Dr Lanse Chiah

30 January 2012 - 7:35pm No Comments

Liaison of Kechara Media & Publications

I was introduced to the Kechara Organisation in 2007 by Liaison Kok Yee Yee who is an old friend of mine. Her transformation of attitude after joining Kechara made me curious about this organisation.

After reading “Be Greedy”, the first Chinese book published by Kechara Media & Publications, my curiosity increased even more as I’ve never read a Dharma book that delivers Dharma knowledge in such a logical and easy to understand way.

H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s teachings made an impact in my mind even though I used to be sarcastic about spirituality and religious beliefs.

In 2008, when Liaison Yek Yee wanted me to help in some translation work for Rinpoche’s Dharma teaching “23 hours”, I immediately agreed. I wanted to find out more about Rinpoche’s teachings, but not because I started to like Him. In fact, I actually wanted to find a mistake in Rinpoche’s teachings so that I could continue convincing myself that all religions just existed to provide those in need with some psychological counseling with some superstitious elements. My attempt failed.

To cut the story short, the more I learned about Rinpoche’s teachings, the more I realised that my old belief was wrong. Buddhism is not something superstitious but a true way of living. Dharma is life and it’s very logical. So I started to work as a part-time translator in Kechara Media & Publications in 2009 then decided to become a full time Dharma worker the next year.

I have never regretted my decision to join Dharma full time. The truth is that I’m much happier and more settled now. This is what I can never get from working in the secular world.


Portfolio

  • Translator & Editor, Kechara Media & Publications
  • Chief Editor, Chinese Translation Team


Background

I graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Jinan University, China. Before joining Kechara Media & Publications as a full time translator, I was a lecturer at a local traditional Chinese medicine college where I taught subjects from western medicine to future TCM to doctors so that they can combine both western and eastern diagnostic methods in order to meet modern society’s needs.


Contact

[E] [email protected]

 
 

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Dr. Lanse Chiah

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Rinpoche also told me that I’m full of anger, which I never recognised before. I realised that he was right and anger had complicated my life all this while. I’m very thankful to Rinpoche for his kind words.

Dr. Lanse Chiah, 38
Translator Kechara Media & Publications
Committee Member Chinese Committee

After graduating with a Bachelor of Medicine in 1999 from Jinan University, Guangzhou, Dr. Lanse Chiah never thought that she would one day find herself practising Dharma in a Tibetan Buddhist organisation as her background was in Theravadan Buddhism. Currently a part-time lecturer of traditional Chinese medicine at a local college, Lanse joined the Chinese division of Kechara Media & Publications in February 2009 on a part-time basis as a translator, transcriber, and writer-cum-editor for the Chinese newsletter, Eye of Kechara.


Tell us about yourself, Lanse, how would you describe yourself as a person? Have you learnt anything about yourself since joining Kechara?

I was always proud of myself for what intelligence I had, but later found out it was an obstacle for my spiritual growth as it transformed into nutrients for my ego. H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche also told me that I’m full of anger, which I never recognised before. I realised that he was right and anger had complicated my life all this while. I’m very thankful to Rinpoche for his kind words.


How were you introduced to Kechara? Was it through someone already at Kechara, through YouTube, a feature in a magazine…?

In 2007, Associate Liaison Kok Yek Yee asked my housemate Boon (also a freelance translator for Kechara Media & Publications) to do a Chinese voice-over for the Journey to Gaden DVD. She gave Boon a copy of the book Be Greedy so that Boon could learn about Rinpoche and his teachings. Although Boon couldn’t help with that project, it was through Yek Yee and that book that I had my first encounter with Kechara and Rinpoche’s teachings.


After reading the book, and learning more about Rinpoche, what attracted you to stay at Kechara?

Rinpoche’s logical way of teaching Dharma, and the way he incorporates Dharma into daily life attracted me most. Other major contributing factors were the sudden changes in Yek Yee’s attitude towards religion and her increased humility.


Before coming to Kechara, did you have any spiritual inclinations? Were you or your family practising any particular faith?

I always thought that I would end up following Theravadan Buddhism as my Thai grandmother would bring me to the Siamese Temple when I was a little girl. She was a very kind person who, during her old age, told me the life story of Buddha Shakyamuni. She taught me to recite the refuge prayer whenever I felt scared – I have done so for the past thirty years and despite having found my Guru, I still recite the prayer in memory of my grandma.


How do you see spirituality in moving you forward towards achieving your aspirations?

The more I learn about spirituality, the more I know about my big ego and what I am attached to. I believe most of us will not change our perceptions until we find out we are wrong. Once we start to admit we are wrong, it is the beginning of self-improvement.

 
 

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