Taiping-born Annette Chan is an accredited gemmologist. With a creative and healing nature, Annette also holds a diploma in interior design and is currently working towards her degree in holistic nutrition. Annette is a regular supporter of Kechara Media & Publications (KMP) – not only does she sponsor publications, but Annette has also taken part in a 10-week prostration retreat with the rest of the KMP team. Having found much peace and benefit from H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s teachings, Annette wishes to share the same results with others.

Why did you join Dharma work, especially while working towards a degree at the same time? It must be quite a lot of work for you!

No, not at all! I think that as someone who is very blessed and fortunate, and has a very comfortable life, it is about time I should contribute back. However, I never consider Dharma as work; it is purely just Dharma to me, it is a joy.

So how did you come to know about Kechara?

It wasn’t through my jewellery background, although that could have been possible! I guess there really is no such thing as coincidence because I was actually introduced to Kechara House by Liaison Henry Ooi and his wife, Angel Lee.

When did you start Dharma and why do you like it?

Quite soon after Henry and Angel introduced me to Kechara House, I started becoming involved in Dharma and volunteering at Kechara in 2006. I like Dharma because it answers a lot of the questions and doubts that have been with me for many years. It helps to bring peace to my mind.

Having received teachings from H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, can you please tell us what you like about him?

I wouldn’t use the word ‘like’ when it comes to Rinpoche; I prefer to say I respect him like I respect my parents, or even more so. Because Rinpoche is so selfless and kind, and his methods are so full of wisdom, it is difficult for me to find words that describe how much he means to me. People need to experience and see it for themselves in order to understand what I’m talking about.

Where do you see Kechara in five years’ time? Will you be in Kechara’s future?

Kechara will be big in five years’ time! All of the students are so dedicated and Rinpoche’s vision is from such good motivation, that Kechara World Peace Centre(KWPC) will have manifested by then. I definitely think that in five years’ time I will be engaging in retreats in KWPC!