Tsem Tulku Rinpoche (24 October 1965 – 4 September 2019) was a recognised tulku of Kalmyk descent, an incarnate lama of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, and the founder and spiritual guide of Kechara House Buddhist Association with its headquarters in Malaysia. , Kechara official websiteSocialite becomes a volunteer in Malaysian soup kitchen, BBCDatuk May Phng, Malaysia Tatler Society 20 Jan 2016Helping to keep mozzies at bay, The Star Malaysia
Rinpoche was born on 24 October 1965 in Taiwan to a Tibetan father and Mongolian mother, and was adopted by an American-Mongolian family. His adoptive name was Burcha Bugayeff.The journey of a lifetime, The Star Malaysia In 1987, at the age of 22, Rinpoche received full ordination from the 14th Dalai Lama and became a monk of Ganden Shartse Monastery in India. Starting in 1992 Rinpoche lived in Malaysia where he commenced work on the establishment of Dharma Institutes.Malaysia — Fun-loving teacher Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, Buddha Channel TV One of the institutes he founded is known as Kechara House Buddhist Association. He also founded a charity organization known as Kechara Soup KitchenMore than just feeding the homeless, The Star MalaysiaWhy These Local NGOs Are Making A Real Difference And Standing Out From The Crowd, The Malaysian Digest and the dharma retreat centre Kechara Forest Retreat.Phng Li Kheng on planting inner peace with Kechara Forest Retreat , Malaysia Tatler
In the meantime, Rinpoche took a stand against the position of the Central Tibetan Administration in the Dorje Shugden controversy and built the world's largest Dorje Shugden statue.Largest Dorje Shugden in the world, Tsem Rinpoche Official Website Rinpoche strongly supported the Dorje Shugden religious practice,Shugden acolytes decry ostracism within Buddhist ranks, Huffington PostWhen Machiavelli dons Tibetan robes, Huffington Post prohibited in 1996 by the Central Tibetan Administration, and was a critical voice advocating for the separation of politics and religion which is a feature of Tibetan Buddhism.Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama quarrel: The way for rapprochement with China, Modern Diplomacy He was known for his advice against the self-immolation protests by Tibetans in China.A statement on stopping self-immolations by H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, ReutersThe violently peaceful struggle for Tibet, Modern Diplomacy For his dissenting opinions,His opinions on "Why Are Tibetans Leaving India?" he was marked as a controversial Buddhist teacherControversial Buddhist Teachers & Groups, viewonbuddhism.org although Rinpoche simultaneously advocated devotion for both the 14th Dalai Lama and the Dorje Shugden religious practice.
Rinpoche died on September 4, 2019, after a long illness.Parinirvana of His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche, Kechara official website
Major works Gurus for Hire: Enlightenment for Sale, Kechara Publications, 2005 Faces of Enlightenment, Kechara Publications, 2006 Why I Make Myself Unhappy, Kechara Publications, 2005 Compassion Conquers All: Teachings on the Eight Verses of Mind Transformation, Kechara Publications, 2007 , Nothing Changes Everything Changes, Kechara Publications, 2007 , (Online) If Not Now, When?, Kechara Publications, 2008 Snakes, Roosters & Pigs, Kechara Publications, 2011 The Living Buddha Within, Kechara Publications, 2012 The Promise (4th Edition), Kechara Publications, 2017
References
External links
Tsem Tulku - Chinese Buddhist Encyclopedia entry.