Ven. Roger with Losang Dragpa Centre members in Kuala Lumpur.

In October Ven. Roger Kunsang, CEO of FPMT Inc. and longtime attendant to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, met with all three FPMT entities in Malaysia to engage with the communities, receive updates on their various plans and projects, and share stories about Lama Zopa Rinpoche and FPMT. FPMT East & Southeast Asia regional coordinator, Selina Foong, shares details of this special visit:

Ven. Roger’s Malaysia stopover in early October was the very definition of a whirlwind tour—what with fruitful visits to all three FPMT Malaysia centers, interactions with students both new and old, and endless piles of delicious (and spicy) local food, including durian!

The first stop was at Losang Dragpa Centre (LDC) in Kuala Lumpur, where members and friends packed into the gompa to enjoy a buffet dinner before settling down for a special session with Ven. Roger, introduced by Centre Director Goh Pik Pin, myself (FPMT East & Southeast Asia regional coordinator), and moderated by Trustee Lee Oi Loon.

All were enthralled by Ven. Roger’s recounting of some extraordinary experiences with Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. One particular story was about one time in the 1980s at the Nepal-India border, where Rinpoche and Ven. Roger had been dropped off and then Rinpoche decided to get on a bus. With no clue as to where they were heading, Ven. Roger of course had to follow, lugging along two heavy suitcases filled to the brim with holy texts that Rinpoche never traveled without. The bus was packed, and they both sat to the side of the driver, blasted by the night air as the bus was missing a windscreen(!). Suddenly, Rinpoche asked the driver to stop.  In pitch dark and in the middle of nowhere, Rinpoche got off the bus with Ven. Roger struggling behind him, loaded down by the two suitcases.  They eventually left the road and continued into the bush, going down a gully, across a creek, and up again on the other side (by this stage, even the LDC audience was sweating!) …. until finally, faint lights appeared in the distance. “There!” Rinpoche exclaimed. It was the monastery of His Eminence Chobgye Trichen Rinpoche, one of Rinpoche’s teachers. Retiring for the night at last in a hot and tiny room, Ven. Roger quickly sank into an exhausted sleep while Rinpoche continued his prayers. At around 1-2 a.m., Ven. Roger awoke to find Rinpoche had lifted off the mosquito net as well as his singlet.  His entire torso was covered with mosquitos!  “I was really shocked,” Ven Roger recalled … but Rinpoche was of course unfazed. “It’s okay, it’s okay!  They are only taking a little bit of blood each,” came Rinpoche’s soothing reply.

As the stories continued to flow, listening to them first-hand was simply spellbinding. But then came the question on everyone’s minds: How did Ven. Roger himself keep going at this intensity for almost forty years? He said the answer one day spontaneously came to him about Rinpoche, “This is the bodhisattva’s way of life!” The phrase just tumbled out of Ven. Roger’s mouth. He realized then and there the purity and bodhichitta emanating from Rinpoche’s every pore. This was what compelled him to assist Rinpoche, in any way he could, without ever giving up. How moving and extraordinary.

Ven. Roger shared that he also had a long and excellent discussion with LDC’s resident Geshe, Geshe Jampa Tsondu, about the ongoing FPMT Basic Program offered online to all students which began in October 2020. With a solid and consistent following, two different subjects are taught concurrently, to cater to varying levels of students. The students are also benefiting enormously from the 20-30 minute meditation session led by Geshe Tsondu at the beginning of each class, as well as the regular quizzes and weekly review classes to foster deeper understanding of the topics taught. 

In fact, Geshe Tsondu shared how he considers that out of all Rinpoche’s exalted activities, the FPMT Basic Program and Masters Program established by Rinpoche are among the greatest. Therefore, due to Rinpoche’s great kindness, these programs will help the Dharma to flourish for a very long time, for the benefit of many. It is LDC’s hope to offer the FPMT Masters Program in the future; something to truly rejoice in and look forward to!

Ven. Roger with members of Chokyi Gyaltsen Center.

