Why am I lucky? Because I met 2 great Rinpoches and attended their talks :) Both are great teachers in their own tradition.

Rinpoche means literally "Precious One." It is a title that is given mainly in two situations:
1) when someone is recognise as the reincarnation of a known Lama, from the previous life, OR
2) to someone who is Abbot of a big monastery or a great teacher

Often a Rinpoche is also a "Tulku". This last title is given to someone who was already a Dharma practitioner in his past life. It means that the being has obtained high realisation and has escaped the cycle of existence (Samsara) and is no longer influenced by the law of cause-and-effect (Karma), and chose to come back out of great compassion, in order to help other living beings.

I realised how fortunate I am to have met 2 great Rinpoches and attended their talks. One of them when I was younger, Dungse Garab Rinpoche; and many years later, Tsem Tulku Rinpoche. I used to think, "What's the big deal, Rinpoches only ma! I've met a few and I met many monks too, so what?"

Yesterday, I read that a woman waited 7 years to meet Tsem Rinpoche! And I remembered my father told me that many Bhutamese walked many days (yes, walked, that means ON FOOT la!) just to meet a Garab Rinpoche in a monastary. Usually, these people just get to meet Rinpoche to get a blessing and that's it! I never dreamt that I would meet any Rinpoche and even had the merits to attend their talks. When I came to KL, hanging out in clubs in Bangsar and in town, you think there's a Rinpoche there ar? (Ok odd enough, I've bumped into monks in full robes at shopping malls, beside the pool at my apartment, haha and many weird places :D)

NOW I will tell you what's the BIG DEAL!

DUNGSE GARAB DORJE RINPOCHE
- a Yogi-Rinpoche of god caste blood lineage of King Trisong Deutsen of Tibet
- the original wisdom son (and grandson) of H.H Dudjom Rinpoche
- son of Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche

Education:
- received early education from his father when he was only 4
- admitted to the Simtokha Buddhist Institute in Bhutan when he was 8
- attended the Ogyen Kunzang Choekhor Ling Monastery in Darjeeling (5 years)
- pursue highest studies of the Vinaya Root Sutra (teachings of the morality), under the guidance of Khenpo Lodoe Zangpo in Sikkhim
- Mindroling Monastery in Dehra Dun, India, one of the six major monasteries of the Nyingma school ( 6 years)
-Institute of Buddhist Studies in Mysore, pursued higher studies and researches (5 years)

Gurus:
- H.H Dudjom Rinpoche (Jigdral Yeshe Dorje)
- Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche
- H.H Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
- H.H Penor Rinpoche


HIS EMINENCE TSEM TULKU RINPOCHE
- a Mongolian prince and a descendant of Genghis Khan
- 1st incarnation was a great student of Lord Tsongkhapa
- ordained by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in 1987
- recognised as a reincarnation of the Tantric Abbot of Gaden Shartse Monastery

Education:
- Gaden Monastic University, one of the 'great three' Gelugpa university monasteries

Gurus:
- H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche
- H.H. Trijang Rinpoche
- H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama
- H.E. Kyabje Kensur Lati Rinpoche
- H.H. Kyabje Ling Rinpoche
- H.H. Pabongkha Rinpoche
- H.E. Gangchen Rinpoche
- H.E. Lama Zopa Rinpoche
- H. E. Drigung Rinpoche
- H.E. Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche
- H.E. Denma Locho Rinpoche
- H.E. Dagom Rinpoche
- H. H. Gaden Tri Rinpoche Jetsun Jampal Zhanphen
- H.E. Panang Rinpoche
- Venerable Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen
- Sera Mey Kensur Lobsang Tharchin Rinpoche

And the best part is: both Rinpoches are young, energetic, both speak fluent English (very important as most of us don't speak Tibetan!), humourous and full of wisdom. Not forgetting very awe-inspiring (in plain English: very good looking lah!) [check out their websites ;) ].

P/s: I also just found out that Khyentse Norbu (a.k.a. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche), who directed two of my favourite movies, The Cup and Travellers and Magicians, is the the son of Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, so he's Dungse Garab Rinpoche's brother. It's a small world :)

After 2 weeks of bliss, it's time to be back in the work crap again!

YES! Had to work weekends (again! and next week too!) after working hard on weekdays in Nilai :(
I begin to think about a formula:

Work--> Salary--> Pay Bills & Expenses

We work in order to get a salary which is used to pay our bills and expenses. Let's think backwards. If I eliminate bills & expenses, I don't need a salary and hence no need to work. Haha, brilliant!! Tomorrow onwards, I shall not drive my car (no petrol), I shall not rent a room (no rent/ water/ electricity bills) or have internet at home (no bills), I shall cancel my mobile phone subscription (no phone bills), I shall not eat and drink. Then I DONT HAVE TO WORK :D!!!!!!!

Meanwhile, had been working hard to prepare exam questions for English for students studying management. Now I know why I did not study business :P and made the right choice studying what I like and find easy. Reading about Henri Fayol & Frederick Taylor, writing about the different types of accounting and financial statements, going through Kotler's marketing textbook, defining GDP, reading issues related to HRM, *yawn* :(

Some friends thought I was struggling through my MBA cos I was seen carrying management textbooks dropping by McD on weekends buying takeaways. Yes, I am doing my Miserable-But-unAvoidable 'degree' majoring in "working life". I still love my work, but not the workload. Luckily, I have some really supportive colleagues and a sincere boss (and a very hardworking Mrs Boss).

