Support the Kechara Pastors
[Prepared by the Kechara Pastors]
A Brief History
The pastorship role was conceptualised by His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche to preserve the Dharma and to give laypeople an opportunity to commit to benefiting others. The first Buddhist Pastors were ordained on 24th October 2011 and every year since then, more have made this commitment to bring the Buddha’s teachings to people in our modern era.
Kechara’s Buddhist Pastors received their ordination from His Eminence, whose vows stem from an unbroken lineage of Tibetan Buddhist masters, tracing all the way back to Lord Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha. In addition to holding their Refuge and Pastors vows, serving others with sincerity and without a selfish motivation, they also undergo various levels of training in their spiritual advancement before they become one of Kechara’s Buddhist Pastors. The selection and training is a rigorous process, and the appointment of the Pastors must be approved by Kechara’s Board of Directors and blessed by His Eminence.
After Ordination
There are two types of Pastors within Kechara:
- Lay Pastors: people who are committed to their spiritual practice but have pre-existing obligations to family and other commitments.
- Sangha-to-be: people that are aspiring to become fully ordained members of the Sangha (monastic community) in the near future.
Pastors bridge the gap between the ordained Sangha and the everyday practitioner. By holding their Pastors’ vow, they make the Dharma more accessible to people, giving guidance and sharing their knowledge. Pastors are ordinary people who have taken an extraordinary step in dedicating their lives towards sharing the Dharma. They have made a commitment towards their spirituality and the spirituality of others.
Eight years have passed as the Pastors continue to serve the community, in a spiritual capacity, assisting His Eminence in his compassionate and visionary works. His Eminence envisioned Pastors to create waves of merit for limitless sentient beings through their body, speech and mind.
The Pastors have the privilege of touching many people’s lives, by serving the public; Kechara members, their friends and family; as well as people all over the world through social media and a dedicated Pastors’ corner on His Eminence’s blog (https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/ask-the-pastors).
Selflessly Serving Others
Pastors dedicate their time fully to assist His Eminence by nurturing fellow practitioners along their spiritual path. Pastors share the Dharma with others, help them with their practice and inspire them with their good example. Pastors will also prepare fellow practitioners to receive higher teachings and initiations in the future.
Besides duties and works that support the operation of Kechara’s various departments including Kechara Forest Retreat, Pastors’ duties also include, but are not limited to:
- Performing Buddhist prayers and rituals at Kechara Puja House or offsite.
- Performing last rites and bereavement ritual services.
- Performing blessing ceremonies.
- Performing marriage registration.
- Conducting public talks and other outreach programmes.
- Conducting various educational programmes.
- Providing counselling in person and online.
- Providing Dharma support and guidance to the Kechara study groups in Peninsular Malaysia.
Pastors maintain good conduct and ethical behaviour, wear his/her Pastor’s uniform with integrity and a strong sense of selfless servitude to others. Pastors are ever ready to make house calls for bereavement prayers and are here to educate the public on various aspects of Buddhist practice.
An introduction to Kechara Pastors and their roles in providing spiritual assistance to many, in person and all over the world via the internet.
His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche performing a blessing during the first Buddhist Pastorship Ordination Ceremony, held in 2011. His Eminence compiled the special prayers to give the Pastors an auspicious start to their new roles.
Head Pastor, Pastor Yek Yee is a shining example of the selfless works a Kechara Pastor engages in to fulfil their role to helping those in need.
Pastor Shin is seen here performing a puja (ritual). The Pastors’ duties include performing rituals and prayers for those who request the Pastors’ help. These prayers invoke upon the energies of the Buddhas to help others by clearing their obstacles, healing and spiritual inspiration.
Pastors share the Dharma with others through formal classes and counselling services. Pastors also engage in public talks and other outreach programmes, sharing their knowledge with others. In this video Pastor Adeline presents an introductory talk with a Q&A session in Chinese.
Pastors are empowered by His Eminence to perform last rites and bereavement prayers for the deceased. The prayers help the deceased to have a swift and fortunate rebirth.
