My husband looked straight into my eyes, and asked me frustratingly, “Well, happy now?! So now tell me, who saved us?” It was obviously our Protector, who I had challenged to show me a sign of his presence.

I am relating this with a lot of remorse. Imagine, I had had the audacity to challenge an enlightened being, demanding he prove himself to me!

My faith in him has not wavered since. I know that he is with me all the time, watching, guiding, protecting…

~ Anonymous ~

From that time onwards, Dorje Shugden became my main Dharma Protector. I would do all my prayers daily without fail and put my trust wholeheartedly in him. Whatever assignments or retreats I was given – such as to complete 10,000 serkyem offerings and 10 million mantra recitations! – I would do and complete them happily and without any hesitation or complaint as I trusted my Lama 100%. I knew that all the prayers I needed to do were to help me clear the obstacles we were facing and that Dorje Shugden’s practice was the fastest way to remove the heavy negative karma that we were experiencing.

Looking back all these years, Dorje Shugden has helped me and my family so much. Even during those difficult times, we still had food on the table and a roof over our heads. We were able to get through those years without facing many difficulties. Our financial situation improved quickly and everything in our lives improved and continued smoothly. I can now only repay the kindness of my Protector by being sincere and honest in my Dharma practice and by putting in more effort towards my spiritual growth.

It is also through the blessings of Dorje Shugden, whom I have placed my trust and faith in, that I had the fortune to find sponsors and support to help me set up a branch of our Dharma centre in another city, to spread the doctrine of Lama Tsongkhapa and benefit the people here.

Now, through the blessings of my Dharma Protector, I am able to commit myself more towards my spiritual practices. I have more confidence in myself to pursue what I want to do and not be hindered by family commitments. Now, even my family supports my Dharma work.

I am glad that I did not give up my Dharma practice when I was faced with obstacles. Without the help from my Lama and Dorje Shugden, who have patiently helped and guided me throughout all these years, I would not be who I am today. I am glad that I have moved on compared to most of my old friends who are still stuck in their secular world.

To my Guru and my Protector, thank you for saving me and giving me the best gift – the gift of Dharma.

~ Pema ~

At the time, we were into the fourth month of a retreat that our Lama had advised us to do. His assistant then explained to us that we should add this Protector’s prayers into the retreat. We were given 5 sheets of prayers – prayers to invite Dorje Shugden and his retinue, and prayers for the serkyem offering.

Prior to the retreat, our financial situation was at its lowest, we were literally broke. We started a small business from home and business was not good at all. It was only when we started doing prayers and serkyem offerings to Dorje Shugden during the retreat that our business started to grow.

Also, my wife used to have frequent nightmares and bad experiences of spirits disturbing her. These unpleasant ordeals also went away when she started doing Dorje Shugden’s practice. Today, she has no more of these problems. We have also been fortunate enough to have had divinations done and Dorje Shugden has always given us clear and precise answers and solutions to situations we were facing.

The above accounts are just a few of many examples of how Dorje Shugden has helped and is still helping my family and I since we were so fortunate to have come under his divine care and protection.

I would trust Dorje Shugden and my Lama with my life. It was by their guidance and kindness that I was given a new lease of life and assisted in many difficult situations.

~ Oliver ~

Hello,

I came to know Dorje Shugden in 2007. I was not seriously doing the practice until when I was going through my divorce. That was when i saw his true power.

I was depressed for many years as my ex husband had been given me a lot of mentally abused and violent. I was helpless at that time cause I felt shame to talk to friends about my family problems. I decided to take refuse to Dorje Shugden and do His 100 thousand mantra retreat to search for the answer to stay for the sake of the children or to divorce.

In the middle of the retreat I saw things changed. Especially my own mind had calm down a lot. My fear had gone. My confidence in myself had getting stronger. I felt my strength coming back for me to fight for my destiny and my freedom.

My faith to Dorje Shugden became very strong. I knew He is with me. Backing me up and protecting me. I just follow my heart and everything just came smoothly just like someone already prepare the path for me. Everything turned out well one by one accordingly without hassle or pain.

I successfully divorced in 2008. My 2 children now staying with me. I am running my own business right now. My life has become much more meaningful and I’m doing what I like everyday. I dedicate my merits to my ex husband whenever I pray. I want him to be good. I hope he could start his own life again.

We are now in good term like a long time friends. I think without dorje Shugden I won’t be able to walk out from my painful marriage and start my new life again. I’m not saying this to encourage anyone to go for divorce.

After the divorce it’s another stage of my life. I decided to involve myself into spiritual work. I hope I could share what I have gone through with others about how my protector had helped me in my most difficult time when there’s nobody.

He held my hand guiding me went through all problems step by step. I can’t describe how powerful He is but i can say He is like a loving mother stroking my back when I was in pain or anger, showing me hope and light for my future.

Look, whatever we face now is our karma. We can’t run away from it. But doesn’t mean we can’t choose to turn to other direction. We are human, we can. Animal cannot. Along the way we might turn to the wrong direction and become degenerate. At this stage spiritual paty is very important.

