I went on a walk around our Kechara Forest Retreat land today, taking photographs to update our Kechara album. I thought I’d share some of the pictures here, so those who haven’t got access to my album on Facebook can rejoice in them too 🙂 Feel free to share them…all I ask is that you […]

Mum, Elisa and I were interviewed by the Star this morning for their “Do Good. Volunteer” fortnightly feature. Interviewing us was Kenneth Chaw, and taking the photos was Fifi who she asked us to throw different poses. Elisa and I, being totally clueless, threw pretty much the same poses again and again (sorry Fifi!) until […]

Rinpoche took a group of us to Genting yesterday for a delicious dinner and a short break. Rinpoche often has these impromptu trips in appreciation of hardworking students, and they’re always lots of fun…why WOULDN’T you WANT to spend more time with your lama? One of the things we toured was the Ripley’s Believe or […]

(Taken with my iPhone) Whenever we face obstacles, our lama might prescribe us a series of pujas (rituals to invoke the blessings of the Buddhas) to do. Depending on our affinity with the deity or the type of obstacle, or even the severity of the obstacle, the type of puja we do will differ. On […]

Received a gift from Rinpoche before? Always wondered how Rinpoche does it? Well, here’s a small clue into that process… Rinpoche goes to the gift room and personally selects every single gift for people. Then he takes the gift(s), recites prayers and blesses each and every item, before he records a message for the person. […]

(Taken with my iPhone) Yes, Jamie is reading a card that Rinpoche wrote to her, but what does it have to do with anything? Because the picture is a snapshot of a situation that answered how crap I’ve been feeling these last couple of days. Since the soongdroop and rabnye pujas began, and in fact […]

Ever wondered where the money that people offer to Rinpoche goes to? Back into Kechara, and back into Kecharians. All 100% of it. And when I say Kecharians, I don’t just mean it in the monetary sense. In the picture above, Tham (the contractor we use for 90% of our renovation works in Kechara) and […]

(Taken with my iPhone) Depending on how you know me, my name is either Elena or Jean Ai. I was born 24-and-something years ago, nothing remarkable. Grew up with loving parents, Malaysian family, went to a great school and an equally great university. Graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology, worked in the criminal justice […]

(Taken with my iPhone) Monday was another one of those days – all planned out and supposed to be restful, but suddenly transforming into a whirlwind of activity. It began averagely enough. I woke up, came in to e-Division and plopped myself down at my desk, ready to work. Lionel’s been chasing me for VajraSecrets […]

(Taken with my iPhone) If there is anyone whom everyone in Kechara finds undeniably precious, it has to be Yogi (Rinpoche’s dog). Yogi has been with Rinpoche for nearly 10 years, and is the perfect model dog. When he was first brought home, Rinpoche spent every day for a whole year just training him. This […]