Seeing the construction of this statue makes me think of the austerities Buddha went through in order to teach the Dharma. It really is a sign of perseverance for me. Sometimes, we get lazy, but when I see this, I think "Buddha was an ordinary being, too. He experienced suffering like us. Look at how compassionate he was that he meditated and barely ate so that he could show the perfect path to all people who would have the karma to see." I really want to abandon my laziness and selfishness. Hopefully other people are as inspired by this blog as I am... Thank you for sharing all of these posts, Rinpoche. You are always bring inspiration to me and many others. Please, keep it up! With so much thanks, Tyler

This is the most touching story I have ever heard. It's really proof that we can become happy through being good companions to people. This brought a tear to my eye. It definitely shows that we can bring people up out of their misery by being there for them and interacting with them. These pictures remind me of my best friend and me. Sometimes, I think if he wasn't there, I wouldn't know what to do... I can't stop looking at these pictures. They are so cute and silly I can't stop it! This is a really inspiring post and it makes me value my friends a little more, to be honest! :)

I feel like every time I read a post about Kechara and its many (are you up to 13? 14, now? However many, haha) departments, I am inspired beyond belief. I am going to inquire with my local dharma center about making a space for doing solitary retreats, etc soon, since I want to do small retreats for the center and I think it would inspire people to push themselves to the next level. I am going to inquire with my lama to see what is the best thing to do to create the causes for growth of Dharma in the area. I am just rejoicing over and over at the prospect of Kechara growing so much and I hope 24/7 that something can be produced here that will benefit people as effectively as Kechara benefits people. Seeing the progress of the new prayer hall is such a tremendous thing for me. I remember watching videos on youtube of Rinpoche saying that if you create the causes, it will come. I rejoice in all of the amazing causes you all have created in order to create this wonderful space. Tyler

Please forward this message to Anila, as she has inspired me. Precious Anila, I have wanted to become ordained for at least a year now, and I remember being discouraged and thinking that there was NO WAY I could become ordained and there was NO WAY I would be able to devote myself to the Dharma 100%. Seeing you recieve ordination on Youtube helped me change my mind on that. You showed me that it isn't impossible. I am devoting myself more and more to the service of others and to learning the Dharma so that, when the time comes, I will be able to hold my vows well and benefit so many people through that. By reading this article, I realize that even things that are foreign to us like learning Tibetan or learning to use the internet for the first time might be hard, but with effort, it is definitely possible. I rejoice so much in your decision to become ordained and I hope to one day inspire someone as much as you inspire me. I can clearly see that you are an asset to Kechara House. Thank you so much, Anila, Tyler Mihalson

I am so impressed by this artwork. KSA seems like a wonderful place for people to do Dharma in their own way. I feel very ambitious as I dedicate merit after doing sadhanas so that my dharma center can benefit people as much as Kechara House has benefited me and so many others. There are so many facets to Kechara and I think that is one of the MANY reasons it is such a powerful Dharma organization. Dear Rinpoche, You have personally inspired me so many times in so many ways... I just know that you will bring so many beings to liberation as I am SURE you have done in the past. Please, continue to teach and spread the Dharma through all of the wonderful ways you can! The world needs more KSAs, it needs more Kecharas and it needs more amazing lamas like you, Tsem Rinpoche!! Please continue to spread the Dharma! With so much gratitude and an inspired heart, Tyler

This is amazingly powerful for the mind. It's like, from reading this text by Pabongka Rinpoche, I am inspired through and through with renunciation for worldly concerns... It is so wonderful to be able to even read this with my own eyes and be shaken awake by its profound message. A lot of times it seems like I do things that are bad without taking consequences or karma to heart before taking action. Even if one is not Buddhist, one can STILL benefit from studying and contemplating this urgent message from such an attained master: Sometimes I have felt in my life as though I have suffered through different "hells" as an immediate, direct result of my action.

I really dont understand why people are doing this... This is the most upsetting thing I have heard about in such a long time. These innocent, friendly creatures weren't doing anything to harm the humans living there. Whether it is a tradition or not, these actions NEED TO STOP. There is no reason for this. I honestly want to write a letter to this government and forward this to other people I know and have them do the same thing. I pray for the people who are committing these atrocities and for those beings that are suffering from them. May the humans come out of their ignorance and may the animals take good rebirth into a place where people are understanding and compassionate.

