Adrian Chow

Dorje Shugden Graphic Novels Dear friends, The Dharma protector Dorje Shugden arose out of great enlightened compassion to benefit sentient beings during our time. His line of previous incarnations stem all the way back to Manjushri, the Buddha of wisdom. In each of his previous lifetimes before arising as Dorje Shugden, he made a strong and lasting contribution in preserving and spreading the teachings of the Buddha. As it is the Buddha’s teachings that lead us out of our suffering, these acts show his great compassion and wisdom. His earlier lives performed miracles in order to garner faith in the minds of people, whereas in his later lives, before arising as a Dharma protector, he put great effort in spreading or teaching the Dharma. In Buddhism, it is said we should always know more about what we are practicing, to ensure that it is beneficial for us. We need to examine the origins of a teaching or practice, in order to make sure that it is genuine and that it is beneficial on our spiritual path. In the case of Dorje Shugden, we need to know and analyse his mindstream to know his true qualities. On our ordinary level, as beings who do not have high spiritual attainments to see directly, we need to analyse his previous lives and his true origins to check if his mind is enlightened or not, and therefore a Dharma protector to be relied on fully. Since that is the case, and for the contemporary practitioner, a graphic novel in multiple languages is being made available here for all of you. Through this, everyone has access to the information about Dorje Shugden, his previous lives, and the manner in which he arose, so you can see just how great this Dharma protector is, and that he is relevant in our modern day and age. I hope you enjoy reading the graphic novel and are able to learn more and deepen your understanding of this great Dharma protector, who aids practitioners out of his enlightened compassion and wisdom. Read it here: bit.ly/47O0TUV tsemrinpoche.com @tsemtulku #Buddhism #DorjeShugden #Protector #spiritual #dharma #mustread #TsemRinpoche #Kechara #KecharaForestRetreat

[𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻] Dear Rinpoche, Is everything that I experience the result of my own mind (perhaps over many lifetimes)? For example, if I have the karma to hear Buddhist teachings, then I will hear them. If not, then not. In that case, the compassion of the teachers, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas seems not to matter — the teachings would appear (or not) regardless of what others decide. Can this be right? [𝗥𝗶𝗻𝗽𝗼𝗰𝗵𝗲'𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗹𝘆] Dear Evelyn, 1. Everything that you experience is the result of your mind and yes, from hundreds of thousands of lifetimes. Since it is over hundreds of thousands of lifetimes, all types of imprints both positive and negative lie dormant to be experienced. For example, if you are very angry, and that is what you are experiencing at the moment, the minute you see a Tsongkhapa thangka, it might trigger a powerful imprint you have from another life, then it opens and you calm down fast and the anger goes away. So whatever you are experiencing at the moment is not permanent and can be changed short and long term. The imprint of Dharma was triggered by seeing Tsongkhapa. So your angry mind switches to calm mind. Similarly your mind is not ready to hear Dharma, but meeting a teacher may trigger a distant dormant karma to open you up to listen. 2. The compassion of the attained ones does matter. If they had no compassion, they would not skilfully bring the Dharma to you in small amounts till you can digest more. Also even if your mind is not ready, because they have compassion they will wait till you are ready. If they don’t have compassion, when you are ready then they won’t wait. Their compassion is very important for you and others seeking the Dharma. 3. Compassion of the attained beings will also be turned into skilfulness. Even if you are not able to perceive the Dharma, they plant Dharma imprints in your mind without you even knowing. In the future, these imprints will ripen so you can hear the Dharma, practice and extricate yourself from negative predicaments. Their compassion will never be wasted. I hope this helps you. Most important is to generate the thought daily with prayers that you wish to hear the teachings and practice. Then you will trigger open the seeds of the causes planted from another time to hear the Dharma and plant further causes daily. Coupled with the compassion of a teacher waiting to impart the Dharma to you, you are on the right direction. Tsem Rinpoche 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙨 → tsemrinpoche.com/?p=4300

