As a staunch Christian, working mother Elaine Cheah never saw Buddhism as anything more than “idol worship”, a view which was perpetuated when she saw local “Buddhists” going to temples only when they wanted something. When she came across H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche’s YouTube videos, she was mesmerised – funny, eloquent and charismatic, Rinpoche answered all of the questions Elaine had been asking. Having made a sudden, dramatic detour in her life direction, Elaine says she was surprised how comfortably she eased into Kechara, as if she had finally come home.

Did you have any spiritual inclinations before coming to Kechara?

I went to Sunday School during my kindergarten days and later studied in a mission school where Bible Knowledge was a core subject. Then in my late teens, I became a “born again” Christian, was baptised, and attended and served actively in church. So yes, I had spiritual inclinations.

It is clear that you were a very committed and active practitioner of Christianity. If you were already a Christian, how did you come to be introduced to Kechara and why did you become a Buddhist?

It is true that I already had a religion, a good job, a nice family and I travelled everywhere. Life was humming along fine and I wasn’t looking for anything. But I did have questions about life that went unanswered despite my faith. Then one day, I stumbled upon the YouTube video of a good-looking guy who did not look like a monk. The man was funny, spoke very well and made sense. As I found more videos, I sat glued to the computer and soon one by one, the questions I had found their logical answers.

You mentioned you were asking questions? What kind of questions were you asking?

I wondered about inequality and why there was so much of it. I wondered how it could be so easy to receive salvation by just “repenting and confessing my sins” and if I could still get to go to Heaven if I sinned again. They were questions nobody could answer and I wasn’t supposed to ask them lest I be branded as one of little faith.

From the first video that you watched of H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche until now when you have received teachings directly from him, what can you say you like most about Rinpoche?

Rinpoche has been consistent in every video I have watched from years ago until today. Now that I have had the great fortune to study the Lamrim, I find that every one of his actions and words matches the Lamrim and the more I study, the more I get reaffirmation that he is the real deal. He doesn’t promote blind faith and takes the trouble to spend hours teaching and helping us to understand.

So what do you think the future has in store for Kechara? Where do you think Kechara will be in five years?

If my Guru says Kechara will go big time, I’d better believe him. He can see it, though I may not as I’m not a Buddha. Our future retreat centre, Kechara World Peace Centre (KWPC) will be a Gaden in Malaysia, albeit a modern one and when it manifests, I don’t intend to be part of the décor; I want to be one of those who will run it. To prepare for that eventuality, I will commit to do what I am doing now, well, and continue to find ways to do more.