Pastors give regular talks on spiritual practice and how to incorporate these practices into daily life. This is Pastor David, who is also a Kechara writer with four titles published so far.
Giving a talk at Wisdom Hall, Kechara Forest Retreat.
Pastors teach and guide others long their spiritual paths. This is Pastor Adeline who teaches various mediation techniques.
Participants can number in the hundreds since meditation is beneficial for a centred and healthy lifestyle.
Pastor Chia is seen here performing his duties as a registrar to officiate the marriage of a young couple.
After a couple’s marriage is registered, pastors are empowered to perform wedding blessings. Pastor Chia is seen here performing a wedding blessings for a couple who want an auspicious start to their new lives together.
By keeping their vows strongly and performing many powerful prayers Pastors are able to bestow blessings for all. In this photography Pastor Han Nee is seen with a young boy, who had come seeking the Pastors blessing.
Pastors are ever ready to share their knowledge. Pastor Lanse is seen here sharing what Buddhist practice actually is and how we can benefit from it.
Pastor Yek Yee blesses birds before releasing them as part of an animal liberation ceremony held in conjunction with Wesak Day.
Pastors are trained in traditional rituals, and regularly perform outcall services, for example house blessings and the consecration of altars.
Pastors are also called upon to perform site blessings, for an auspicious start to new projects.
At events, or upon special request, Pastors conduct baby blessings and baptisms to plant the seeds of Dharma in the child’s mindstream so that they may grow up connected to the Dharma and protected by the Three Jewels.
During this event, the Pastors baptised and blessed 40 children.
One of the Pastors’ most popular services is car blessings. The Pastors bless the car through prayer and ritual and after the ceremony, the car’s owner is given a Buddha image to be placed on their dashboard.
Pastor Yek Yee performing last rites and blessing a beloved pet to take a swift rebirth, to always be connected with the Dharma.
The Pastors are ever-ready and willing to share their knowledge.
Pastor Chia explains the practice of Dorje Shugden to a group of teenagers.
Pastor Chia blesses a couple after registering their marriage in Kechara House.
Guided by Pastor Chia, the first thing the newly-married couple does is make offerings to the Three Jewels, for an auspicious start to their marriage.
Pastor Gim Lee explains Gyenze’s practice to visitors at Kechara Forest Retreat’s Gyenze chapel.
Car blessings are always very popular. Here, Pastor Henry is seen blessing a car at Kechara Forest Retreat’s Dorje Shugden Open Day.
In the Pastors you will always find a ready smile and a willingness to assist.
Pastors will perform their duties anywhere there is a need. This was taken at the Tsem Rinpoche Foundation in Los Angeles, California (USA). The Pastors who were based here, are currently operating out of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
April 7, 2014
Kechara Pastors on Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM)’s Galeri Nasional Mandarin TV programme)
June 17, 2014
Pastor Shin in Sin Chew Daily
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May 2015
Pastor Jean Ai in Harper’s Bazaar
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May 3, 2015
Pastor Adeline in China Press
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June 12, 2015
Pastor Chia in China Press and Sin Chew Daily
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June 22, 2015
Pastor Patsy in The Star
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July 14, 2015
Pastor Chia in Mingguan Fengshui
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August 2015
Pastor Chia in the Bentong Bulletin
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January 2016
Pastor Jean Ai in Marie Claire Malaysia
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Working on 24/7 basis throughout the year, Pastors play an important role in the lives they touch through their generous service. The “Support the Kechara Pastors” programme seeks to raise funds for the Pastors to continue to carry out their sacred duties to benefit the general public and for their daily expenses.
The pastors need your support, by providing donations for the following:
- Food
- Lodging
- Transportation
- Items necessary for their work, such as ritual items or spiritual gifts for those in need.
Supporting those who spend their lives benefiting others is a worthwhile action. By supporting the Pastors:
- You allow the Pastors to bring spiritual solace and guidance to those who are in pain.
- You allow the Pastors to guide others along their spiritual journeys.
- You give Pastors the means to spend even more of their time and effort to serve others.
- You provide the Pastors the means to make a real difference in people’s lives.
