Tsongkhapa song- sung to the tune of Ghostbusters

If there's something strange
in your neighborhood
Who ya gonna call?
TSONGKHAPA!

If there's something weird
and it don't look good
Who ya gonna call?
TSONGKHAPA!

He ain't afraid of no ghosts
He ain't afraid of no ghosts

If you're seeing things
running through your head
Who can ya call?
TSONGKHAPA!

An invisible man
sleeping in your bed
Who ya gonna call?
TSONKHAPA!

He ain't afraid of no ghosts
He ain't afraid of no ghosts

Who ya gonna call?
TSONGKHAPA!

If ya all alone
pick up your mala
and call
TSONGKHAPA

He ain't afraid of no ghosts
He ain't afraid of no ghost
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

Who ya gonna call?
TSONGKHAPA

If you've had a dose of a
freaky pontianak lady
Ya better call
TSONGKHAPA!

He ain't afraid of no ghosts
He ain't afraid of no ghosts

Don't get caught alone no no

TSONGKHAPA

When it comes through your door
Unless you just want some more
I think you better call
TSONGKHAPA

Who ya gonna call?
TSONGKHAPA

Who ya gonna call?
TSONGKHAPA

I think you better call
TSONGKHAPA

Who ya gonna call?
TSONGKHAPA

I can't hear you
Who ya gonna call?
TSONGKHAPA

Louder
TSONGKHAPA

Who ya gonna call?
TSONGKHAPA

Who can ya call?
TSONGKHAPA

Who ya gonna call?
TSONGKHAPA
Yesterday was Lama Tsongkhapa day. It is a holy day for all Tibetans and Buddhists as it commemorates the Passing and Enlightenment of the great creator of the Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Lineage, the Second Buddha, Lama Tsongkhapa.

After helping to set up the day before, there was nothing much that needed my helping other than a few more extra cushions.

Before the prayers, Uncle David gave us a wonderful presentation about Lama Tsongkhapa. The link to the presentation is here:


Please watch it. It is a very well organized video presentation. It is in Chinese but there are English Subtitles.

After Uncle David's presentation, Rinpoche came. He gave a talk on the basic knowledge of Lama Tsongkhapa and he also told us to stop taking from our loved ones.

Rinpoche also said that if one wants to learn the Dharma, one should request sincerely to the Lama as the Lama holds the knowledge. Rinpoche also talked about why we must prostrate to the Lama. We are actually not prostrating to the Lama, we are prostrating to the knowledge which he holds as it can bring us towards Enlightenment.

I also learnt that our main Buddhas are Lama Tsongkhapa and Vajrayogini. When the lights are dark and you see a thing with no head, who do you call? TSONGKHAPA.

The thing that stood out in the talk for me is that I should stop just taking and taking and taking from my family but instead I should actually be giving back as they have cared for me during most of their lives. I should not just mooch of them.

And another thing that Rinpoche said that stood out to me was that a way to be holy is to make someone smile in this case it would be Mama.

After Rinpoche's talk, we done a quick Lama Chopa because the main thing here is that Rinpoche has given a Dharma talk that is already as good as doing a puja but we still should do it.

I have decided to make a little song, hehe:

If there's something strange
in your neighborhood
Who ya gonna call?
TSONGKHAPA

If there's something weird
and it don't look good
Who ya gonna call?
TSONGKHAPA

He ain't afraid of no ghosts
He ain't afraid of no ghosts

If you see a pontianak,
Who ya gonna call,
TSONGKHAPA!


I helped out a lot before the gompa opening. I helped move chairs and tables. I am so happy I managed to do it. Why? Because I am helping Kechara House to have a smooth gompa opening.

Let me tell you how the place looks through words.

First, you can enter either by the automatic sliding door or the side door. Upon entering, you would be greeted by the receptionist counter. Then when you turn left and up a small flight of stairs, you can see the shoe room that can fit many shoes.

After taking a glance at the shoe room and placing your shoes there, you can walk up a bigger flight of stairs to reach the Sunshine room. That is where you would be greeted by a heartwarming statue of Buddha Shakyamuni that is brightly shining like the sun then you can walk into the library, where an ocean of knowledge will be available and where the MKC classes for younger kids would be held.

