Lhabab Dawa 2020: Tendrel

In 2020, something truly special happened during the ninth lunar month of the Bhutanese calendar, known as Lhabab Dawa, which generally coincides with November in the Western world. It's a time when Bhutanese people come together for virtuous activities and prayers, all in the pursuit of peace and harmony.

What made Lhabab Dawa 2020 remarkable was the coincidence of especial Buddhist and Hindu festivals, along with celebrations honoring Bhutan's kings and national pride. It was a month filled with spirituality and celebration. The month began with Navaratri, a 9-day festival where Bhutanese invited Devi into our homes, seeking purity and divine blessings. On the 10th day, Dasain and Vajrakilaya Puja were celebrated, symbolizing the victory of good over evil. It was a time of hope and positivity. The 16th marked the coronation anniversary of His Majesty the 5th king. Bhutanese people gathered in different regions to wish for his long and prosperous reign, showing our unity and respect. On the 22nd, Lhabab Duchen commemorated Buddha's return to Earth after teaching in heaven. It was also Mother's Day, a day to appreciate all motherly figures. Love and compassion were celebrated. The 26th celebrated the birth of His Majesty the 4th king and Constitution Day. These events honored Bhutan's traditions and leaders. Finally, on the 30th, Diwali, the festival of lights, brought inner clarity and reflection. It aligned with Buddha Shakyamuni Duchen, emphasizing enlightenment.

These interconnected events to me form a Tendrel, a sign of good fortune that augurs a bright and prosperous future for Bhutan under the benevolent rule of His Majesty the 5th King.

Comments

For Bhutan to Champion in the 21st Century World

When we contemplate the present figurehead in science and technology, Elon Musk readily comes to mind as a front-runner in this domain. His triumph as an entrepreneur is propelled by his revolutionary innovations, exceptional aptitude, influence, and substantial income, which he both earns and relishes. On a divergent note, when considering the foremost spiritual guide worldwide, the name of Sadhguru often emerges. Revered as a yogi, mystic, and modern guru by his followers, he offers diverse programs aimed at fostering physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Unquestionably, these exceptional individuals are fortunate few who inspire millions seeking success. Now, envision a leader or individual embodying qualities inherent to both these remarkable figures. Such a person would transcend leadership itself. The query arises: What educational framework can cultivate such exceptional individuals within our nation? Education stands as a prime catalyst in shaping a child's life. As...

Flashback of my compassionate heart at the very early age of my school days

I don't quite recall whether I was in Class PP or Class I, but I vividly remember the class picnic we had with an Indian teacher at Neyra Ama Chu, a sizable river flowing beside the Thungkhar School. While I'm aware that a significant portion of Indians are vegetarians, my recent internet search unveiled Chicken Makhani as their most renowned Indian dish and recipe. Even back then, chicken dishes held a special place, particularly during class outings with our Indian teacher at Thungkhar Primary School in Trashigang. During one of these outings, my Indian teacher instructed me to kill a rooster for our lunch. I can't quite fathom how I managed to persuade my imposing teacher amidst the shock, anxiety, and tears of the moment. Somehow, I eluded the task of killing the rooster, though one of my classmates eventually carried out the act. This memory resurfaced when I embarked on the path of Bodhicitta after becoming a student of Tang Rinpoche and taking on the role of Dewa...

Coincidence of My Speech to DEWACHEN (དེ་བ་ཅན་ཚོགས་པ) with Thundering

Between 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM on the 15th day of the 3rd month in the lunar calendar of 2019, a unique convergence occurred: my expression of gratitude during a vote of thanks speech to the དེ་བ་ཅན་ཚོགས་པ། group was accompanied by the rumble of thunder. My predecessor, upon hearing the thundering thrice followed by a brief shower, interpreted it as an auspicious omen for the incoming coordinator. The Samtse དེ་བ་ཅན་ཚོགས་པ། community is dedicated to the teachings of Manjushri (the Lord of Wisdom), which were revealed by Khenchen Jigme Phuntsho Jungney (1933-7 January 2004), the founder of Lharung Serta Monastery in Tibet. These teachings are believed to hold prophecies relevant to Bhutan. His Eminence Zheetrul Choni Rangshar Rinpoche (widely known as Tang Rinpoche) arrived in Bhutan with the purpose of fulfilling his root guru's prophecy, Khenchen Jigme Phuntsho Jungney, who was a Terton. In 2015, Tang Rinpoche's visit to Samtse College, at the invitation of former President ...