- You ensure that the Buddhist teachings can be shared with others.
Donations will be received by the Tsem Rinpoche Foundation Inc. via PayPal. The Foundation is tax deductible for US citizens as granted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States government. All donations are recorded in an organised and structural manner.
It is through your generous donations to this programme that the current and future Pastors will be able to spread the Dharma to lessen the suffering of fellow sentient beings, while providing guidance on their spiritual path. Donate now, make a difference!
You may support the Kechara Pastors
by clicking the donate button below:
For more interesting information about the people behind the faces, and to learn more about the work that they do, check out these links below:
- Selfless Pastor Yek Yee
- A kind soul in our midst
- 10 Incredible House Blessings by Kechara Pastors
- What a pasta dish inspired me to share
- 40 Kids Baptised
- This is wonderful
- Congratulations are in order
- Last Act
- Kechara’s first registration of marriage!
- A Long Way from Home
- Do women make good Buddhist Pastors?
- 3rd Pastor Ordination at Kechara Forest Retreat!
- 2 Pastors & 58 Taking Refuge
- My 46th Year
- For those who hold vows
- If you have any dharma questions, ask a Pastor at Kechara
- Pastor Lanse Chiah’s Dharma Sharing | 谢晓晶讲法师中文佛法视频分享
- Buddhist Pastors Around The World
- 7th Pastorship Ordination
HI, I DO NOT HAVE SPACE FOR AN ALTAR AT MY ROOM. CURRENTLY AM PRACTISING THE DS DAILY SADHANA WITH IMAGES OF VARIOUS DEITIES ON MY COMPUTER SCREEN.
I DO NOT HAVE A GURU AT THE MOMENT. CAN I ADOPT MANJUSHRI AS MY GURU? THANKS
I am not sure where is appropriate to post this.
I am from Phoenix Arizona, USA. I am 68. Three year ago I visited Thailand and South East Asia where I first experienced Buddhism and the profound effects upon their culture. I have been developing a growing interest and study of Buddhism since that time.
About a month ago or so I came across Tsem Rinpoche on YouTube. I immediately felt enamored by his knowledge, speaking ability and wit. He has such presence. He is the guru I have been looking for. I then found he has passed.
I am interested in learning/studying the Dharma. I would travel to KL now but can’t because of the travel restrictions at this time. I believe Kechara may be the place I have been looking for.
” 讲法师 ” 普遍大多数在基督教才可听到这称号, 但是在佛教来说, 是一个未曾听到的。慈悲的尊贵的詹杜固仁波切乘願而来, 目的为了普渡众生, 把佛陀,宗喀巴大师教诲和多杰雄登法门传播到世界每一个角落,利益众生。
尊贵的上师运用各种管道, 让人们参与他们喜好和专长的部门,实行佛法事业,净化业障,累积功德。克切拉佛教中心拥有13个部门,共修小组,位于文冬的克切拉禅修林, 超过3千万游览次数的博客, 面子书,推特,还有前所未有过的 “克切拉讲法师 ” 制度,务必让人们在不同的管道,接触佛法。
克切拉讲法师在克切拉团体扮演着非常重要的角色, 在尊贵的上师的加持下, 他们把佛法加倍迅速传播出去, 进行殊胜的法会,帮助往生者无论是人或动物超度,资产加持法会,佛法教学课程等等,主要就是像仁波切的宏愿,让在娑婆世界的众生们净化业障,累积功德和让他们得到佛的印记,让众生们脱离六道轮回,离苦得乐。
愿尊贵的上师健康,长寿,常转法轮,吉祥如意,所有宏愿一一的达成,所有众生尽快脱离六道轮回,离苦得乐!
感恩合十
YEO KWAI GIN
My association with Kechara Pastors started in Feb 2016. All this time I only know the word Pastor is confined only to Christianity but on a Buddhist platform it came as a surprise to me. My first contact with a Pastor was Pastor Adeline.