Outside the Sunshine room, you will be in the main hall. In the main hall there is a 10-foot statue of the one that manifested the Gelugpa lineage, Lama Tsongkhapa. On His left, there is a beautiful statue of Vajrayogini and on His right there is the protector, Lord Setrap Chen.

That would be a tour of Kechara's New Gompa.

I could not attend the real opening as people below 18 years old cannot attend :(

Yesterday, I went to the new Kechara Gompa to help out. I helped carry water bottles up and later I helped out at the new Kechara Gallery.

Kechara Gallery was so beautiful but I know it will look more beautiful as I have not seen it finished. Among all the museums/galleries I have ever seen in my life, I think that the Kechara Gallery is by far one of the best. It was very organized and it was not stuffed with so much stuff that do not mean anything.

I helped out at the gallery by removing the plastic wrappings of the books by KMP that are going to be on display. After that, I helped to open plastic which surrounded Lama Tsongkhapa Tsa Tsas. I also had to peel off a price tag. The price tag was quite hard to remove because I am not good at peeling anything with my fingernails.

Suddenly, there was a beep on the door and Rinpoche came in with his Aunt Matza and Sara.

Rinpoche gave us all a grand tour of the gallery. Also I remembered how he talked about the last time he saw his mother. He gave his mother some flowers and left that night to become a monk. I thought that the story was so touching because even when Rinpoche left his home one last time he still showed respect to his mother.

Later, we all sat inside the KWPC room to watch the KWPC video with the top to bottom projector. I thought that the video was very nice but there is going to be a new one so I am quite excited to watch it.

After watching the video, we all sat down and Rinpoche talked together with all of us. Aunt Matza explained that the Kalmyks and the Mongols were once together in one tribe, then they split up. Some went into China some went to Mongolia and some went into Russia. I also learnt about how Rinpoche's mother abused him when he was younger. He was talking about his mother not because he wants to put her down because there was no point to since his mother was already dead.

Aunt Matza said that even in death, Rinpoche's mother died with anger. Her eyes were almost completely black with red at the side. They even tried to turn the body's head because they were scared of the eyes.

Rinpoche said that when people die angry then the person would most likely not be born in the human realm but will be reborn in the spirit realm and not for only a year or two but for a hundred years. That is why people can see the same residential spirit for many generations.

After that we went to the new Gompa. I went to the toilet as I had a bad stomach ache. After that, I wanted to go up but I saw everyone was sitting down. I did not want to interrupt everyone so I guess I was quite stupid not to sms Mama for instructions.

So, I went down to help out with packing pearls.

Later, I got an sms from Mama telling me to go up. So i went up and sat down quietly. I missed out the whole Dharma Talk. I was only in time to see Rinpoche give out some gifts and leave. I felt quite sad that I missed out on everything.
As a pet owner I have to be responsible for how my pets react. I usually would compliment on how cute a stray animal looks but I actually would not be responsible when taking care of it if I invite it home.

I am supposed to be responsible when I am to feed the dogs yet I usually do not feed them because I usually would ignore my responsibilities.

So actually when I do not get liked by the dogs, I guess they do not trust me much because I do not take care of them that much.

I think I should be more responsible when it comes to taking care of my pets and therefore I will be more responsible in taking care of my pets.
Today, I went to a MKC fun outing. Today was bowling. I found it very hard to bowl as my thumb was to fat for the 12 pound ball but to small for the 13 pound ball.

There was actually a prize for the top scorers. All of them were the younger kids. It was basically impossible for them to get gutter balls because of the blocking fence. Later, I understood that the fence was actually to prevent the kids from getting discouraged while playing the game so that they will keep on playing.

I got either gutter balls or a 3 or a 9 point bowl always.

After that Aunty Ling took me out to the Chinese Book fair at The Mines because I was supposed to meet Mama there so I can volunteer. I did and I started.

I tried my best but the end result was still I did not even manage to sell any books but Mama told me over dinner that it is okay to fail as long as you have tried your best.

