This is toooo splendid. I'm in a tiny (temporary) office right now with no windows and am soooo wishing I could go find myself a field like this!

What a stunning post, and I wish I had read this when I was in my previous job, which I used to dread and find meaningless. Actually, I met some fantastic people there who became my best friends in KL - I never thought of how I could take advantage of that time at "work" to nurture those friendships more but only ever thought of how much longer I had to go before 5pm when I would leave on the dot. What Li Kim said is so true - that we probably spend more time in a week with our work mates than with our families, partners and social friends. So why don't we try to value that time with them more? I'm extremely lucky to be able to work in KMP (as well as with the liaisons council and various other departments). There are times in Kechara we have 12 hour meetings, but every single person is happy to be there, throughout the 12 hours - because it's really like being with family. We don't think of it as work, but as something that we want to do, with people we cherish. It's funny how, because we are so close now, we feel sad if we don't see each other for even a few days, if one of us travels abroad for example. It is extremely comforting and beautiful to know that these people are there with you during work, outside of work - any time, anywhere. You go through real shitty times together, but you also celebrate the amazing, successful, fun times - and with that, you grow, become closer and really appreciate each other more. Work really does become just as fun as play with if you develop relationships with the people around you in the right way.

ugh disgusting. I remember Rinpoche gave us an exercise once to think about how many chickens/ lambs/ pigs we might have eaten in our lifetime. The numbers were really quite shocking. To think: even if you ate just a part of a chicken, like one chicken wing, a whole chicken was killed for it. Same for a lamb chop, or a piece of bacon. So for every day that we ate a piece fried chicken or even one thin little slice of ham, some animal died for it. I'm ashamed at myself just thinking of this. Many people think it won't make much of a difference if they, just one person, stop eating meat. When Rinpoche asked us that question and we each thought about how many animals we could have saved from all those years of not eating meat - the numbers really add up... which does make a huge difference when it comes to individual lives that we are destroying, killing and torturing. Now that I've been vegetarian for almost 2 years, I have to say I don't really get what the big fat deal is about becoming vegetarian. people get such big hang-ups and attachments about it. what is the big deal?! food is still food - and there is plenty of it here where we live in Malaysia. There will always be something you can eat! It's all the same anyway, after awhile - it's just something to keep you full! So elementary. Satisfying your tastebuds lasts only a few seconds - so not worth killing a life for and making it go through such tremendous suffering.

When I think about events like this, I think, "why WOULDN'T anyone want to be a part of this?!" hehe

What a spectacular evening, wasn't it! Such amazing camaraderie, a feeling like this was a real family reunion with so many different people coming together in a celebration of peace. A big bravo to the organising committee, who I know for a fact met tirelessly and diligently every single week to plan every last detail of this amazing evening. Even though I was there, I still feel excited thinking about it again. Excited because it is such an incredible honour to be a part of this work every single day - the glamour-rama dinner is only one tiny facet of all the incredibly challenging, inspiring, motivating, fun and diverse things we come across every day in the life of a Kecharian.

It never stops becoming old news to hear of KSK's success stories of how they're helping people. It shows real compassion in action - how people are reaching out to people and touching others' lives in such a real and tangible way. When you work in an organisation like this, under Rinpoche's guidance, you always hear of success stories, be it literally of saving someone off the streets, to reuniting someone with their family, to helping someone get out of depression, to helping someone overcome a fear or mental illness or relationship problem. The different departments complement each other in the way that they each help people in different aspects - a healing of both body and mind. This is the best kind of reward there is to work in a place like Kechara - knowing that what you are doing could literally give someone a whole new life. Beats a paycheque any day. Thank you Rinpoche for giving us this honour and opportunity to serve the world in such an immediate and real way.

You know, this is really true - Aunty Vivian really does take care of everyone like they are her children. It wasn't that three of her daughters joined the Dharma family; it was more like all 90 of us became a part of her family! The Ng family is really a great synergistic, inspiring Dharma family - every single one of them are in Dharma. Even their little dog Dino was a rescued pooch found through a Dharma connection. And its so cute how each of the sisters are in different departments, each sharing their creativity and skills in different ways. Even their dad goes to KSA (and is a very skilled artist I might add). AND on top of everything, they have also been supporting and contributing to Rinpoche's huge work the organisation through their own photo business, producing literally THOUSANDS of Buddha images, canvas prints of thangkas and large Buddha posters that have gone into the homes and hearts of people all over the world.

I don't think many people know this, but Pat also has to travel great distances to come to work each day, but she has done so for several years now, and uncomplainingly. Pat used to work with a famous designer in the heart of KL - very glamorous job, one I used to most envy because she'd be knee deep every single day in beads and sequins and lots and lots of tulle... but it reallyw asn't long before she decided to trade it all in for Dharma. She's really been one of the pioneers for KSA, especially in their sewing department and worked hard to get it to where it is. She's also one of the very, very, very few people in the city who are skilled in traditional Tibetan techniques of sewing - we are proud of her, and I'm certainly proud to know her.