My first impression of Pastor Adeline was her brightness; to me she appears demure, pleasant, and one could feel a peaceful aura when standing next to her. I cannot help wondering why such a young lady would sacrifice her youth to do this type of work; it did not hit me until much later on after viewing and visiting Rinpoche’s website, Facebook and You tube video that made me realized that these are the people commonly labeled as “the dying breed.” I can understand that many of these young people went to a religious institution because of being unable to handle life’s pressures, being a social outcast, family rejects and for very many multiple reasons or as a form of escapism. However, these Pastors as I know now is highly educated and with good family background they would be able to stand high among the best in society if they chose to lead a mundane life. An afterthought would be that they must have found some gems far much greater and valuable than all the jewels on planet earth.
Pastor Adeline exudes pleasantness hard to describe an example would be like when I bite into a juicy apple you would not be able to understand its sweetness no matter how hard I try to explain it to you unless you choose to take a bite. Pastor Adeline has that type of qualities within her, my wife Christine always tells me that she likes to look at Pastor Adeline’s face because of her complexion in addition she could feel a deep sense of serenity whenever they meet.
I would summarize Pastor Adeline as a personification and a live example of Rinpoche’s teachings and if I may add through these Kechara ambassadors, Kechara would have no problems in meeting and fulfilling its objectives and I sincerely hope to be a part of this journey with Kechara
Kechara Pastors are very dedicated and they work tirelessly around the clock.
Please give support to the Pastors for the Dharma work to grow and the teachings to flourish.
It is very inspiring to learn about the story of Pastor Antoinette Kass. She first met His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche in 2011. Over the next four years, there were less than 24 hours of personal meeting between Pastor Antoinette and Rinpoche. Yet on Wesak Day 2015, Pastor Antoinette took a bold step forward by shaving her head and joining the big family of Kechara by becoming a Pastor.
Kechara’s Buddhist Pastors received their ordination from His Eminence, whose vows stem from an unbroken lineage of Tibetan Buddhist masters, tracing all the way back to Lord Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha. Pastors bridge the gap between the ordained Sangha and the everyday practitioner. By holding their Pastor’s vow, they make the Dharma more accessible to people, giving guidance and sharing their knowledge. You may find out more information about Kechara Pastors here : https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/kechara-13-depts/support-the-kechara-pastors.html
Thank you Rinpoche and Pastor Seng Piow for this blogpost.
Humbly, bowing down,
Stella Cheang
Dear Pastor Adeline,
We wish to express our heartfelt thanks to your taking care of us during our recent KFR open day visit on Dec 12th. My sister in law was very much impressed by what H.E. Tsem Rinpoche heavenly effort in setting up Kechara Malaysia and in disseminating and allowing Malaysian at large to know this lineage of Buddhism.
It was really very enlightening sharing my thoughts with you along the trip on several aspects of Buddhism, I must congratulate you and wholeheartedly admit your knowledge in Buddhism is pretty profound.
As you are pretty aware I am currently reading Liberation in the palm of your hand and recently purchased a book on Tsongkhapa, a simple guide to a powerful practice apart from the earlier book I purchased on If not now when. I really do find these books very absorbing.
My sister in law is pretty keen to become a life member and also Christine is also keen to become one too. They should be visiting the Sunday dharma talk at Kechara pretty soon to get to know more of H>E Tsem Rinpoche teachings.
Thank you once again Pastor Adeline
Dear Sonny,
I apologies for this late reply and thank you kindly for your kind words which humbled me further to continue learning and practising dharma. I wish very much to see Christine and sister to be in the dharma class and looking forward to having you in our big family. Please continue to learn and keep Rinpoche’s teachings at heart.
Thank you and please take care,
Pastor Adeline
To become a pastor is not easy. We should support in financial or others way. Pastor dharma teaching is very applicable in our daily life.Listen and understand is not enough for us to become a good person but we must practice it.Thanks Rinpoche and pastors hard work.
Kechara Pastors serve the public tirelessly with their limitless number of duties and services. With Rinpoche’s guidance, Kechara Pastors effectively fill their roles with compassion, kindness and empathy. Under the leadership of Pastor Yek Yee, Kechara Pastors maintain a high standard of behavior to effectively guide others spiritually. Please give your support to these wonderful Pastors of Kechara for their work to grow and benefit all sentient beings. Thank you Rinpoche for Kechara Pastors!