Turning Point of My life on Saga Dawa Duchen,2019

For the very first time in my existence, I laid eyes on a stone-carved Buddha that seemed to emanate a distinct aura of authenticity, resembling a tangible presence of the Buddha himself. This extraordinary sight unfolded on the inaugural day of Saga Dawa Duchen, a profoundly auspicious month in the Bhutanese calendar. On this remarkable occasion, I embarked on a journey by bus to Paro, with the intent of participating in a week-long workshop. The voyage up to Chukha unfolded serenely, but the atmosphere transformed drastically as I progressed from Chukha towards Paro, triggered by a distressing incident involving a Jambo truck accident. Despite our collective efforts to prevent a tragic outcome, the driver's life was spared only to be met with excruciating agony due to a fractured leg and hand. Around 5:00 pm, in the company of my friend who serves as a lecturer at Paro College, I ventured into a leisurely stroll around the college campus. It was during this tranquil walk th...

Significance of Number 16 in the ongoing national transformation and in my life

The number 16 holds profound significance in the ongoing national transformation of Bhutan and in my life. This significance is rooted in a mystical event that occurred on the 16th day of the Bhutanese calendar during the 16th Kuchey of Khenchen Jigme Phuntsho at the Jangchub Gatshel Chorten in Samtse. This sacred memorial stupa, deeply connected with Buddha, is currently under construction, guided by the wise leadership of His Majesty the 5th King of Bhutan. Its noble purpose is to symbolize peace, security and sovereignty within our beloved nation. Remarkably, in the same year, His Majesty's coronation took place on the 16th day of the 9th lunar month of the Bhutanese calendar, known as Lhabab Dawa, also associated with Buddha. Almost two years later, a significant development occurred on the international stage when India and China reaffirmed their commitment to restoring peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) during the 16th round of talks add...

Busiest Time of My Life

During the 16th Kuechey of Khenchen Jigme Phuntsho at Kadam Chorten (Buddha’s Memorial Chorten) in Gawadrong, 2020, I found myself amidst what might have been the busiest period of my life. Not a single moment was spared for rest, from the early morning hours till late at night, for approximately three weeks straight. This demanding stretch encompassed an array of tasks that left no room for respite. For nearly two weeks, we diligently gathered resources from various organizations, striving to bridge the distance between these resources and the chorten itself—a site that required extensive clearing and cleansing, despite being less than halfway through its construction. Throughout daytime hours, my compatriot Lham Thinley (the Chorten Construction Coordinator) and I traversed from one office to another, earnestly seeking support. On other occasions, we labored on the chorten construction site alongside our dedicated supporters and helpers. The early mornings and evenings...

Significance of Number ༡༥ to Samtse དེ་བ་ཅན་ཚོགས་པ། and Samtse Dzongkhag

The number 15 holds deep significance for the followers of དེ་བ་ཅན་ཚོགས་པ། , owing to several significant occurrences. As per online sources, humanity has abided by the lunar cycle for ages, aligning our energies with the Earth and the cosmos. When the moon reaches its full illumination on the 15th day of each lunar month, it symbolizes a spiritual zenith, prompting individuals to awaken from the cycle of samsara. During these full moon days, pivotal figures such as Buddha and Bodhisattva have been born or attained enlightenment. Notable examples include Lord Buddha, Terton Pema Lingpa, Lord Manjushri, Khenchen Jigme Phuntsho, the present Gyelsey Tenzin Rabgay, and many others. The 15th day of every lunar month is also revered as a sacred occasion for Buddha Amitabha, offering an auspicious opportunity to offer prayers and pay homage, aspiring for rebirth in the realm of དེ་བ་ཅན་ཞིང་ཁམས།. It is recounted that Lord Manjushri, embraced by དེ་བ་ཅན་ཚོགས་པ། , came into exis...

Spiritual Calling of an IT Guy

Search This Blog