Do you think sean (and DAKA) would like to play in the charity golf tournament!!!!!!!

See the thing you don't know about the e-division is that they are actually just giant balls of energy, so technically, they don't really need the cushions or beds to sleep in. They exist purely on love and the Dharma like little fairies. Since the online e-world, never sleeps and moves almost as fast as the speed of thought, the e-division too work at that pace. "Tomorrow" would already be too slow, too late, and they care just too much to leave it til tomorrow, knowing that somebody could benefit or be helped RIGHT NOW. This is how they show us the great power of how love and care really makes the world go round and keeps you going, even if you haven't slept all week. The dedication that they have put into every aspect of Kechara's online world makes them exactly like what Rinpoche has named them - a thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara. It may not be strenuous hard labour being at the laptops, but they work harder, longer hours than anyone could imagine. And the extent of their work over the keyboard is tremendous, reaching out far wider and further than many of us could ever dream of going. It is by their efforts that literally THOUSANDS of people around the world are connecting to us.

Mr Ngeow, you were a beautiful swan!!! More than anything, you showed us - all your lamrim "ducklings" what it means to put the Lamrim into practice: a lessening of ego and a willingness to go all the way for the sake of Dharma. This definitely goes down in the annals of history as being the world's most unique Dharma teaching. I bet no other centre in the world can boast of a Dharma teacher (and education committee chairperson) wearing a tutu, feathers for eyebrows and way, wayyy too much lipstick! Lots of love x

And wasn't that the best part? The "after-party" was when the real fun began: The dismantling of the kiosks, running around barefeet, little Cynthia and Beng Kooi standing acrobatically on Justin's shoulders to undo a giant poster, dodging flying bolts and screws... In Kechara, the event isn't just the event - as Martin has said, it is all the weeks of love, hard work, meetings and big hearts that the committee put into the planning; then the actual day when people woke up at 9am on a Sunday to set everything up; then the event; and finally, the tearing down of everything. Seems to be much like the traditional Tibetan practices of making a giant sand mandala, and then sweeping all the sand away - a quick lesson in impermanence and dedicating your wholehearted effort and love without any expectation of return. A massive thank you to the amazing committee, Margaret the choreographer, the beautiful "girls", the volunteers who didn't sleep for days as they sweated to get things together... it was by all your incredible effort that so many of us could simply turn up on the night in our beautiful gowns, eat a delicious meal, laugh til we cried and be a part of such a momentous, historical moment in Kechara's history.

Ethan, I love what you have said - you totally summed up Kechara's energy which is that on the outside, you can still do everything fun, glamourous, beautiful and crazy but there is such a deep and meaningful message behind it all. I love how some kid said, "wah buddhists can have tattoos meh?" When I started in Dharma, people would ask me, "Oh... are YOU Buddhist too?" hahaha This is exactly the spirit of Kechara - that you can be anyone, anywhere, doing anything and still be deeply spiritual. Just a few days ago, I went to a party - one of those ordinary ones where everyone dressed up, ate good food, drank wine, air kissed, frou-frou-la-la'd and talked animatedly for a few hours... and then, after all the fan fare, went home. Nothing achieved, and 6 hours wasted that I'll never get back. Then, I came to this event - so beautifully done with so many amazing, fun people who have put their entire heart into making this a successful event. I would trade every other party out there for this, over and over again, simply because there is meaning, benefit, care and so, so much kindness in every aspect of THIS party. And that is something truly worth celebrating.

These pictures are stunning but more inspiring and important than that is Rinpoche's heartfelt message and sharing of what it means to follow our teacher's instructions and enlightened methods. I remember Rinpoche advising us many times that spiritual practice is about doing the things that we DON'T like doing - that is where we grow and develop and gain new skills that will bring us further in our spiritual path. Rinpoche's entire life has been a perfect example of how one person can make such a phenomenal difference in the lives of thousands, simply by having so much faith and commitment to his teacher's advice... even if it was not something he wanted to do at all. I remember Rinpoche also saying that even if he doesn't like to do something, he will still do it 150%, perfectly and to the best of his ability if it can help someone else. So if you watched him and saw him doing something, you would never be able to tell that he was unhappy doing it, or didn't want to do it, or was having difficulty. Rinpoche would never, ever reveal that he is unhappy doing something because, as he has told us many times, that is besides the point. "I am one, but others are many" he has repeated often, so showing that he is unhappy, sad or dislikes what he is doing does not contribute or help to others. Imagine if all of us could manage to do that - what a difference it would make to the world if everyone just stopped thinking merely about their own likes or dislikes, and focused purely on what needed to be done for others. We'd each be about to reach so many, many, many more that way!

I love this video soooo sooo sooo much. Even I get excited watching it, as if I've never seen all the departments of Kechara before... I was hanging around when Sharon and BK were working on the script (2days-straight, finished finally at 6am at the Ladrang dining room table!) so I'd already heard and read it about a hundred times already... and yet when I saw the video for the first time at the recent fundraiser, I fell in love with it all over again, my heart still beat like a drum in my chest and I felt little beads of tears pushing up against the tear ducts! I pretended for a moment that I was an "outsider", seeing the organisation for the first time ever and boy did my heart fill up with joy. I thought, "If I wasn't already a part of this amazing family, I would want to join this" and I can't imagine why anyone WOULDN'T want to be a part of this legacy. Kechara - as shown in this video and in everything that every department is doing - is not just talking about world peace as a concept. We are building it every single day. Are you going to be a part of this reality?

Andrew: it's okay, we'll focus on INNER BEAUTY, hmph! The world will love us for the beacon of light we will become and the glorious sunshine that will radiate out from our hearts hehehehehehehehehehehehehehe

PS isn't there something slightly unfair about the way Bryan is so much more beautiful than most of the rest of us girls? Samsara is this way, I suppose!!

It goes without saying that all the "girls" did a most fantastic job (all of course, under the brilliant direction and choreography by our very own Margaret). I was really rather surprised they pulled it together so fast, with less than a week of rehearsing... considering too that none of them have ever danced (well, bopping about in clubs doesn't really count). I think the best part of the whole evening was knowing how much some of them really didn't want to be up there at first (ngeow, tatming, wai meng) - we can't forget that momentous evening in Boathouse where we grilled them and just about "forced" them to dance. And they did it! They let their guard down, let go their weird attachments, let their hair down (what little of it they had) and went all out for Dharma. That was what really made it the best "show" of the evening :)

And what a splendid swan Thierry was! (as they all were). I bet never in his life did he ever think, "when I grow up, I want to be a ballerina, a girl one, with a tutu and white feathers for eyebrows." See, in dharma ANYTHING is possible....!

It is SO refreshing to hear/read this: "Of course, we have our own ways of doing things, but certainly we can improve, can't we?" Always, I hear among Buddhists (both in Malaysia and from around the world) picking up on what other centres are doing WRONG. From my own experiences, I've actually found it quite, quite rare to come across a Buddhist who openly and sincerely rejoices in what another centre is doing, and looks to them for inspiration on how to improve. Mostly, you hear jealous, petty comments, or criticism. What he says is a very beautiful way of thinking - that yes, we all have our own ways of doing things but our way is never infallible nor perfect and there is always room for improvement. After all, not consider other possibilities if it could be of more benefit to more people? I like his open-mindedness and willing to learn from others, humility and sincerity in "observing" another centre. Thank you, whoever you are, VO. Your letter itself is certainly an inspiring example of Dharma practice.

I SAW a sneak peak of you THIERRY, in your element, on tiptoe, very poised and beautiful, I must say.... Kechara really does bring out the best in everyone. I'm loving the fact that we haven't even moved in yet and everyone is booking KC's space for activities. hehehe Imagine when the new GOMPA comes up - it'll be like a 24 hour disco going on in SunwayMas (especially as Kechara people never sleep and have boundless energy - loves it). I'm really happy to hear that Jay loved his visit to KC and "especially the people" because this is what Kechara Care is all about - connecting to people, by people, and bringing Dharma to others in action.

I remember Rinpoche also explained to us once that Chenrezig is known for having made a prayer, "May I always be reborn in the worst of hells, among the greatest suffering, so that I might be able to help the beings there" (not verbatim, but carrying that message). The Dalai Lama, as an emanation of Chenrezig, shows us this in action for sure - emanating in what has probably been the most difficult times. From total political upheaval within his country, to having to resettle in a completely foreign land, and bringing Buddhism to the difficult, resistant, 21st-Century minds. And yet, it is by these very difficulties that he has brought Buddhism to so much of the world. It is by his example of kindness, in the face of so much adversity, even criticism (and he has received plenty of this even from his own people), that has inspired so many others onto a spiritual path. By him, so many have begun a journey that will relieve their sufferings - just as Chenrezig promised to do for samsara.

Andrew, I love that quote too - it's always been fascinating to me that Bodhisattvas can and will reincarnate in any form, as long as it will be of the greatest benefit to the greatest number of beings. They could be any one among us - an old lady, a prostitute, a dog, a beggar on the street, the supermarket cashier... (and there have been many accounts which tell of how these beings manifest as ordinary beings but those with attainments can see their real nature as a Buddha). I love this because it encourages us to look at the possible and inherent enlightened nature of every being we come across, instead of merely focusing on their negativities. It's a totally new way of looking at difficult people! We begin to think that perhaps this is an enlightened being who is "testing" us and pushing us towards greater patience / kindness / generosity. We shift from merely focusing on their negative traits to focusing on how WE react and act to them. A much more positive way of living!