Tenzin Obstacle

Last weekend, Rinpoche gave an amazing talk and bestowed refuge upon a very fortunate bunch of refuge-seekers. It brought back some warm and fuzzy memories for me as I recalled my own refuge. It was many years ago and the funny thing was that I didn't receive refuge with Rinpoche first. That was because I was invited to an initiation. Naturally, I was very excited but when I was told to read up on my Guru devotion vows and Bodhisattva vows on that day itself! I took one look at the lengthy vows and I took a nap. When I woke up, the preparations was almost done. I received the initiation and it automatically includes refuge, Bodhisattva and Guru devotion vows.

However, months down the road, Rinpoche took me along with other Malaysian pilgrims on a whirlwind pilgrimage to Bodhgaya. He was to give us refuge under the Bodhi tree and I renewed my vows but unlike everyone else, I didn't get a refuge name. I dare not ask for it but a year or so later, Rinpoche called me out of the blue and told me that he had a dream of giving a refuge name to me. He said in the dream, he gave me the name Tenzin Tamdrin which meant 'Holding the Dharma by overcoming great obstacles.' Someone joked that my name was basically Tenzin Obstacle and the name kinda stuck. Haha! 

The photo above was taken of me renewing my vows under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya.