Refuge

Recently, I entered a school essay competition. I doubt I would win because the thing I wrote about was about Buddhism and I bet that none of the teachers would understand.

The question of the essay was to end the essay with this sentence, "I shall not forget this day for the rest of my life."

I wrote about taking refuge under my wonderful spiritual guide, H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. It was the first thing that popped into my mind.

Here is the essay (I modified it a bit for more detail as there are no word limits here and I also forgot certain parts of what I had written) :

Out of all the memorable things that happened in my life, there is only one day that would stay in my mind forever, because that day changed my once worthless life into something worth living for. That was the day I took refuge under my spiritual guide, His Eminence Tsem Tulku Rinpoche.

I took refuge a few years ago. It was an auspicious day and it so happened to be my birthday!

I was so nervous that day. I remember I did not know the first thing to do.

Then, H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche walked in the prayer hall. I settled down on a cozy cushion in front of the throne and followed the instructions to take refuge.

After that, Rinpoche said out the names of all those who have received refuge and gave out their refuge names. I was there but I did not have any refuge name. Mama asked Rinpoche about my status of refuge because I did not get my refuge name. Rinpoche said, "Okay, Lets do it now."

I sat down in front of Rinpoche while Rinpoche sat on a chair. I did all the instructions as I have done them before earlier that night. Then, Rinpoche gave me my refuge name, "Tenzin Khenchen" which means bringing up the Buddhist Teachings intelligently.

Because of the amazing feeling I had that day, I thought to myself, "I shall not forget this day for the rest of my life."

That concludes my essay.

Thus, ever since that day, I am a student of H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and my refuge name is Tenzin Khenchen.