For the newly-dubbed Kecharians, this was their first informal gathering since the new Kechara House Committee assumed office. Around some delicious afternoon tea, more than 140 members from as far away as Singapore came to witness history in the making.

It may have been a closed-door, private function filled with familiar faces but the organising committee spared no effort in decorating the venue, Kechara Oasis. Members mingled amongst the theme colours of the Kechara World Peace Centre (KWPC) project of black, slate and green, catching up with old friends and making new ones.

It was very busy at the registration table!

A different kind of family... a Dharma family!

Emceed by Associate Liaison Phng Li Kim, Liaison Paul Yap and Dino Goh, there was a strong sense of anticipation in the air as the afternoon began with an opening speech by Kechara House President and Liaison Datuk May Phng. Our beloved Dragon unveiled renderings of the new Kechara Gompa, which will consist of four adjoining shoplots down what we have come to know as Jalan Kechara (Kechara Street). Datuk May said that a year ago, she had not believed His Eminence Tsem Tulku Rinpoche when he said we would soon need bigger premises… until she noticed at an event the number of shoes left out in the stairwell! She realised that for the second time in a decade, Kechara House has outgrown her premises – in recent teachings, attendees have packed our current premises, taking up every available seating space except for the toilets!

Enthusiastic emceeing made it an interactive afternoon

Datuk May addressing the big big crowd

Well, that will soon be a thing of the past as Datuk May explained the new Gompa will be able to accommodate 650 people comfortably. She opined that if we were to outgrow this new Gompa again before KWPC manifests, then we would have to build a Menara Kechara (Kechara Tower)… who knows, in the world of Kechara, anything could happen!

Sitting amongst the crowd were these 21 Taras, ready for anyone to invite home

Datuk’s talk led seamlessly to Liaison Henry Ooi’s, who has been a loyal student of Rinpoche for over 10 years and who is a member of the Executive Committee of KWPC. Henry first described the role of the liaisons and liaisons’ council, as well as the function of the Board of Directors before describing the key ingredients to make KWPC manifest – commitment, communication and promotion.

Current Board of Directors... and future Board of Directors? Maybe!

So how DO we build a legacy? In a recent teaching, Rinpoche provided the answer – together. Individually, we might not be able to achieve much but as they say, many hands make light work; our combined effort and commitment will lead KWPC to manifest. Since every member counts and the magnitude of KWPC calls for greater numbers, it makes sense that we promote KWPC, our Lama, our centre so that membership enrolment increases.

Elaborating on communication, Henry said this extends beyond casual chatter or interacting within the confines of our favourite cliques. Every member goes through a personal journey with ups and downs; banding together as dharma brothers and sisters makes this journey easier, especially for members just beginning, whom we should nurture.

Kechara inMotion were out in full force to capture all of the special moments

So commit, communicate and promote – each member must volunteer now, to create the causes for KWPC. Henry threw logic to the crowd – if we wait for KWPC to manifest first and then volunteer, it will never happen. So we must give our time, expertise, talent, effort and resource now.

For Kechara inMotion, Henry’s speech was the culmination of weeks of preparation when he screened their video of KWPC, which had the audience mesmerised. With mouths agape and eyes transfixed on the screen, each scene unfolded as we were taken on a visual tour, finally able to behold (in 3D!) our Lama’s vision for our retreat centre.

Henry and Yew Seng

The urgency of Henry’s message, and the importance of our personal involvement, was echoed in an impassioned speech by Liaison Loh Seng Piow, Rinpoche’s very loyal Personal Attendant. Seng Piow pointed out that in one of Rinpoche’s previous lives, he was a close disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa who set up Gaden monastery 600 years ago, a legacy that is still alive today.

Now, 600 years later, Rinpoche has returned to build another monastery. With his merits to take KWPC anywhere in the world, to whatever realm he chooses, we are very fortunate that he chose Malaysia, amongst our particular group, in this particular timeframe… are we willing for this once-in-many-lifetimes chance slip us by? If that happens, who are the losers?

Can we wait another 600 years?

Can YOU wait another 600 years?

Don’t be left behind!

Everyone wanted a piece of KWPC!

Kechara Care (left ) , Kecharians!