The largest Dorje Shugden statue in the world
It is a known fact that many Dorje Shugden lamas, Gelugpa or otherwise, have opted to lay low with their practice ever since the ban on Dorje Shugden was enforced in 1996. However, in recent months, a number of lamas have either revealed their practice or reconnected with other practitioners.
In late 2014, H.E. Zasep Rinpoche, who had been relatively low key about his practice, attended the opening of Gaden Khachoe Shing in Bloomington, Indiana, a Buddhist monastery under the spiritual direction of the Venerable Kuten (Choijin) Lama. While in early 2015, another lama, H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche began teaching extensively about Dorje Shugden’s practice on his blog and other online platforms.
H.E. Tsem Rinpoche has since become progressively more vocal about Dorje Shugden’s practice and the social impact of the ban. He has also unveiled the largest Dorje Shugden statue in the world! The massive 24ft statue is housed in Kechara Forest Retreat, an hour’s drive from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
This retreat center is the latest initiative of Kechara, a Buddhist organization founded by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche in the year 2000. Over the span of 15 years, Kechara has established its presence in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Nepal and USA, upholding the precious lineage of Je Tsongkapa through methods both traditional and contemporary. Alongside its efforts to encourage the growth of Buddhadharma through publications, art, multimedia and the Internet, Kechara is also focused on various charitable works in the local community.
H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche
History
What would eventually become Kechara Forest Retreat
Rinpoche and a group of us went to view a few pieces of land identified by our search party … The last piece of land to view was along Jalan Chamang, Bentong. We stood on the outside of the land and everyone of us liked it.
Then Rinpoche asked for a sign from our Protector. Without overhead clouds nor lightning and thunder, large drops of rain fell on precisely where we’re standing and then there was no more rain. That was the sign from our Protector.
~ Datuk May Phng, President of Kechara
In early 2012, H.E. Tsem Rinpoche and his students set out in search of a piece of land that would eventually house a retreat center from which the lineage and teachings of Je Tsongkapa’s tradition would spread. On that fateful day and on numerous other occasions, many auspicious portents were noted, including drizzles of rain, rainbows, and even an anonymous yet prophetic postcard.
A postcard from an anonymous Mongolian lama, which closely resembled Kechara Forest Retreat.
Kechara Forest Retreat in the early days. The uncanny resemblance is indicative of its potential in furthering Lama Tsongkapa’s lineage and tradition.
Through sheer effort, dedication and the blessings of Dorje Shugden, remarkable progress in the acquisition of land and construction of the initial phases of the retreat center was achieved in less than two years. Today, residents and visitors to Kechara Forest Retreat can enjoy its contemporary facilities including:
- Wisdom Hall (Main prayer hall and protector chapel)
- Tara Walk (Walking meditation path)
- Manjushri Hill (Majestic stone statue of 4-armed Manjushri)
- Vajrayogini Stupa
- The Aviary and Organic Farm
- Dukkar Apartments (Guest accommodation)
Images of Dorje Shugden’s 32-deity entourage
Dorje Shugden pujas are performed monthly according to traditon
Statues of the lineage lamas are prominently displayed in the protector chapel
Throne for the oracle of Dorje Shugden
A chapel to Gyenze or Ratna Shugden, the increase form of Dorje Shugden
We at DorjeShugden.com extend our gratitude to H.E. Tsem Rinpoche for his great works in spearheading the growth of Dorje Shugden’s practice and the Buddhadharma, and bringing it to greater heights. May he live long to continue his activities to spread the teachings of Je Tsongkhapa throughout the world.
How To Get There
Kechara Forest Retreat
Jalan Chamang
Bentong
Pahang
Malaysia
Phone: +603 7803 3908
Website: retreat.kechara.com
Email: [email protected]
More Pictures of Kechara Forest Retreat
Kechara Forest Retreat in Bentong, Malaysia
The main prayer hall in Kechara Forest Retreat which is home to the 24ft Dorje Shugden statue
The imposing 24ft Dorje Shugden statue, the largest in the world
Lama Tsongkhapa in a long life form
Vajrayogini Stupa
Four-armed Manjushri
Dukkar Apartments
The aviary
Plans for further expansion are underway
English
Indonesia
Tibetan
Mark
May 11, 2015
Yes. Dorje Shugden helps – initially-just like Nechung. Nechung messed up and Tibetans lost Tibet.