多谢上师的付出与培訓，誏克切拉跟别人不一样。我们多了Pastor可以为众生服務和讲解佛法，誏更多人更方便，容易了解佛法与得益 。还有法会，可以帮到很多人，非常棒。畢竟时代不同了，以前的人会自动去听和帮忙，而现在却是须要深入人心去弘揚。上师就像大医师，而Pastor就是實习医师。感恩上师及各位 Pastor 的無私付出。
The pastors name is synonymous with service. And the past few years have seen the pastors render all manner of services to the public and also grow in stature in terms of their skills and ability of benefitting others.
Thank you very much to Kechara pastors for bringing Lama Tsongkhapa to others and far and wide.
Yes, I agree that they deserve to get all the support they can, and they are worth it. Please support them from your heart. They practice Rinpoche’s teachings thoroughly by truly immersing themselves in dharma. I pray that the pastors and pastorship grow, grow and grow more. I admire you very much. Please carry on these wonderful jobs.
Thank you Rinpoche, and thanks to all the Pastors! Pastors are really like my parents (some are brothers and sisters of course :)), coz they unconditionally love us, help us, nurture us, guide us, no matter where and when. I must say this here, I love u all the Pastors! 🙂 _/\_
在克切拉团体裡有个特殊的制度，叫作讲法师制度！讲法师制度在2011年正式宣誓执行职责，刚开始的前两年，没有多少人了解这些穿着大紫红制服的人，也搞不清楚他们可以做到甚麽，对中心奉献甚麽？经过一段时间的努力和坚持，今天凡是大家提到克切拉讲法师，每个人都会给予几分尊重。
身为克切拉讲法师其中一份子的我，很感激上师尊贵的詹杜固仁波切的恩泽，给予我这样的一个机缘，藉以服务大众为善，为自己累世所留下来的无数恶业洗涤，并且储存足够的功德有望今生可以修习更高阶的持修法。
由于，仁波切多年来潜移默化的教导，让我把“我 ”开始慢慢地缩小，将“他人”逐渐地放大，刚开始很自豪地以为自己好了不起，很伟大似的；经历多了，听的看的多了之后，感受自然多了，不知那一天脑袋的某块乌云被吹了，才勐然悟到：“一切都是上师精心的安排，只为了要我在有能力的时候，为自己多做打算，资粮银行户口多存几亩功德田。。。”从仁波切高智慧善巧用心良苦的策划之下，凡有缘到来克切拉団体的每一位都是受惠者，不管是布施或接收的，两者皆受益无穷。因为，在这样一个施与受的过程中，大家都获得了上师和佛法的加持庇护，一举两得，何乐而不为呢？
从这样的一个双赢的制度之下，至尊宗喀巴大师的法教因应时代的需求而持续下去。仁波切从南印度到在星马这一带弘法，耗掉了整整20年的时间，只为了将格鲁巴的传承延续一代又一代。仁波切深明，如今物质横流的社会，人人都被俗事所牵绊，要在这样的环境之下培育一名出家人，无条件 推广佛法是非常艰难的事；因此，善巧的大成就者詹仁波切来一项创新且反传统的的讲法师制度，让在家的居士们弘扬佛法，让在家居士承担延续整个宗喀巴大师传承的担子；时代改变了，慈悲上师的方法也在改变中。为什麽呢？只为了顺应时代的要求和需求罢了。
所以，若果你明白这些慈悲上师的苦心和用心，请尽你所能，支持克切拉讲法师，让每位讲法师可以无后顾之忧地执心他们的任务和上师给予他们的使命！
Thank you Rinpoche to have Pastors system in Kechara. I would like to thank all Pastors for their 24/7 hard work, services and guidance.