I even met one of the teachers who teaches at my school. I did not recognize her at first but when she talked to me then I only recognized her as one of the school faculty.
One of the few things I really love in my life is to have privacy. I know that it is a really selfish thought but I usually feel like I want to have a lot of privacy. By privacy I usually mean around a few hours to myself to just relax or have fun.

I also think that other people deserve privacy so I try my best not to interrupt others if they are doing any work and I would give them as much space as they need.

I like having fun with other people a lot but then not to much as I am more of a shy person and I am usually afraid of ruining everyone else's fun so I just stand around less crowded places until I get accustomed to what's happening or someone invites me to join in.

I also like food. I guess that the saying of "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" applies to me.

I just love to sleep. If I could sleep or a few extra hours in the morning I would take them but I would not want to sleep at night.

But the thing I love the most in life is to do the Dharma. If I am able to do anything to help Kechara House I would take the chance and do it.

I guess most of the stuff I like in life are usually quite selfish but I am working on changing that.

After the Bio team for Rinpoche's biography who went to America returned to Malaysia. Mama, Aunty Jamie and Aunty Su Ming got me some neat gifts. Pictures will be added after I take pictures of them that means tomorrow.

Mama got me two T-shirts. They are related to the President. I really like the shirts. They make me feel like I am really an undercover agent for the President. :P

Aunty Jamie got me a whole packet of the halloween Wonka candy. I find something quite funny. The day before I got the gift, I was actually reading the "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory". The candy tasted so nice.

Aunty Su Ming got me a mask of Billy from the horror show, "SAW" I really love it. I feel an affiliation with the mask. I feel like wearing it wherever I go.

These are my views from the blog post on H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche's blog. (http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/2010/06/the-beginning.html)

As the post mentions about dualism and emptiness. It is mentioned as two doors. I believe that ever since I was born I have been continuously been walking in the door of dualism. I learned the meaning of dualism from Mama who explained to me that dualism means that you would like or dislike something. Just like how I think that Durian tastes bad and others think it tastes heavenly. That would be an example of Dualism.

Now, I would understand what is Dualism but I still cannot understand what is emptiness. I think that it would be about not having a favourite, a like or a dislike, just nothing if it is opposing to the door to dualism. I am guessing that from the Heart Sutra, Emptiness is shown as accepting everything as not real, as an illusion. I know I am wrong in this because not many would know what emptiness really is.

The next thing about the post that I would like to talk about is what happens at the end. Is it just the end?

The answer is,"NO!" Since everything ends in death as the post says so. I don't think that there would be a real reason to go and collect all the worthless things in life that will only benefit us when we are alive. Material objects are not needed in our lives. After death, we will be forgotten, everything we worked so hard for would just be taken away. We should go to the doorway that will give something better after life. That doorway would be the doorway to emptiness.

When we go into that doorway, we can still keep something that is at more worth than any material objects that we are keeping in our wallets or safe houses now. We can keep our mind and get freedom from the other doorway that would only lead to suffering, suffering and more and more suffering.

The only thing that we actually would have is our mind. It follows us everywhere we go, taking different forms. We actually have experienced everything in our life before. We just keep on re-experiencing it life by life. Just like a tape recorder playing by itself over and over again.

At the end of each life cycle, we would just be dying again and then get born again and die again. I would feel very bored if I would be able to feel like that right now to grow old then die then get young again. Then do it again and again. If my mind could remember what happens in my cycle I think that I would get a headache.

So, the thing causing this cycle to keep on going on and on is our greed, attachments and desire. We are basically tricking ourselves thinking that the place we will be going is somewhere new but it is just re-experiencing all over again.

Then, there is the path Buddhas of the past have traversed and the Buddhas of the future would walk into. That path is the path I want to go on because there is no bad things that could come out of it. I would be free from the chains of samsara that bind. The path is the path to enlightenment.
Sorry, I have not written my blog for a while. Let me first tell you something. Mama told me that you can write about many things, you just have to be aware of what is happening.

