The Kechara Education Committee comprises many senior and close students of H.E. Tsem Rinpoche, and was established to reach out to a range of spiritual seekers looking for answers to their questions.
For more information about the Education Committee and their classes, please contact us at education@kechara.com.
Pastor Susan Lim
Liaison and Head of Education
I grew up with a fascination and curiosity of the existence of extra-terrestrial lifeforms, near-death experiences and meditations, filling my head with books about such topics as well as Nostradamus, the Bible, and one Tibetan Buddhist book. I also lived my life as a Christian and a missionary for countless years.
However, four years ago, I met H.E. Tsem Rinpoche and the Dharma. It was through the Dharma, that I finally found the answers to many of the questions I had.
While I am still on my journey of learning and discovery, I am glad to be given the opportunity to share the little Dharma I have learnt and experienced through the Education Committee of Kechara House. I am grateful to H.E. Tsem Rinpoche and my Dharma brothers and sisters who have taught me what it is like to experience living in Dharma.
Jamie Khoo
Kechara Sunday Talk Speaker
It is still sometimes a bit of a surprise to me that I ended up becoming the coordinator for the Manjushri Dharma Classes at Kechara, considering I was never the type of person to attend Dharma talks!
By a strange and unexpected arrangement of the stars and a bit of help from my karma, I took on this portfolio and have enjoyed it tremendously ever since. Having joined Kechara in 2005, I have learnt a lot of Dharma from H.E. Tsem Rinpoche over the years and with my current portfolio as one of the Senior Editors of Kechara Media & Publications, it seemed only fitting, and a natural progression, to share this wealth of information with others via the weekly Manjushri Classes.
The teachings have benefited me so much since I met the Dharma and I wish that everyone might enjoy even a fraction of the huge peace and happiness that can be gained from the teachings.
It is my hope that by introducing many different aspects of Buddhism to others and by making the classes diverse and varied, many more people will be inspired to put the teachings into practice and make Dharma a part of their everyday lives.
David Lai
Kechara Sunday Talk Speaker
I was fortunate enough to have met H.E. Tsem Rinpoche as a friend while I was still going to church in 2003. At that time, I found him to be a remarkable spiritual teacher because he never tried to convert me or ever ask me to be his disciple. I remember one of his first teachings to me was to take what the Buddha taught and apply it into my life and not just believe in it blindly. That statement blew my mind – it was Rinpoche’s logic and reasoning that “converted” me.
However, my real faith in Rinpoche didn’t appear overnight; it took years. Rinpoche’s first advice to me was to write because he felt that I had great potential to develop myself in that field. It took me many years while I worked in Kechara Paradise outlets and even in the Ladrang before I found myself in Kechara Media & Publications. Eventually, I decided to just trust Rinpoche and start my Dharma career by writing my very first book. It has been quite a journey for me!
On the other hand, I found that I had a passion for sharing the Dharma with others while I was working in the Kechara Paradise stores. I loved Rinpoche’s teachings so I would share them with people who came into the stores. I don’t think I affected everybody but I do still occasionally receive feedback that what I had shared with them was beneficial. From there, I try to absorb as many Dharma teachings as I can through Rinpoche’s teachings, Manjushri class and other activities so I can share it with those who I meet.
Thierry Janssens
Kechara Sunday Talk, Simplified Lamrim and Lamrim Speaker
Originally from Belgium, I arrived in Malaysia in 1996, filling in for a job offer that was supposed to last two weeks. Almost 15 years later, I still wonder what happened!
Since then, and as an architect, I have travelled to many places on the globe, tasted many cuisines, met many people and experienced all types of weather under the sky.
In 2006, I got an iPod and started downloading podcasts (that is, talk-shows, educating or humorous radio programmes, etc.). By the magic of iTunes (and karma) some Buddhist talks “appeared” as well so I started listening to them while I was travelling or working.
I grew fond of a few speakers, one of which was Tsem Rinpoche. Yet, I had no idea he was just next door. I had assumed that he was somewhere in the USA as his American English was unmistakable. One day however, I was in an airplane listening to a talk by Rinpoche when he mentioned that he took students out to “Jalan Alor”” I even woke up my incredulous neighbour to tell him that I just found a great teacher and that he actually lives next door to me! I was ecstatic and furiously impatient to find out more and meet him.
Upon my return in KL, I immediately ventured into this deeply mysterious and frightening part of the city which I had managed to avoid all these years (Petaling Jaya and its surroundings). After many wrong turns, I finally arrived at Kechara House. There, I met Mama Jenny (now Anila) who was “holding the fort” while other members were in Nepal on a pilgrimage with Rinpoche.
Very soon after, I joined the recently started Lamrim Classes which I literally “devoured” like I did the most delicious food after years of tasteless and sickening junk. The knowledge I managed to gather in studying the Lamrim got me started on my journey of sharing and giving. And voila! Lah! This is how I began and am continuing in Dharma.
Sharon Saw
Kechara Sunday Talk Speaker
After 17 years in the UK, I finally returned to Malaysia and continued enjoying life to the full, with what I thought were great jobs, working in the Prime Minister’s Department during the Asian economic crisis, then changing to writing for a popular magazine, scriptwriting, corporate videos and movies and TV shows.
In 2005, I was invited to be a scriptwriter for a documentary series for HE Tsem Rinpoche and the first time I met him, I was completely enthralled. I had always been spiritually curious and finally, I met someone who could answer all my questions about God, the universe and the meaning of life… and then some.
I began volunteering at Kechara Media & Publications and soon found that samsaric jobs were not as fulfilling (nor fun!) as Dharma work and it was a no-brainer to join KMP full-time. The rest, as they say, is history.
When Jamie, my fellow KMPian, asked if I’d like to join her team to facilitate the Manjushri class, I readily agreed – it is really a privilege to share Rinpoche’s teachings with others. Under Jamie’s creative direction and the team’s enthusiasm, the Manjushri classes have evolved to become interactive, varied and fabulously fun sessions.
To reach more people, especially those who are far away, I’ve recently started live streaming the fun Sunday Manjushri sessions live on www.livestream.com/kechara. We have been having a great response and growing. Dharma friends from all over the world log in – from US, UK, Netherlands, Thailand, Singapore and Australia – and participate actively in online discussions. So now you can join the class in person or online – what excuse have you got not to attend!
Pastor Kok Yek Yee
Manjushri Class (Chinese) Speaker
Chinese Committee
In recognition of the large Chinese-speaking population in this region, many events and activities at KECHARA are held in Chinese (Mandarin), and most publications by Kechara Media & Publications are bilingual. Thus, although H.E. Tsem Rinpoche speaks English, great benefit has been predicted for this region, including China, through Rinpoche’s Dharma activities.
For more information about Chinese-language events and activities at Kechara, please contact Liaison Kok Yek Yee at yekyee.kok@kechara.com or call +6012 388 3390.