I am extremely fortunate to have dorje Shugden leading me to the right path. I’ll never ever give my Dorje Shugden practice as He is my guru, my protector, my yidam and my family.

Thanks,
~ Rosie Quah ~

Dear sir,
I don’t know if you remember the economic crisis of 1997 but it had a very deep impact in Thailand where I live, and it made things difficult for a lot of people. I am sure it had an impact too, on your Tibetan people who basically have no rights as a result of the Chinese occupation of your homeland.

Anyway during that time, my family fell into near-financial ruin. My father was a businessman who was so successful that my mother did not need to work. My uncle was a stockbroker who had made a lot of money on the stock market, so my aunty and cousins also did not have to work.

So financially, before the crisis, we never had to worry about anything. But then of course, everything changed in 1997 and we lost nearly everything. We had to sell whatever valuables we owned to make sure our family survived. It was the same story with my uncle’s family.

It was during that time we asked for help from our lama. My parents and uncle’s family were at their wit’s end, and didn’t know what else they could do or how much longer they could keep going just buy selling their things. Between the two families, there were seven young children who were all still in school.

The situation was really disturbing my parents’ mind and making them distracted from their spiritual practice so my lama compassionately asked them to enter a retreat, and to recite 10 million Dorje Shugden mantras.

He said it was to clear their obstacles so they could become successful again. But in reality, by the end of the retreat, my parents felt wealth was not so important anymore. They realised that all of their stress was the result of their expectation of how things should be, or how they should do things.

I believe that it was my lama and Dorje Shugden’s blessings which allowed my parents to become free in their minds. Once they were free, they could see our situation from different points of view. So Dorje Shugden gave them the ability to think of their own solution out of our problem, and also made them feel secure so our finances no longer disturbed their minds.

I am thankful to Dorje Shugden for giving my family our wealth back. But I am MORE thankful that my parents no longer suffered from living in a continuous state of worry. This is all I wanted to tell you.

May you always be well, and may you always have the ability to serve the Tibetan people with the sole motivation of benefiting them.

With folded hands,
~ Vivienne Parachornawat ~

Dakpa Sherab

The engagement of twice-monthly confessions, the rains retreat (summer retreat, Tib. yarne) and the closing of the rains retreat by a monastic community is a glimpse of the Buddhadharma existing in its pure form. Basically, the continuation of pure Buddhadharma solely depends on the monks’ communities which engage in the aforesaid retreats.

Nowadays people have their own definition of the pure dharma according to their own capacities and dispositions, but in general, the respect of the Vinaya’s precepts and good maintenance is unarguably mandatory!

In Yarne, all monastic communities, especially of the Geluk sect, here in South India, are busy engaging in numerous events. These include annual protector puja days, debate presentation of selected candidates during the assembly on their subjects, the Ven Abbot’s and Ven Disciplinarian’s speeches on monastic discipline in the traditional manner, recitation day of Ornament for Clear Realisation (Abhisamayalankara) and Treatise on the Middle Way (Madhyamakakarika) and so on.

Apart from all that, the display of an oral test of major treatises by a monk who has razor-sharp memorisation skills is considered the most attractive of all. This unique presentation takes place during the monks’ assembly, followed by the debate presentation (two selected candidates debate with each other). A monk who voluntarily comes forward to tackle such a monumental task is quite a rare case in the monasteries. This is because of the regular sessions that limit memorising opportunities and the necessity of extraordinary skill.

Thupten Gyatso

Additionally, these days, the presence of modern education in the school makes it even harder, but a few have managed to do it so far who are endowed with the necessary skills in abundance.

An oral test volunteer will be presented with an upper yellow robe and a set of general robes by the administration if he successfully passes the oral test without making mistakes.

In a session, three presentation events follow each other:

1. oral test presentation;
2. uma she rig geshe’s rite recitation and tantric debate test; and
3. debate presentation by the selected monks.

A session’s period is well allocated as per necessity to all these three events, but the schedule is tight. Therefore, the oral test could not be done in a single session and thus is held each day of Yarne. The assembly oral test is mostly based on these treatises; The Essence of Eloquence on the Interpretive and Definitive Teachings, Root Treatise of Pramana-varttika, Root Treatise of Abhidharma-kośa, Root Treatise of Boddhisattva’s Way of Life, etc are the most common.

This year, Thupten Gyatso and Dakpa Tsering who both came from a poor background in Nepal and joined Shar Gaden in 2006, have just pulled off their preparation and are now all set to enter into the milestone that very few could achieve.

Thupten prefers The Essence of Eloquence on the Interpretive and Definitive Teachings, that has 232 pages and 20 long phrases per page, composed by the great master Je Tsongkhapa in Tibet, while Dakpa prefers Root Treatise of Pramana-varttika, which has 208 pages, 28 phrases per page, composed by the great Indian philosopher Dharmakirti in 7th century. We wish them all the best and may their noble deeds bring peace to the world.

Source :
http://shargadenpa.org/the-summer-retreat