As a high Nyingma Lama from Buthan says: “We and most of the Kagyue and Sakya lamas believe that Shugden is a demon. First you get a lot of money, then a lot of students and then a lot of problems.”
The truth of this can be observed wherever Shugden is practiced – including Tsem/Kechara, NKT/Gyatso etc.
The problem with the human mind is, if there is greed for the first two things (money and to have a lot of students), the mind is so blinded that it cannot see anymore the problems Shugden bestows to his worshippers.
Good luck anyway, you will need it if you pray and take refuge in a vengeful spirit
I am very happy that HH the Dalai Lama speaks so clearly against this spirit worship. Although Dalai Lama has made alot of problems himself with is own spirit-Nechung worship. However, there is no ban and as you can see you and others are free to practice it according to some sources. If you want to play the victim card, consider that you are the victim of your own ignorance and Shugden’s unstable samsaric mind. Dalai Lama always plays the victim card to get money for his government.
Sunitta
May 11, 2015
WOW !! Magnificent pictures of Dorje Shugden statue and the Kechara Forest Retreat. Can almost feel the energy of that place via the pictures. It really looks like Kechara’s Tsem Rinpoche and his students have worked really hard to share and grow the teachings of Lama Tsongkhapa and Dorje Shugden. This will benefit many people around the region. Truly rejoice for the Lama, his students and all beings that will benefit now and in the future !! I wish for them to be able to continue to do such great works. I will definitely make an effort to visit and to support them in whatever way I can to further their good cause !
paolorossi4444
May 12, 2015
Fantastic creation of H.E.Tzem Tulku compliments.
Sunitta
May 14, 2015
The growth of Dorje Shugden practice and creation of Kechara Forest Retreat will benefit many beings. Rejoice !! Thank you to H.E Tsem Tulku Rinpoche for your great foresight and compassion . May you live long to continue to bring our most venerable Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings to great heights.
Sandra
May 16, 2015
This is really a fantastic place to visit. Thank you Tsem Rinpoche and Kechara organisation for the hard work to build this place. Just looking at the pictures can feel the fresh air and the green scenery is just so peace and relax. Furthermore there is a largest Dorje Shugden statue make the place so blessed. I think many of Shugden practitioners wish to visit this place. Thank you for the sharing.
Dolma
May 19, 2015
I heard of Tsem Tulku Rinpoche 3 years ago. My sister is an avid follower of Tulku’s blog. Sometimes i do drop by Tulku’s blog to read up some articles. I love the blog very much as it’s informational and educational. I actually was surprised to see such huge dorje shugden statue appeared in Tulku’s temple.Bravo and well done.
All i want to say is thank you Tsem Tulku for preserving the lineage with your actions and You are a great leader.
Frisk Barne
May 19, 2015
This Dorje Shugden statue is amazingly huge and I was shocked to know there is such a holy place to worship Dorje Shugden in Malaysia. I would love to visit this place real soon. Tsem Tulku is cool and modern, from the pictures of his centre Kechara Forest Retreat, it’s not hard to find Tsem Tulku is unconventional. Malaysians are so lucky i must say so. A temple combined with retreat activities, functional yet spiritual. Perhaps this is what the modern people seeking for.
I love how they have a section for all lineage masters statues to be displayed for public to learn their authentic lineage. Educational. Good to see this.
Sofia Neumerkel
May 21, 2015
Wow, when I saw this, my eyes nearly popped out! haha.. such a magnificent and huge Dorje Shugden statue. Didn’t expect to see this in Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country. Nice to see how different religions are well respected in Malaysia.