A few days ago, I went to KSA to roll matras. I rolled quite a big one. I thought that rolling mantras is very fun. It was quite difficult at first. I was using quite of a slow method to roll mantras. In the end, I took a leap of faith to not use the slow method but instead use the quicker method. Instead of placing one by one. I did 3 by 3 then eventually 5 by 5. Then it became very big.

After rolling mantras that day, I followed Mama to go to Delicious at Bangsar Village II to eat at a small dinner with KMP liaisons. Uncle David, Aunty Jamie, Aunty Susan, Aunty Li Kim, Mama and Julien was there. It was a very merry night as we chatted till late.

On Sunday, there was a normal Manjushri Kids Class. The last teaching class for the year. I think it has something to do with the opening of the new gompa and the school holidays. The class was about H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche's blog (just click on the word "blog" to go to Rinpoche's blog). Firstly, we were discussing about the world's tallest man, Bao who saved the dolphins by putting his extremely long arm into the dolphin and pulling out some plastic that someone littered into the aquarium. I really think that he is good at using what is exceptionally special about him to benefit others, in this case his long arm that goes with his tall body.

I find littering plastics or any form of rubbish on the streets or in the ocean is just simply unacceptable. Each time one person throws a plastic bag into the ocean, one turtle would get smothered to death after thinking that the plastic bag was a jellyfish and tried to eat it. Each time one person throws a plastic bottle on the road, a dog might think that is food and will try to eat it. Then, it would die. We should be more careful when it comes to rubbish or else we might be hurting other sentient beings.

The Second thing we were discussing about was about one older blog post on Rinpoche's blog called, The Beginning (http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/2010/06/the-beginning.html). I will give my views on a different blog post.

Yesterday, after tuition, I went to KSA to do more mantra rolling but this time I had to roll images instead. The images were rolled in five. I ost count of how much I did. It was quite difficult. I lost focus and the whole thing unraveled many times.
Yesterday, I made my Tuition teacher walk out of my house because I did not complete the homework she had given me many times.

I am really sorry for what I had done.

I did not do my homework because I did not like doing it. I did not like doing it because I dislike sitting there doing something boring.

Mama gave me advice saying that I should do the things that I do not want to do first then only I should relax or play.

At first, I did not heed her advice so now I have to bear my consequences.

From now on, I will follow her advice to prevent me from landing in this same position again.

Today shall be a short blog post.


Aunty Susan explained to me about certain thangkas through pictures of them. But before I begin to tell you what she taught me I shall first provide the definition of a thangka.

The definition is:


The thangkas that Aunty Susan explained to me were the Guru Tree of the Gelug Lineage, Yamantaka, Heruka Chakrasamvara and Vajrayogini.

Let us start first at the Guru Tree of the Gelug Lineage.

This picture comes from google.

Let's start with the big picture and then details later.

On the left is the Compassion/Bodhicitta method, represented by Maitreya. On the right is the Wisdom/Profound method represented by Manjushri. It is profound because wisdom is rare.

On the top of the Guru Tree, there are five beings that are the start of the 5 tantric lineages. I will explain them one by one. (from left to right)


1. Guhyasamaja - He represents the father tantra = Compassion

2. Yamantaka
3. Vajradhara
4. Atisha - He is the only human here.
5. Heruka Chakrasamvara represents mother tantra = Wisdom, will explain more later.

On the top left there is a cloud, that is Tushita Heaven. Maitreya, Atisha and Tsongkhapa reside there. On the top right there is another cloud, that is the Western Paradise of Sukhavati. Amitabha, Vajrapani and Chenrezig are notable Buddhas who reside there.

At the bottom of the tree are the 4 Heavenly kings. In Chinese, they are called si da tian wang.

Anything beyond the protectors at the bottom of the Guru Tree, we cannot take refuge in.

The Guru Tree is based on the Mahayana's view of sutra & tantra.



These are the 35 confessional Buddhas. These Buddhas are quite interesting.

Atisha taught that before these Buddhas became enlightened, they were Bodhisattvas. They did many lifetimes 0f prayers.

These Buddhas include the 5 Dhyani Buddhas.

It is said that upon just reciting their names, it will purify eons of bad karma.