The Importance of Death in Life |《不知死，焉知生？》 "The first Chinese language Dharma talk in Kechara Forest Retreat – “The Importance of Death in Life” – concluded at 5pm on November 14, 2015. Despite the landslide incident on the Karak Highway between Kuala Lumpur and Bentong, the talk by Pastor Lanse Chiah attracted 69 participants, many of whom were from Kuala Lumpur. They did not hesitate to travel far and wide in order to receive the Dharma; their spirit and dedication is very commendable. In the talk, Pastor Lanse shared her past experiences of being on duty in the hospital, of studying medicine and of how dealing with matters of life and death and the process of rescuing others inspired her. At the same time, she had felt a deep sense of helplessness because despite being a doctor equipped with the latest medical technology, she could not help anyone escape the eventuality of death when their time was up. Later on, when she met her Guru – His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche and the Buddhadharma, she began to understand that death does not mean the end of a life, because before one can transcend the cycle of death and rebirth, one must first experience countless “rebirths”... Continue reading here: bit.ly/4ypeFsN tsemrinpoche.com #Buddhism #Death #TsemRinpoche #Kechara #KecharaForestRetreat

Refuge and the Guru As Buddhism grows in popularity among modern spiritual seekers, an ever-increasing number of Buddhist teachers, lamas, and rinpoches are establishing Dharma centres and monasteries all over the world. They teach the Dharma, bestow refuge, give initiations, and perform different rituals for the faithful. Hundreds if not thousands of people attend these public ceremonies, yet many still have no idea what their exact relationship with their teacher is. ... In the teaching presented here, His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche provides a practical explanation of the core Buddhist pillar of taking refuge in the Guru and Three Jewels, and the importance of guru devotion practice, in a manner relevant to modern Buddhists with references framed within the context of contemporary Dharma centres and teachers. Guru devotion was the core of Tsem Rinpoche’s personal practice. In Gaden Shartse Monastery and beyond, Rinpoche was well-known for his faultless guru devotion — an incredible feat as Rinpoche had 16 gurus! As a result, Rinpoche’s teaching incorporates far more than just his knowledge alone. It is imbued with Rinpoche’s personal and sincere advice. Rinpoche teaches us how to avoid the extremes of fanaticism vs. the abandonment of one’s teacher, as well as the middle way. It is a must for all Dharma practitioners, whether you are new to Buddhism or a seasoned practitioner. Link: bit.ly/49B9F7e tsemrinpoche.com @tsemtulku #Buddhism #Refuge #Spiritual #Guru #TsemRinpoche #practice #spiritualpractice #Buddhist #TibetanBuddhism #Kechara #KecharaForestRetreat #Malaysia

Messages inspired by Buddhist Art His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche had a deep artistic inclination from as far back as he could remember. As a child, Rinpoche could not stop staring with admiration at the thangkas and Buddha images in the Kalmyk temple in New Jersey, asking endless questions about them. It was highly unusual for a child to spend hours looking at old thangkas with such insatiable curiosity. None of the other Kalmyk children in his neighbourhood shared his interest; they preferred escaping the confines of the temple to play on the lawn outside. The monks who witnessed Rinpoche’s fascination were not surprised that this child was later recognised as a Rinpoche, an incarnate lama. The monks explained that such behaviour was characteristic of a reincarnated lama, a tell-tale sign of the natural ripening of Dharma imprints from past lives. Rinpoche himself recalled feeling inexplicable faith upon encountering the sacred images as a child, despite not fully understanding the origin of his feelings. The enduring faith persisted despite his secular American upbringing and continued well into adulthood. Continue reading here: bit.ly/3K5pNDv tsemrinpoche.com @tsemtulku #Buddhism #TibetanBuddhism #art #spiritualart #Sundays #spirituality #InnerPeace #SacredExpression

Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey & essential teachings Dear friends, Let me introduce to you to a great teacher, his life, some of his teachings and his parinirvana. May you learn and absorb from this great example of a learned Buddhist monk who arose from  the wisdom and learnings of Tsongkapa’s peerless tradition. Tsem Rinpoche In Search of the Self By Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey at New Delhi, India January 1980 (Last Updated Jun 14, 2009) We all suffer; many sentient beings experience almost constant misery. However, at present we have the time, space and ability to think about how to get rid of all suffering—not get over just one problem or become a little more peaceful, but completely finish with suffering altogether. We humans have many methods of finding happiness at our disposal but even though we live in beautiful houses crammed full of all kinds of stuff we are still not satisfied. That’s because there is only one thing that can really eradicate dissatisfaction and bring true happiness: the practice of Dharma. If we check within ourselves we will discover that all our misery comes from either attachment or hatred. These, in turn, come from an incorrect view of the self. Even at this moment we hold the “I” to be true. In the Madhyamakavatara, Chandrakirti stated that all emotional afflictions arise from ignorance—misapprehension of the nature of the self. This is the root. In order to get rid of all the branches of suffering and prevent them from ever arising again, we need to sever this root. In that way we can put an end to all misery, even birth, sickness, aging and death. The Buddha’s main teachings on eradicating ignorance by understanding and realizing the wisdom of non-self-existence are found in his Perfection of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita) Sutras, and these texts are the main scriptural source for the great sage Nagarjuna’s Six-fold Canon of Reasoning, especially his Root Verses on Wisdom (Mulamadhyamakakarika). Other teachings on the wisdom realizing emptiness may be found in Aryadeva’s Four Hundred Verses; Buddhapalita’s famous Commentary on [Nagarjuna’s] Treatise on the Middle Way (Buddhapalita-Mulamamadhyamakavrtti); Chandrakirti’s Clear Phrases (Prasannapada); and the ninth chapter of Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. Continue reading by following the link: bit.ly/4fMhkCk @tsemtulku #Buddhism #TibetanBuddhism #Dharma #Teaching #Meditation #TsemRinpoche #spiritual #MondayVibes

The Origins of Dorje Shugden When Dorje Dragden, overlord of the haughty ones Repeatedly urged you fulfill your vow to arise As a Dharma protector uncommon to the Geden, You generated that mind of wrathful courage, praise to you! Numerous times, during breaks between sessions of the great Manjusri Tsongkhapa's teachings at Ganden, there was a boy wearing white clothes who would come before him and demand, 'You must give me a helper!' Gyaltsab Je and Kedrub Choje knew the boy was an emanation of Pehar but never said anything. Since, at that time, Dulzin Dragpa Gyaltsen was the elder leader of the disciples receiving teachings, one day he said to the boy, 'It won't do for you to keep coming here and disturbing Je Lama when he is giving teachings! I'll give you whatever help it is that you want!' When he said that, the boy said, 'That is my purpose! It is your help that I have been waiting to find! Now, here at this time, among all of the disciples, you have accepted!' Having said that, the boy became invisible and disappeared. At the time of Dulzin Dragpa Gyaltsen's later incarnation, Panchen Sonam Dragpa, the overlord of all of the haughty gods and spirits that exist in the world, Dorje Dragden, said to the Panchen, 'Manjusri of Blissful Intelligence has insisted that I should principally protect the Geden Teachings, but since I have already sworn to Padmasambhava that I would protect all of Buddha's Teachings in general, there is no way that I can principally protect only the Geden Teachings. Now Panchen, you yourself, among holders of the Geden Teachings these days, have the highest qualities of learning and realization. Not only that, you must arise as a wrathful protector of the Geden Teachings to fulfill the commitment you have previously made!' At that time, saying only that he would check, the master did not commit himself. Then, when his later incarnation, Tulku Dragpa Gyaltsen, was urged by the Great Dharma King Nechung to remember his previous promise, Dragpa Gyaltsen asked, 'What promise?' seeming not to remember. Pehar gave him something from his hand, saying, 'If you take this and meditate, you will clearly remember.' Just as he said, by staying in seclusion, the master was reminded and generated fierce courage that did not shrink from arising in the form of a powerful fierce swift Dharma protector uncommon to the Geden in accordance with his previous promise. It is that demonstration of courage for which he is being praised in this verse. - except from the Music Delighting An Ocean of Protectors by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche tsemrinpoche.com/DorjeShugde… #TibetanBuddhism #DorjeShugden #Dharma #TsemRinpoche #DharmaProtector #Kechara #KecharaForestRetreat #Buddhist #Spirituality