I have been reading and watching Tsem Rinpoche’s teachings online, all my Buddhist knowledge I got it from there. He explains Dharma very well and very relevant to our daily lives, which makes it very comprehensive.
Thank you Tsem Rinpoche for making Dharma so readily available for modern people like us.
I hope one day I will have the opportunity to visit Kechara, to volunteer there.
Eli Buchen
May 23, 2015
Officially the religion of Malaysia is Islam. In Malaysia there is a show what religious freedom really mean in contrast to the Dorje Shugden ban and
discrimination towards Dorje Shugden practitioners. There is religious harmony in this country. CTA should have a long hard look of what it means to give religious freedom.
Much Salutations to Tsem Rinpoche who has fearlessly stepped forward with
the Dorje Shudgen practices, I do hope to hear more of this lama and his
organisation in the coming months. Building the biggest Dorje Shugden in the world is no small feat, imagine the benefit any practitioner derives from seeing
and praying to such a grand statue. So happy to see.
paolorossi4444
May 27, 2015
This isn’t just a statue of Dorje Shugden it is Dorje Shugden!claudio cipullo
Rita Woo
May 31, 2015
Fantastic! The statue is so big & beautiful!
As far as I know Malaysia is a country with mostly Muslim citizen. With this big statue of Dorje Shugden established by Buddhists, this country is far more open than Tibet government I would say.
Rejoice for the people in Malaysia and people of the region. May more and more political leaders learning to be more open & tolerance.
Thank you.
ram duseja
June 2, 2015
Hy happy to go through the blog really lord budha is great .i rember during my school day while going through story of lord budha i use to surprise as to how he left evry thing & reached to god Here sir with this message i want to intimate that i m facing crisis of two black magic spells 1) voddo spell 2) siflee elam spell since yr 2004 plz save & help m in the name of lord budha plz help
Boon
May 12, 2016
Yupe, I visited this place a few times last year. It is located at the Kechara Forest Retreat, Bentong, Malaysia, and is a very distinguished venue to soul discovery. I think it is a great place for self-discovery, leading us on a spiritual journey from making sense of the past and present, to discovering the future!
Pema
May 18, 2016
Wow! I rejoice for such a powerful Lama with has the largest Dorje Shugden statue in the world and a beautiful centre!
This is for sure a powerful place for Dharma to grow and such beneficial teachings on Dorje Shugden have been shared by H.E. Tsem Rinpoche.
May the ban on Dorje Shugden come down without delay so that all the suffering and barriers stop!
Suhaila
May 24, 2016
It is very fortunate for the people to have the personal retreat at this conducive place and so close to the nature. Thank you Tsem Rinpoche and Kechara for making this place available to all. May more and more people benefited by the blessing from Rinpoche and Dorje Shugden.
Camilia
June 27, 2016
Amazing to see such majestic and modern infrastructure of the Tibetan Buddhism faith in the heart of Malaysia. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-faith society but religious freedom is guaranteed for practitioners of all faith. It is very privileged for the people of Malaysia to have a high lama like Tsem Rinpoche residing there and turning the wheel of dharma. The largest in the world Dorje Shugden statue is truly impressive and brings blessing to everyone who are connected. The opportunity to be near a high lama and have access to a spiritual haven like the Kechara Forest Retreat is a chance in a million. Many people are born with no access to Buddhism leave alone a qualified Guru. They have no prospect to learn and receive Dharma. Hence for people who has the good fortune and ability, please visit this magnificent pure land (Kechara Forest Retreat) to make a connection with Dorje Shugden and Buddha.
SabrinaS
July 6, 2016
What an auspicious beginning for Kechara Forest Retreat when Protector Dorje Shugden gave signs to confirm the place. This goes to show how close the relationship is between H.E. the 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and enlightened Dorje Shugden. Kechara Forest Retreat looks so magnificent and peaceful, energised by the Buddhas there (I love the big big statues and their faces offers such serenity).
