(Originally published on tsemrinpoche.com)
Last year in November 2014, I requested a group of my students to go to Vermont, USA to meet His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche and to make offerings on my behalf. I was unable to go at the time. So they represented me.
Our group had the wonderful fortune to go there and receive timely audience. They had made extensive offerings to Trijang Rinpoche and updated him on my activities, our works, what we have been doing, and also brought a photo album of Kechara’s departments and all of our activities to show Trijang Rinpoche. The audience with Trijang Rinpoche was over 3 hours, and he had listened attentively and caringly to all of our explanations and updates about Kechara House.
It was during this time that Trijang Rinpoche gave some advice that was passed to me through my students, and also sent me a personal audio message which I treasure. I was very touched by all of that. On top of that, His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche had presented me with an Amitayus statue, which as you all know, represents the Buddha of the Western Paradise, as well as the Buddha of extension of one’s life in order for one to engage in dharma practice and gain attainments. To receive such a precious gift from such an erudite incarnation of a great master was truly touching and humbling at the same time. My previous incarnations had close connections with Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche I was told. Trijang Rinpoche even had his students take my students to a nice meal at Thai Restaurant to show his appreciation. So kind. Blessed.
I would like to thank His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche, his Ladrang and entourage; for the kindness they bestowed to my students and at the same time, for the wonderful and lovely gift which I will display in an open area in Kechara so that everybody may receive blessings from this Amitayus statue. In Tibetan culture, to offer any of the Buddhas of Long Life such as Amitayus, Namgyalma or White Tara to a person or to a Lama, you are wishing them long life, eternal bliss, happiness, youth and strength. So, it has a lot of meaning and significance. It is extremely meaningful to me. I definitely treasure my connections with my lamas of my previous incarnations. Every samaya is important. Our individual samaya to our gurus is very important. No one single guru should make samaya to him override a samaya to our personal gurus. We can never forsake our gurus for another guru. And no guru can say that we must have good samaya with him at the cost of our samaya to our personal gurus who kindly gave us so much time, energy and practice.
I enclose here pictures of our group with His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche having audience and speaking with them. When the timing is correct, I will go and pay my deepest respects to His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche.
Tsem Rinpoche
Trijang Buddhist Institute (TBI) in Vermont, USA has a beautiful landscape. (Source: TBI Facebook Fan Page)
Some humble offerings from me to Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche.
Beng Kooi presenting my offerings to Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche on my behalf! I was so happy and excited when I first saw this picture. It is so humbling that my students can have an audience with Heruka himself.
Beng Kooi showed a booklet on Kechara to Kyabje Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche in which he took great interests.
Beng Kooi and Pastor Jean Ai with one of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche’s loyal student, Barbara in TBI Gompa.
Kecharians in Trijang Buddhist Institute in Vermont with a few of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche’s close students. These are monks whom I have known for over 25 years and we are friends. I am glad to see they are well. I treasure my friends especially sangha friends because we share the same teacher, lineage, practice and monastery. Whatever the ideology of my friends does not concern me, but the human warmth we share is what matters.
About a year ago, His Holiness Trijang Chocktrul Rinpoche gifted me this conch shell through a student of mine who visited TBI while he was in Vermont. The conch shell represents the dissemination of the dharma.
I thank His Holiness Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche for his kindness, blessings and genuine care for myself and thousands like me.
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Lew
Posted on June 11, 2016 #1 AuthorTsem Rinpoche’s immediate preceding reincarnation, Kentrul Thubten Lamsang Rinpoche, was one of the most important disciples of Kyabje Trijang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso and often referred to as his “heart son”. Their relationship was so close that it was often described with a common Tibetan saying – like “a piece of flesh from the heart”.
The old monks liken Trijang Rinpoche and Kentrul Rinpoche’s Guru-Disciple relationship to that of Lama Tsongkhapa and Khedrup Je. Kentrul Rinpoche received all his Sutra and Tantra practices from Trijang Rinpoche.
Some how, these high lamas come back and able to reconnect. I am glad these two great masters reconnect. I pray these two great lamas will continue to turn the wheel of Dharma to benefit millions.
Fong
Posted on November 14, 2016 #2 AuthorIt is always a happy occasion when high lamas show their respect for each other and work harmoniously for the spread of Dharma. These exchanging of meaningful gifts to show their encouragement for the work of another high lama and the spread of dharma to benefit more people.
Just love to see the unity and concerted concentration for a common goal of spreading the teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa to benefit beings. So much love and respect.
Vivian Ong
Posted on July 11, 2017 #3 AuthorThank you Rinpoche for sharing this article. Rinpoche’s students were fortunate and also blessed to meet and have an audience with H.H. Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche. It is also warmth go see H.H. Trijang Choktrul Rinpoche gifted Tsem Rinpoche with an Amitayus statue wishing Tsem Rinpoche long life and a conch shell wishing Tsem Rinpoche to spread the Dharma. Presenting offerings to a high lama creates good karma and merits. Therefore we should always cultivate the habit of giving rather than always taking.
With folded palms,
Vivian
yin ping
Posted on December 17, 2017 #4 AuthorTsem Rinpoche previous life was a closed disciple of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. This pure guru and disciple relationships have extended to current life where both great lamas caring for each other, exchanged gifts as a token of appreciation and encouragement for the dharma work they are doing. This is heartwarming, so much care and love from attained mind.