So please support the Pastors work and effort for dharma to flourish to benefit all sentient beings
Dharma teaches us to bring to mindfulness and compassion on what we see and feel in heart and mind! Its time for us to broaden our circle of compassion to help lighten sufferings of beings by becoming more caring and loving, and find skilful way to unbind our sense, so that suffering can be transformed into an awakened heart that can do good to the world. Under the capable and dedicated leadership of Pastor Yek Yee, working on a 24/7 throughout the year, the Pastorship squad are compassionately seen doing what are most required. Like H.H. The Dalai Lama said, “I believe that every level of society, the key to a happier and more successful World is the growth of Compassion. All that is necessary is for each of us to develop our good human qualities”. Kindly, please support Kechara Pastorship programme generously to help them to carry on their sacred duties for the benefit of all Beings spiritually. Om Mani Padme Hung.
Pastors in Kechara serves many people from all walk of life within Malaysia and internationally. They do dharma work without any complain and spend hours and hours nurturing those who are not spiritually inclined yet and those who are not located near the dharma centre. They receive emergency phone call requests at any time of the day or night and will perform any prayers or attend to those in need at the drop of pen, on requests for help or assistance.
They are ‘real’ samaritans on the go from Kechara. They do not ask for anything in return but instead they give more than others.
So please support the Pastors work and effort for dharma to flourish to benefit you, others, friends and family.
I am so grateful to get sharing and learning from Kechara’s Pastors. From the gratitude and respect, i also learn how to do dharma work and serves to community. If without Pastors, I wouldn’t get to know more Buddha Philosophy from their sharing.
Thank you very much Tsem Rinpoche and all Pastors.
如何無私的講法師，他們的反應非常迅速，並24小時待命，服務须要幫助的人。即使深夜進行任何形式的祈禱。衷心的感謝和尊重Rinpoche 培養出，不知疲倦地只为他人离苦，忘却自我，而付出的講法師们！
Kechara Pastors work tirelessly to benefit people in our community and also the world. Their only intention is to help others in times of need whether spiritually, emotionally or even physically. They are available all the time when their services are needed.
In my opinion, people who are ordained as Pastors are selfless and they put the interest and benefits of others before themselves. From my observation, Kechara Pastors work 24×7 through out the years. It is a thankless job most of the time.
It is therefore a privilege for us to support the Pastors so that they can reach out to more people and help those who are truly in need. I hope more people will come to realize the hard work that Kechara Pastors put in and continue to support their work.
Thank You Rinpoche for creating this role to benefit people like us in a land that has little mass consciousness of Buddhism.
This is all about the blessing from Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. As your kindness, we are able to get the assistance from pastors and all the pastors in charge for different departments to spread dharma by different way. This is so rejoice to have all the pastors here in Kechara and I believe by the effort all the pastors contribute would really help people who r in suffer or who seek for spiritual guide. Tsem Rinpoche, thanks for your kindness. For all the pastors, thanks for your selfless love, really thank you.
We are the lucky people in the world. Thank you Rinpoche have a Pastor system in Kechara. At the beginning it is not easy.
But we believe Rinpoche, it is will benefit people.
Now everyday i can see Pastor with the puja team it is so busy to helping people all around. People benifited come to Kechara helping and volunteering.
Pastor services it make so important .
I want to thank you Rinpoche and all the Pastors .
My respect and gratitude too for His Eminence for creating this very innovative system of pastor-ship to help us laypeople in this time and age. This form of institutionalisation can ensure the long term perpetuation and localisation of Dharma for generations. _/\_
My sincere gratitude and respect for the pastors who are working tirelessly and compassionately for us. _/\_
Indeed with the Pastors, the gap between lay people and Dharma is bridged.
I have personally witness many accounts of how selfless the Pastors are. They respond very quickly and are accessible 24 hours, even at late hours for any sort of prayers.
The level of their commitment to Dharma, to Rinpoche and to the community is very strong.
Thank you Rinpoche, for forming up the Pastors.
We are so grateful that Tsem Rinpoche have implemented Pastor system in Kechara , with empowerment by Rinpoche , Kechara Pastors can help us in term of variety activities Eg marriage registration , bereavement puja..etc.we should support their works let more people can receive Tsem Rinpoche ‘s blessing .