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

His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso

The Great 5th Dalai Lama Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617–1682) was a contemporary of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen (1619–1656), the previous incarnation of Dorje Shugden. Both these high lamas were disciples of His Holiness the 4th Panchen Lama Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen. Following the murder of Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen at the hands of the Dalai Lama’s jealous disciples, many inauspicious events and signs occurred due to the heavy negative karma of killing such a great Bodhisattva. The calamities that befell the area of Lhasa centered primarily around the residence of the Dalai Lama himself.

Initially however, blame for these inauspicious events was wrongly placed on Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen, rather than the negative karma accumulated from his murder. It was thought at the time that he had arisen as a raging spirit, but he had in fact arisen as the Protector Dorje Shugden. Consequently, the 5th Dalai Lama requested the assistance of a number of high lamas. These included the likes of Mindrolling Terchen from the Nyingma tradition and other high lamas of that time who were known to be experts in esoteric subjugation rituals. Their aim was to subdue the spirit that they thought Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen had become. They engaged in extremely powerful fire pujas but they were unsuccessful as during the rituals the lamas were distracted by various visions manifested by the Protector Setrab and a vision of Dorje Shugden arising as Yamantaka. This was all reported back to the 5th Dalai Lama who then realized that Dorje Shugden was not a spirit but an emanation of Manjushri.

Dorje Shugden statue at Phelgyeling Monastery, Nepal, made by the 5th Dalai Lama. Click to enlarge.

It was then that the Great 5th Dalai Lama subsequently enthroned Dorje Shugden as a Dharma Protector, after which the calamities ceased. The 5th Dalai Lama composed a short praise of Dorje Shugden describing his appearance in accordance to his vision of him. He knew that Dorje Shugden has the power and ability to help many beings and grant them his protection and assistance. This prayer can be recited by anyone to call upon this supreme Dharma Protector. He also established the Trode Khangsar Protector Chapel in Lhasa as the main shrine to Dorje Shugden and assigned Dorje Shugden as the Dharma Protector of Phelgyeling Monastery. He gave this monastery a statue that he made with his own hands. Thus, Dorje Shugden’s practice within the Gelug tradition arose under the sacred auspices of the Great 5th Dalai Lama.

One of the lamas of our recent past, Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang, who propagated Dorje Shugden’s practice once wrote:

Even the composition of this short praise and propitiation brought benefit. Thus, although undisputed great Tantric masters tried to subdue him by burning him in the fire through their rituals, his display of miraculous power only grew greater. (from ‘Music Delighting the Oceans of Protectors’, page 105).

As Kyabje Trijang Dorje Chang explains, such displays as that of trying unsuccessfully to subdue the Dharma Protector, serve to bring out the greatness in both the Dalai Lama and Dorje Shugden who, in the process, showed his true nature as an enlightened being.
 

Prayer to Gyalchen Dorje Shugden by the 5th Dalai Lama

HUM
Though unmoving from the sphere of primordial spontaneity,
With wrathful turbulent power, swifter than lightning,
Endowed with heroic courage to judge good and bad,
I invite you with faith, please come to this place!

Robes of a monk, crown adorned with rhinocerous leather hat,
Right hand holds ornate club, left holds a human heart,
Riding various mounts such as nagas and garudas,
Who subdues the mamo’s of the charnal grounds, praise to you!

Samaya substances, offerings and torma, outer, inner and secret,
Favorite visual offerings and various objects are arranged.
Although, previously, my wishes were a bit dense,
Do not stop your powerful apparitions, I reveal and confess!

Now respectfully praising with body, speech, and mind,
For us, the masters, disciples, benefactors and entourages,
Provide the good and avert the bad!
Bring increase like the waxing moon in spiritual and temporal realms!

Moreover, swiftly accomplishing all wishes,
According to our prayers, bestow the supreme effortlessly!
And like the jewel that bestows all wishes,
Always protect us with the Three Jewels!

Prayer in Tibetan

For readers who can understand Tibetan, please see below for a copy of the prayer in its original language.

The prayer to Dorje Shugden composed by the Great 5th Dalai Lama after he realized that Dorje Shugden is an enlightened being. Click to enlarge.

Eventually the Tibetan Govt in exile will have to RETRACT their statements re the ban on shugden or keep more and more quiet and just silently watch it grow.

See the picture I have attached. People from all around the world are ordering more and more Dorje Shugden statues to be intalled in their respective centres and temples.

Within the Buddhist communities ppl may be ‘stepping’ on Dorje Shugden, but there ARE SO MANY NEW PPL OUT THERE LITERALLY MILLIONS WHO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE BAN AND CAN CARE LESS if they hear. If we get to them first, introduce to them the holy and swift pratice of Dorje Shugden, they will be loyal to Dorje Shugden just like so many of us. It is hard to not remember the kindness of Shugden once we have experienced his enlightened wisdom and swift assistance.

So the Tibetan govt and Dalai Lama’s ban is SO VERY BENEFICIAL FOR DORJE SHUGDEN’S PRACTICE TO GROW IN THE FUTURE. Everyone shall see this come true as predicted by Dorje Shugden when he took trance of Choyang Dulzin Kuten over a decade back.

Meanwhile, enjoy the pictures of the sacred statue of Dorje Shugden near completion. Every centre in the world should invite a large statue of Dorje Shugden and have a special place on their alter and introduce more and more people to his sacred practice.

~ mountains