There are supposed to be distinct colours for each Buddha. In the centre, there is Buddha Shakyamuni and his two main disciples - Shariputra and Maudgalyayana.

That is all I know of the painting. If there is anything to add, please tell me.

This is the Medicine Buddha. Medicine Buddha or Menlha is the Buddha of the Eastern Paradise. He is the colour of lapis lazuli.

In the bowl there is the arura plant, on his hand there is the Myrobalan plum.

Now for something very interesting .....


This is Vajrayogini! Kechara house's main deity.

She has a Khatanga on her elbow = Heruka.

She drinks blood from the skull cup to represent constantly having Bodhicitta.

There is fire coming out from every pore of her body = wisdom fire that burns up all delusions.

Her hair is unfettered = nothing holds her back

Damaru and bell on the khatanga = realization of emptiness

Drigug on her left hand = cut away ignorance.

50 skulls = 50 guru devotions.

On the bottom of her feet there are two gods. Bhairava (Hatred and Ignorance, Blue) & Kalarati (Desire, red). She is focusing a lot of her energy on stepping on Bhairava because she stops hatred & ignorance.

This is all I am going to talk about for today.

We must be kind to all animals in all places.



Please be kind to me!

Animals are usually treated really badly around the world. I have seen many forms of abuse on animals from H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche's Blog. Rinpoche posts many videos and shares a lot of information on the abuse they are suffering. Most of the time, animals are abused right in front of our eyes but we choose just not to notice it. I have seen animal abuse with my own eyes as I have previously mentioned in my blog. Animals do have feelings. They do have souls. They are sentient beings. They DO NOT deserve to have to go through all of these sufferings. I believe that they are already going through many hardships already as they are in the Animal realm (one of the three lower realms).

One person who I really admire when it comes to being kind to animals would be H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. He is my role model when it comes to being kind to animals because I have heard many things that he does for animals that normal people like me would not do. Rinpoche feeds animals on the streets of Malaysia without a second thought. Rinpoche also has an aviary that is a household of many cute tweety birds. He also has two turtles - Kadro and Menlha and two doggies - Yogi and Oser.

Rinpoche's greatest project that will be contributing to kindness towards animals would be -Kechara Animal Sanctuary. Here is the website: http://www.kechara.com/animal-sanctuary/

When it comes up, I want to go there every week to help and play with all the little mumus.

I currently have many pets, these pets are giving me a great opportunity to be kind to animals. My Pets are:

Cats:
1) Brush, she is the queen cat of the house.
2) Christmas, he is christmas because he can eat a lot just like how I would at an Xmas feast.
3) Dorje, named indestructible but he is mentally handicapped.
4) Puss puss, he adopted us upon coming to our house, he confuses my hand with a scratching post.
5) Tara, the timid queen of the house

Dogs:

Jannic, adopted guard dog, big but not deadly.
Lester, adopted dog, was burnt and abandoned, he is a tough cookie, his bark is worse than his bite.

Hamsters:

Flip
Flop (deceased)

I guess I have a mini zoo!

I hope that Kechara Animal Sanctuary WILL GROW!

Last Saturday, Kechara Care held their first annual Halloween Party.

The entrance was emblazened with bloodied letters, "KEEP OUT!" as a warning for those who are not Halloween fanatics.

I dressed up as a vampire. I had to not wear my fangs most of the time as it kind of hurts. Anyway, back to this tale of horror.

Upon passing the reception counter, I was greeted by a hanging severed leg. Followed by cob web that tangled me. The scenery was really horrific.

After that, a magician came and mesmerized everyone in the illusions such as him nearly cutting off his finger.

To end the night, Kechara Care turned on the projector and screened a horror movie, "Drag me to Hell". The synopsis can be found on wikipedia.

That was the end of the Halloween spooks night.


Wake = Night Funeral

I discovered what is the meaning of the word wake. It actually meant a funeral at night. I went to the wake of Aunty Su Ming's grandmother. My deepest condolences to her and her family.

This was another reminder that death is so near by. Life is just so impermanent.

Once Again, my deepest condolences.
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