Being in Malaysia, a muslim majority country, it says a lot of the government who allow religious freedom to practise one’s faith in peace. What a wonderful Government and their citizens!
Wish the CTA was the same and not narrow minded to place the ban on powerful Dorje Shugden practise that had been proven beneficial for over 300 years. What more, CTA goes out of their way to bring sufferings onto the Shugden practitioners, with abuses, threats, persecution, segregation, deprivation of living resources, seizures of properties and banning of monks from their rightful places. Beautiful religion of wisdom and compassion, a legacy left by such a long line of amazing attained Masters, being thrown out by CTA and the Anti-Shugdens.
Sierra
July 15, 2016
Pleasant and calm looking place. Looks very modern and yet have a lot of traditional elements with the statues, throne, oracle throne and stupas and chapels. Very simplistic and zen-like.
And, the size of the prayer hall!! Amazing!! And Dorje Shugden does not need words to describe. This Lama has taken it to another level altogether, building this retreat from scratch.
The people of the region, the country especially are so fortunate to have such a blessed place for their practice.
May Kechara Forest Retreat grow and spread the dharma to benefit more people. May H.E. Tsem Rinpoche have long life to continue turning the Wheel of Dharma.
dev
July 30, 2016
It shows even Malaysia its a Muslim country and Buddhism is still growing… religious freedom there really mean in contrast to the Dorje Shugden practitioner. such a beautiful Dorje Shugden statue and peaceful to be place….
Sherabz
September 27, 2016
It is so great to see the largest Dorje Shugden statue in the world which is located in Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia. Rejoice to H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and the people there to have such huge and dignified statue for blessing and protection.
Again, we should think that if Dorje Shugden is a spirit, a high lama like H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and his followers might not able to support the building of this largest Dorje Shugden statue and the other nice places in Kechara Forest Retreat.
Thank you for this wonderful sharing.
Sherabz
January 3, 2017
Wow! This is beautiful and peaceful place like paradise. Furthermore, this is so blessed with the massive 24ft Dorje Shugden statue together with the lineage masters as well as the Lama Tsongkhapa and Manjushri statue over there. This is a really great place to visit in Malaysia.
Thank you for this wonderful sharing.
Darren
March 17, 2017
Miniature replica of the world largest Dorje Shugden statue is available at http://www.vajrasecrets.com/
christine victor
August 3, 2017
Rejoice on this great news !
The success of building this large Dorje Shugden proof that more peoples believes in Dorje Shugden in helping them. Well , how could peoples wanted to build such huge statue if they do not believe in it.
The retreat center seems neat, clean and spacious. H.E Tsem Rinpoche together with His student have did a great job by having a center that spread the lineage of Dorje Shugden and Lama Tsongkhapa. They even have statues of the lamas, monthly prayer to Dorje Shugden and a Gyenze chapel. From how they search the land to set up this retreat center, they have got the auspicious sign shown by Dorje Shugden. Thus, it is very fortunate to even view the photos from of this center.
May more and more monastery of Dorje Shugden could be set up all over the world.
Dalai Lama should set things right
August 12, 2018
Dear Dalai Lama,
Since you started the cruel ban against the 350 year Dorje Shugden practice, how has it benefit your Tibetan society and Buddhism in the world? Things have become worse and most educated Tibetans can see this. They don’t speak out not because they don’t see your ban as wrong, but you instill fear in them and not respect. It is like fear of a dictator. I am sorry to say so. Everyone is divided. There is no harmony. Before your ban there was more harmony and unity.
By enacting the ban, you split the monasteries, split so many families, split regions in Tibet apart, split your disciples from you, split your own gurus from you, split Tibetan Buddhism apart. You have created so much disharmony.
It is not democratic what you have done to ban a religion within your community. You always talk of tolerance and acceptance and democracy and yet you do not accept and tolerate something different from your beliefs. When people practice Dorje Shugden you ostracize them, ban them from seeing you, ban them from using Tibetan facilities. You know you have done that. There are videos that capture your speech and prove this point. You even had people expelled from monasteries just because they practice Dorje Shugden. Some of the monks you expelled have been in the monastery for over 40 years. Many older monks shed tears because of this.