And I missed one of the best talk at Manjushri class this weekend. And I felt very bad telling my housemate off with "Do I look like I have time for those things?!" when my housemate asked me whether I was interested in getting a manicure or a tattoo, meeting up with an old friend in Sunway etc. Sigh, I should really behave next time. After all, she only sees me once a week for 10 minutes, she doesn't need to put up with my crap and she was just trying to be friendly. *regret*

I have been bombed by afflictive emotions again and I lost the battle yet again!


IN CONTRAST to the crappy world of moody little rani,

Sat night
- WM gave me a Kechara Paradise voucher :)
- tonnes of people turn up for migtsema-thon on Sat night :)
- F was extermely friendly to me and no more hostility :)

Sunday night
- had a good Sunday night being treated to a homecooked dinner by the boss family :)
- met up with JoA for a short while after completing the 2 sets of Mid Terms papers :)


IN A NUTSHELL, although working weekends are crappy because of stress and deadlines, but this weekend is still a beautiful one because of the kind treatment people have given me, and I should be glad that I am still alive and kicking and am posting a blog :D!

Many Japanese go to observatories in high-rise buildings or head to the mountains to see the first sunrise on the first day of the New Year, called Hatsuhinode. With their hands folded, they pray.

I couldn't find an adjective to describe the warm and uplifting feeling that surrounded me this weekend, so I put up a picture instead. A picture is worth a thousand words mah they said :P. It felt like 'sunrise' this weekend.


FRIDAY
* the usual release from "nunnery" in Nilai late afternoon

* stuffed a lot of food down my throat in the evening @ buffet, including oysters, sushi, grilled shishamo, chinese dishes of vegetables and meat, soups, pastries, ice cream etc :P No, I didn't go to a fancy hotel or restaurant, was at Neway ktv for buffet and 3 hours of 'stress relief' singing my heart out to celebrate a friend's birthday. RM35++, for the food and 3 hours of ktv. It comes up to about RM50+- per person (tidbits and service charge etc).


SATURDAY
* had a great time bugging my friend [who bought me ice-blended chocolate on a hot Saturday afternoon :P] asking for explanation every 5 minutes or so about some concepts in a book I was reading, hehe :P

* bumped into Jay Teoh @ Borders. We're so busy we didn't plan to meet up but fate, hmm, or rather the habit of reading, brought us to meet again at the corner in Starbucks @ Borders[dramatic, I know :D, I'm such a drama queen] It's always nice to meet old friends in such an apathetic, distant, emotionless, frigid, impersonal city, faraway from home. [ Yes, my homesickness is getting worse. Anyone wanna sponsor a return Air Asia ticket? :D ]

* met up with Joy at her nice apartment [thank u Joy for a homecooked dinner :) ]

* Migtsema-thon [thank you TR for drinks & breakfast :) ]


SUNDAY
* KH & Manjushri class. Mr Khong told a very interesting incident that happened in Wu Tai Shan, China and an incident related to TR and Manjushri. His 'lecture' today was very informative. I finally understood why one of my father's friend was totally devoted to his spiritual guide. Devotion, a word that sounds easy, but practical :-s not that easy.

* At the orphanage, we discussed God's confirmation, injustice and also expectations and responsibilities. Some people think orphans in homes are bad kids, I beg to differ. Sometimes these kids put in more effort to improve themselves, knowing that they have only themselves to push them harder and become better, as compared to some lazy kids who are busy getting fat watching Astro. Although the kids respect me, I think I should be the one paying my respect to them for staying strong and turning out all right amidst all the crap they face in life at such a young age (some parents did things that you wouldn't imagine parents would do!).

Also, some great news:
a) heard that Tzu Chi is planning to build an abode here in KL *Rejoice*
- many people will benefit, in terms of the charity/ educational/community work they actively do (their speed & width of service rivals many international aid/ charity organisations). It will also to provide an avenue for people to connect to their spiritual selves. Going to the temple once a year to ask for $$$ or going to church/temple only when your parents dragged you (or for the sake of getting to know 'chics' ) is not 'spiritual life' :P

b) found out one of my friends will attend Dalai Lama's teaching LIVE in Dharamsala! *Rejoice* Hopefully one day I will be able to attend Dalai Lama's teaching too (yes, instead of just seeing his face on book covers :p)


Music playing on my blog:
I am touched by the story about Manjushri spoken at Manjushri class this afternoon, so I have decided to change the music (no more 60s) to Wisdom Chant by the most prominent Japanese poetic singer, Ito Kayo. A man said this music is very soothing when I was listening to the sample CD @ Yogini Mystical Treasure in Lot 10 recently.

About Wu Tai Shan:
The peaks of Wu Tai Shan and all the surrounding temples are sacred to Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. Scholars trace the beginning of the Manjushri association with Wu Tai Shan to the visit of an Indian monk who visited in the 1st century AD and reported a vision of the Bodhisattva. Manjushri (called Wenshu Pusa in Chinese) is believed to reside in the vicinity of Wu Tai Shan and numerous legends speak of apparitions of the Bodhisattva riding a blue lion in the high mountains above the monasteries.

bliss /bls/ noun [U] extreme happiness

Reason 1: On the work front
I'm done with part 1 one of my development work on Thursday 5am in the office with my colleagues and boss so this weekend is a 'break'. Will continue with part 2 end of this week, finishing the project end of September.

Reason 2: Gifts, gifts, gifts from Tsem Rinpoche: a Tsongkapa mug, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso's book Transform Your Life, a mala, a Tsongkapa tsa tsa which I gave away to GL, and a good 3 hours talk during Manjushri class (ultimate gift!).

Reason 3: Migtsema :D and free meals provided by fellow KH buddies breakfast (Wendy), supper(Krystal), dinner @ Pizza Uno (Tashi)

BLISS...