Trode Khangsar – A 400 year old Dorje Shugden Chapel in Lhasa A rare thangka of Dorje Shugden seated on a throne, housed at the Trode Khangsar. (pic) bit.ly/40vJvl7 @tsemtulku #Buddhism #Tibet #TibetBuddhism #TsemRinpoche #Lhasa #travel #pilgrimage

For My Hindu Friends A beautiful image of the enlightened Saraswati painted in Indian style. Link: bit.ly/3UhtRWF @tsemtulku #Buddhism #Hinduism #Saraswati #DorjeShugden #spiritual #TsemRinpoche #spiritualart #Indian #Friends #art

201. Sakya Dorje Shugden Tanag #DorjeShugden #Tanag literally means ‘Dorje Shugden riding on a black horse’. He is a unique form of Dorje Shugden that arose within the Sakya tradition... bit.ly/3LKlfob @tsemtulku #TsemRinpoche #Buddhism #TibetanBuddhism #spiritual #art

A unique #thangka depicting #DorjeShugden & his four other #emanations. Dorje Shugden’s #practice was taught to me by my most holy gurus and I share this practice whenever I can. bit.ly/42p9PvK @tsemtulku #TsemRinpoche #Tsongkhapa #Shize #Trakze #Gyenze #Wangze #zen

Creating Harmony: 20 Quotes from Tsem Rinpoche Harmony Begins with YOU: Tell the truth always and be clear in your speech. This creates harmony. ~Tsem Rinpoche 5:57 am · 2 Jun 2013 Link: bit.ly/3VAzNKr #quotes #harmony #creating #TsemRinpoche #Buddhism #spirituality #peace #PeaceOfMind #QuotesToLiveBy #DorjeShugden

So when we have negative things happen to us, when we have bad things happen to us, when good becomes sour, when relationships crumble, when money is lost, when the business deal doesn’t go through, when our skin starts to age, when our hair starts to turn white, or we have arguments or someone has stabbed us, someone has hurt us, someone has done damage to us, actually as a real person who understands the law of cause and effect, you will stop blaming other people. You have to stop blaming other people. You will stop blaming other people because you realise by logic that you have created that situation yourself. Now when you come to that realisation, “I have created that situation myself” in your meditations, what I talked about is for you to think about. That is what #meditation is about. Thinking about it, analysing. When you come to that situation or that borderline, you are starting to improve. And then the next step is to accept that realisation. To accept that what has happened to you, regardless of what you have done in this life, is a result of one’s own negative karma ripening. Since it is the result of one’s own negative #karma ripening, how can we blame other people when they are just temporary circumstantial effects, environmental effects? Excerpt from 📷 An Introduction to Buddhism by Tsem Rinpoche ✨✨✨ bit.ly/IntroToBuddhismTR 📸 From Tsem Rinpoche’s archives: H.E. Tsem Rinpoche in front of a lake in USA. @tsemtulku #TsemRinpoche #Buddhism #spirituality #life #quote #DorjeShugden #TibetanBuddhism

This is a beautiful illustration of the famous story of the monkey who made an offering to Lord Buddha, which H.E. the 25th #TsemRinpoche wanted to create. The monkey offers his gift, a honeycomb to Lord Buddha, and upon seeing that Buddha accepts his offering, the monkey rejoices and leaps with great joy. He swings from tree to tree, happily rejoicing, and suddenly a tree branch breaks. The monkey falls and dies instantly. However, due to his sincere offering to Buddha, the monkey takes rebirth in the God realm. This story emphasises the importance of making sincere offerings from the heart. Dorje Shugden, on the top right, is witnessing this historical event. 𝐴 𝐵𝘶𝑑𝘥ℎ𝘢 𝘓𝑖𝘧𝑒 𝑆𝘵𝑜𝘳𝑦 𝑆𝘦𝑟𝘪𝑒𝘴 𝘰𝑓 𝐴𝘳𝑡𝘸𝑜𝘳𝑘 For a high-resolution image, download the artwork here 👉 bit.ly/DSArtworks ✨✨✨ #tsemrinpoche #dorjeshugden #buddhalifestory #buddha #buddhism #dsartworks #buddhistart #divineart #spiritualart #kechara