My tryst with Gautama Buddha.

Buddha and I just had this conversation the other night. In his usual serene, composite manner, The Enlightened One with his calming smile and distant eyes remarked at me.

“Son, Have you realized what is wrong with the world and its inhabitants?”

“Oh! All knowing one! We have become greedy and ever more desirous,” I quipped in, proud and content at my answer.

“Indeed,” pointed out the Great Teacher, gently arranging the fold of his holy saffron robes.

“Humans have lost their inner conscience. They walk and commit actions in their confusion and dreamy state.”

Mesmerized and amazed, I continued to listen to every word He spoke, grasping and etching it in my memory.

The Great One, with a deep sigh continued,

“People have more vices than the values that I want them to inherit. Money governs our families and relatives more than their concern and care. Human loathe the stricken ones and praise the rich. They have no end to their desires.”

An in depth and abysmally long silence followed, accompanied by grievous sadness and desolateness in His eyes. The Master lost in His own answers.

“Oh! Learned Master,” I whispered, least I usurped His mysterious silence. “How can the Humans overcome this disease?”

With a warm smile and a gentle sway of His hands, he proceeded.

“The answer is in each and every one of the human. All you have to do is find them and use them to arise from your confusion.”

Leaning closer to me, He whispered in my ears,

“The answer to find yourself my son is YOU.”

The Blogging (Blocking) Effect.

Mr Sonam demonstrating how to start a blog.

A blog created by one of the teachers.

The Blogging (blocking) effect.

Teachers' learning how to create their own blog during the ten day Chiphen Rigphel Workshop at Paro.

The Royal Wedding Tournament

The Runner Up Team. (Royal Wedding Cup, 2011)

Rinchen Phuntsho with the Cup.

Moonlit Night @ Mothithang.

Thoughts on Movies and Cinemas.

The other night I was home with a couple of friends, sharing episodes of our monotonous life, our concentration and attention all glued on STAR WORLD which showcased and was immortalizing Rajnikant (The famous South Indian Actor) over his preposterous and over exaggerated actions and dialogues.
What mesmerized and enthralled me the most was this one particular scene; where the protagonist (Obviously Mr. Kant) drives his 4 wheel car accompanied by his virtuous lady, and a gang of bloodthirsty hoodlums (so I assume) equally pumped up, chasing him in cars, jeeps (GP) and other enchanting machines circling on and on, creating a mess of the place....

Wow! A classic Bollywood tale.

However, what struck me as imminent and important was; "How much would have that particular scene contributed to environment pollution with its emission of toxic fumes."
Each year more than a 1000 movies are made in India more than that of Hollywood.(http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_movies_are_made_in_Bollywood_each_year)

Another salient factor contributing to pollution (I am not ostracizing Bollywood).

Bhutan has already embarked into the saga of epic battles and love stories woven intricately. And very soon there will be car chases, fumes, explosions and the list goes on. Movies are good and entertaining but we should at the same time ask ourselves whether our sole purpose of entertainment disrupts the environment or not.....

Individuals all across the globe are working and coming up with different organizations and groups to promote a greener Earth and to help sustain life in the years and generations to come.

Entertainment is necessary, I do agree but let us not entertain ourselves at the cost of our up-coming generations.

ORGANIC all the way.

Inspirations come in different ways, forms and through different means. "SATYAMEV JAYATE", Toxic Food Episode 08: Poison On Our Plate? its impact and organic farming was indeed very informational and opened up my window  to whole new outlook and perspective.
Change can happen at any period of time, considering one has the right attitude and the willingness to accept change and to move along with it.

A lot of people and children across different nations succumb to different illness and physical deformity due to prolong intake of fruits and vegetables containing high amounts of pesticides and harmful fertilizers. Our government's initiative to discourage all vegetable and fruit import is without any doubt our nation's initial step to a healthy Bhutan and healthier Bhutanese. However, price consideration on all organic food has be worked out so that the consumers as well as the farmers are content and happy.
Sikkim showcases a very good and inspirational example by pursuing organic farming. A fine example that can also be implemented in Bhutan.
The next time I shop for essentials I plan to be organic all the way.


What About You!

Modernization and Us.

We live today in a critical situation when modernization, urbanization and western influences have begun to get the better of our old age culture, customs and traditions. Rapid development has brought about many changes, which has suppressed and are suppressing our tradition and culture. The glamour and the glitz of the western world has so influenced and blinded us that we are thus deviated from our own identities. 
Ladakh, years before was a virgin and pristine valley, untouched and unknown to the western chasms of modernity and technology. Ladakh now has been robbed of her chastity and purity owing to her opening up to a new facade of western living.
Bhutan-The Last Shangrila sadly awaits the same fate perhaps. Our generation lives in a false world of make believes. Those alien life style make us great impostors and not innovators that would certainly and utterly disgrace our ancestors. We prefer shirts and trousers to ghos and kiras. The discotheques and parties attracts us more than any adage religious ceremonies. The language we use betrays our own culture and our melodious folk songs hushed up and defeated by those loud noises of drums and savvy instruments.
What we need now is that inspiration from history, which will make us proud to call ourselves Bhutanese; an inspiration that will reveal our true identity. Cultural dilution can result in the changes of familiar old traditional ways and perceptions and the dire consequences can only be understood over time.
A new challenge awaits the generation to remove the soul-less veil that has been draped over our eyes. Unity amongst us will certainly help in our strive to preserve our priceless gems. Holding firm to our values, customs and beliefs, in the years to come will affirm our status and identity as Bhutanese. Awakening from the lure of westernization and embracing one's own genealogy can enhance a better and secure future for the upcoming generations and make us feel proud to call ourselves as Bhutanese not merely by birth but as true Drukpas from the core of our hearts.