Lama Yeshe's work and teachings are so inspiring to me as well. If you watch on Youtube, he doesn't just use words to teach. It's almost as if he uses his words, his mannerisms, his hands and even his eyes in order to teach the Dharma to many types of people. It's good to read a description of a true master as written by a student who sees the guru's wisdom and compassion on a regular basis. Great lamas like Lama Yeshe definitely have the power to manifest the qualities of Buddhas, without a doubt.

Dear Rinpoche, Your amazing devotion to your holy guru is so inspiring to me! I remember once you said to develop strong guru devotion to the point where tears spontaneously run down your face. I think now I understand a little of how beautiful and life changing it must be to be so near to one's perfect guru. I am so inspired to read this! I have wanted to become a monk for such a long time, but have always been afraid that I will not be able to because I do not know Tibetan, etc. But I think that, if my gurus give me their blessings to go and become ordained, then I will surely be able to do it. You are my role model for how to be devoted to my gurus. I see how transformative guru devotion is, and I think it is time for me to commit the 50 Verses of Guru Devotion to memory. Thank you, Rinpoche, Tyler.

Ok, I cant lie, THIS IS HILARIOUS. Can you say Dharma Drag? I never thought I would be able to, but I guess I see that it works! I think this is an amazing way to get peoples' attention and draw them in and get them interested. I am a proud gay man, and would be honored to serve my lama in this way. This event is such a wonderful example of skillful means. It shows that there are many ways to raise awareness for the Dharma other than being a monastic practitioner. Thanks for sharing this with us, Tyler

I've said it before, but it just needs to be said again... I LOVE this idea. I am so happy to see that people come so close together for the Dharma. I would die to live in a place where Dharma is so easily infused into every aspect of my life. Also, I cannot wait for KWPC to come up! I pray nightly for it's construction and opening and hope to come and see it someday. It seems like there are so many causes being created for it every day that theres no doubt it will benefit a ton of people.

It is really encouraging to see the Dharma spread so well. I live in a place where the holy Dharma is terribly scarce. It is like a breath of fresh air to hear that a new study group has formed and that people are excited to practice the perfect Dharma well. I feel uplifted and have hope for the growth of Dharma where I live in America and throughout the world. I see that it is possible now and am rejoicing so much to see it happening. Hopefully in the future there will be an opportunity for people in America to genuinely connect with the Dharma and for people to understand the teachings of the Buddha in greater depth.

I loved this video! Dear Tsem Rinpoche, Thank you for sharing this with everyone. It helped me to grasp a lot of things that I had heard before but really didn't understand very well. Not only do your words open up my mind so I can understand ideas that I cant normally grasp, but your words are amazingly motivating, too! I feel like I have been doing the same thing over and over and never really have been able to cut it out but now I understand that there REALLY is no time like the present. Not only do your teachings cover everything under a particular heading, but it seems that you always go deeper and have special meanings behind everything you say that you bring out through logic. It is really wonderful to be able to hear and read so much Dharma as explained by someone as skillful as yourself. Thank you so much, Tyler

Being giving and helping others selflessly is truly an amazing quality. I am so inspired by this, and I hope to make an impact like KSK... Maybe even make a group like KSK in the future... Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing this with us. :)

Guru Yoga is such an important part of Buddhist practice in the Tibetan tradition. I've heard that Lama Tsongkhapa's Guru Yoga is very good for people with busy lives, but never really got into practicing it because I didn't want to deal with figuring out what to visualize or what it all meant... But now, it's all spelled out for me, and it looks AMAZING. Thank you all for blessing the world with such a gift! KMP has truly done it again! The books and videos that they put out are so wonderful and creative, yet informative as well. I know they have produced other box sets before, but this one is so stunning! Kudos, KMP. Keep up the fantastic work.

Peter, I know EXACTLY what you mean.

:)

I am so overjoyed at seeing people set aside their regular, boring, mundane lives and do something that is so fulfilling, challenging, and worthwhile as working in Dharma. I hope to see so much more of this in the future. :)

...maybe I don't want to start planning my trip to Malaysia after all?

May I ask why the vajras have red string on them?

Omg, I'm so jealous! That would be such a wonderful way to live life... Hopefully, Duke, there can be such effective, well-managed Dharma centers in America very soon! We should definitely both get a rich background in dharma and then start similar centers in America... I can see it forming now, and it will be called: Dewachen! XD ...dare to dream, right?