From Kuala Lumpur, Ven. Roger flew to Penang and was received at the Penang International Airport by Chokyi Gyaltsen Center (CGC)’s resident Geshe, Geshe Tenzin Deyang, and a few committee members. Arriving at CGC, members and friends were already waiting in line to warmly welcome him with khatas in greeting. What a joy to see Ven Roger at the center again after eight long years.  His last visit was with Rinpoche in 2016, for the Most Secret Hayagriva Initiation (MSH) program. How much has changed since then!

Ven. Roger’s display of guru devotion at CGC was most inspiring. He offered khata and flowers to Rinpoche’s throne in the gompa, and three full prostrations to Rinpoche’s throne in Rinpoche’s top floor room. Lights were also offered to the many beautiful holy statues.

Geshe Deyang then led prayers to Mother Tara for the swift return of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, and it was very moving to see Ven. Roger truly immersed in the prayers. An interactive sharing session followed, with Ven. Roger’s stories of Rinpoche’s enlightened activities and of how Rinpoche would use circumstances in daily life to benefit others. Later, Ven. Roger told Geshe Deyang and center director Lim Eam Lee that he had enjoyed the gompa’s peaceful and solemn atmosphere, and wished he could stay longer and do further prayers there.

CGC had arranged for Ven. Roger to stay at a lovely hotel along Gurney Drive, one of the most popular scenic waterfront promenades in Penang. Before the dinner at a nearby restaurant, CGC’s committee members met Ven. Roger at the hotel, where he gave valuable guidance and much encouragement, explaining why one should very much rejoice in the opportunity to work for the center.

During the visit, Ven Roger also informed Geshe Deyang and Lee of FPMT’s plan to organize a MSH retreat for our global FPMT family, to fulfill Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s wishes and as a way to protect the organization.  Ven. Roger then requested Geshe Deyang to lead CGC in hosting this MSH retreat in Penang. How wonderful! CGC is already starting to plan for this special event; more details will be announced in due course.

The final stop was Rinchen Jangsem Ling retreat center (RJL) in Triang, a three-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur two days later. What a physical transformation RJL has undergone since 2016, when Rinpoche last visited and presided over the inaugural three-week Medicine Buddha Retreat!  The covid lockdown years have certainly been put to good use, with a new access road, additional parking facilities, new canteen and extra accommodation in various states of completion. 

Especially amazing are RJL’s holy objects. Joining the glorious Kwan Yin, Medicine Buddha and Namthose marble statues is the giant Namgyalma stupa, which Rinpoche had advised in 2016 to be built and was swiftly completed just several years later.  Rinpoche had also advised and himself donated toward a prayer wheel for RJL’s public Dharma park. This three-story Wish-fulfilling Prayer Wheel is currently in progress, with the concrete foundations already laid.  When completed, it will be the largest prayer wheel in the world which is enclosed within a pavilion. 

Ven. Roger visiting RJL’s future Thousand Buddha Wall.

Another jaw-dropping project currently in progress at RJL is the Thousand Buddha Wall, which will be the largest Buddha wall in the world when completed. The huge retaining wall serving as its base has already been completed, and strong efforts are ongoing for its detailed design as well as fundraising for these truly amazing holy objects. Wow, rejoice!

Ven. Roger offering a khata to Rinchen Jangsem Ling’s Namgyalma Stupa. Photo courtesy of RJL.

It was a sweltering day when Ven. Roger visited, but this did not deter him from walking the extensive grounds, viewing the progress of the prayer wheel and Thousand Buddha Wall, and praying before the beautiful statues as well as the recently completed Namgyalma Stupa. No day in Malaysia would seem to be complete without another mountain of flavorsome food and sure enough, everyone enjoyed a sumptuous lunch in the main building, as well as light refreshments at the scenic Bodhi Garden where bamboo pavilions provided welcome respite from the afternoon heat.

All in all, it was a very successful trip. The Malaysian centers felt truly honored to have the opportunity to express their gratitude to dear Ven. Roger, who for almost forty years served our Holy Guru with unflinching devotion and deep humility. Utmost respect to you, Ven. Roger! Thank you for all that you have done, and continue to do! We wish you a long life, good health, and may all your wishes come true.

With grateful thanks to Selina Foong for this report. 

Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), is a Tibetan Buddhist organization dedicated to the transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service.