Many young educated Tibetans lost confidence in you as they saw the damage the Dorje Shugden ban created and they lose hope. Many have become free thinkers. They reject what you have done. So many people in the west left Buddhism because of the confusion you created with this ban against Dorje Shugden which is immoral.
You could of had millions of people who practice Dorje Shugden to support, love and follow you, but you scared them away. They are hurt and very disappointed. They loved you and respected you deeply before the ban. It has been 60 years and you have failed to get Tibet back. Your biggest failure is not getting Tibet back after 57 years in exile. Now you are begging China to allow you to return to Tibet to the disappointment of thousands of people who fought for a free Tibet believing in you. So many self-immolated for a free Tibet and now you want Tibet to be a part of China with no referendum from Tibetans. Just like a dictator, you decide on your own. It was your government and you that lost Tibet in the first place. Your policies and style of doing things do not benefit Tibet and Buddhism. You have been the sole ruler of Tibet your whole life and you still have not gotten our country of Tibet back for us. Our families and us are separated. Yet you create more pain by creating a ban to further divide people. Please have compassion.
No other Buddhist leader has banned or condemned any religion except for you. It looks very bad. You are a Nobel laureate and this is not fitting of a laureate. You should unite people and not separate them by religious differences.
You said Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi did not do right to the Rohingya people in Myanmar due to religious differences, but you are doing the same thing to the Shugden Buddhists within your own society. There is a parallel in this. You separate the Shugden Buddhists from the others in Tibetan society.
You have lost so many people who would have loved and supported you. You have lost so much support around the world. The Shugden Buddhists who love you number in the millions. When you are fast losing support from governments and private people, it will not do you well to lose more.
After you are passed away in the future, the rift you created between the Dorje Shugden and non-Dorje Shugden people will remain for a while and that will be your legacy. Disharmony. You will be remembered for this. Not as a hero but a disharmony creator.
Dorje Shugden will spread and further grow, but you will be no more as you are a human. No one wishes you bad and in fact we hope you have a long and healthy life, but we have lost so much hope and have so much despair because of you. All the hundreds of Dorje Shugden lamas, tulkus and geshes are maturing and there are hundreds of Dorje Shugden monasteries in Tibet who will not give up Dorje Shugden. You have made a mistake. These hundreds of teachers and teachers to be will spread Dorje Shugden further in the future.
The gurus that gave us Dorje Shugden as a spiritual practice and you have called these holy gurus wrong and they are mistaken in giving us Dorje Shugden. How can you insult our gurus whom we respect so much? If they can be wrong, then you can be wrong. Then all gurus can be wrong. So no one needs to listen to any guru? You have created this trend. It is not healthy. Your own gurus practiced Dorje Shugden their whole lives. Your own gurus were exemplary and highly learned.
Dalai Lama you have created so much pain with this ban against so many people due to religion. You are ageing fast. Are you going to do anything about it or stay stubborn, hard and un-moving. You show a smile and preach peace and harmony wherever you go. But will you do the same to your own people? Please rectify the wrong you have done. Please before it is too late. You can create harmony again or you can pass away in the future with this legacy of peace. May you live long and think carefully and admit what was a mistake in having this unethical ban against Dorje Shugden religion.
Michel Petit
August 15, 2018
Wow! This is for sure a place I want to visit. Such a stunning Dorje Shugden statue and for sure a power place!
May I have the merits to be close to Dorje Shugden always 🙏
Thank you DorjeShugden.com! Please keep it up and may the ban on Dorje Shugden come down asap.
Kenny J
November 16, 2019
Thank you H.E. Tsem Rinpoche for working so tirelessly for the benefit of all Dorje Shugden practitioners. Kechara Forest Retreat is beautiful and full of your blessings. May Dorje Shugden lineage spreads from here far and wide.