Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

{{Short description|Kalmyk-Malaysian Buddhist teacher (1965–2019)}}

{{Infobox religious biography

|background = #FFD068

|name = Tsem Tulku Rinpoche

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|birth_date = {{Birth date|1965|10|24|df=y}}

|birth_place = Taipei, Taiwan

|death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|09|04|1965|10|24|df=y}}

|death_place = Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

|nationality = Malaysia{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}
American

|religion = Buddhism

|school = Vajrayana

|lineage = Gelug

|title = Tulku

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|teacher = Zong Rinpoche

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|website = http://www.kechara.com/ https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/

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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.[http://www.kechara.com/rinpoche/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921095529/http://www.kechara.com/rinpoche/ |date=2020-09-21 }}, Kechara official website[https://www.bbc.com/news/business-29986205 Socialite becomes a volunteer in Malaysian soup kitchen], BBC[https://www.pressreader.com/malaysia/malaysia-tatler-society/20160120/283016873701101 Datuk May Phng], Malaysia Tatler Society 20 Jan 2016[https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/community/2016/12/02/helping-to-keep-mozzies-at-bay-ngo-to-distribute-mosquito-coils-and-nets-to-kuala-lumpurs-urban-poor/ Helping 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.[https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/focus/2017/05/05/the-journey-of-a-lifetime-tsem-tulku-rinpoche-talks-about-his-early-years-and-setting-up-one-of-the/ 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.[http://www.buddhachannel.tv/portail/spip.php?article5541 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 Kitchen[https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/focus/2017/08/30/more-than-just-feeding-the-homeless-soup-kitchen-project-director-helps-less-fortunate-in-many-diffe/ More than just feeding the homeless], The Star Malaysia[http://www.malaysiandigest.com/news/579114-why-these-local-ngos-are-making-a-real-difference-and-standing-out-from-the-crowd.html Why 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.[https://my.asiatatler.com/society/phng-li-kheng-kechara-forest-retreat-interview/ Phng Li Kheng on planting inner peace with Kechara Forest Retreat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627202233/https://my.asiatatler.com/society/phng-li-kheng-kechara-forest-retreat-interview/ |date=2018-06-27 }}, 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.[http://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/kechara-13-depts/largest-dorje-shugden-in-the-world.html Largest Dorje Shugden in the world], Tsem Rinpoche Official Website Rinpoche strongly supported the Dorje Shugden religious practice,[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/shugden-acolytes-decry-ostracism-within-buddhist-ranks_us_5a0ace79e4b06d8966cf3287 Shugden acolytes decry ostracism within Buddhist ranks], Huffington Post[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/when-machiavelli-dons-tibetan-robes_us_5a1d5773e4b05df68936d02e When 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.[https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2018/05/09/dalai-lama-and-the-panchen-lama-quarrel-the-way-for-rapprochement-with-china/ 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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20180903215150/https://www.reuters.com/brandfeatures/venture-capital/article?id=29962 A statement on stopping self-immolations by H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche], Reuters[https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2018/04/16/the-violently-peaceful-struggle-for-tibet/ The violently peaceful struggle for Tibet], Modern Diplomacy For his dissenting opinions,[https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/current-affairs/why-tibetans-are-leaving-india.html His opinions on "Why Are Tibetans Leaving India?"] he was marked as a controversial Buddhist teacher[http://viewonbuddhism.org/controversy-controversial-teacher-group-center-questionable.html Controversial 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.[http://www.kechara.com/news/parinirvana-of-his-eminence-the-25th-tsem-rinpoche/ Parinirvana of His Eminence the 25th Tsem Rinpoche], Kechara official website{{404|date=May 2024}}