Spiritual Calling of an IT Guy

  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...

  You might be acquainted with Aum Dungtima Ney and Kopi Dham, situated near the Amo Chu (Toorsa) river in Phuntsholing. These sacred sites hold a special place in my heart, owing to my personal experiences with them. As per the historical account provided in the " སྟོན་པ་བདེ་བར་གཤེགས་པའི་རྣམ་ཐར་ཏཱ་ར་ནཱ་ཐས " (Biography of Buddha), King Dondrup (the previous incarnation of Lord Buddha) faced adversity at Aum Dungtima Ney due to the གང་ལ་གང་འདོད་སྦྱིན་པ་བཏང་།  including animals. However, with his visionary leadership, harmony was swiftly restored. These Neys have been prophesied to exhibit "Tendrel" (auspicious interdependence) in the future, which appears to be unfolding now.   In my view, it is an auspicious alignment for these two Neys to collaborate harmoniously, guided by compassion and adhering to the legal principles of our nation, to achieve our collective vision. My prayers extend to these sacred sites for the successful realization of transformative refo...

  To ensure the fruition of our triumphant transformative reforms—a precious offering from our Dharma King—I would earnestly propose adhering to the guiding tenets of མཉམ་རུབ། ཞི་འཇམ། and ཁྲིམས་མཐུན། as we strive to attain our envisioned future for Bhutan.

To me, the alignment of the Bhutanese New Year in 2023 with His Majesty's 43rd birthday resonates as an auspicious omen for triumphant transformative reforms—a precious bestowal from our Dharma King. Presently, I find myself partaking in the festivities at Ten-Drel Thang, Samtse, offering heartfelt prayers and fervent wishes.

  Without prior arrangement, and with intentions stemming from the depths of my heart, a meaningful occurrence unfolded. It transpired at Panbari Lhakhang during the Drup Tshezi festival—a foreshadowing of the passion I am fervently pursuing: the construction of an equitable and harmonious society in our nation, in alignment with the vision of His Majesty the 5th King.   My companions and I were fortunate participants in the Drup Tshezi festival at Panbari Lhakhang. This was my inaugural experience as a "Jinda," an offering participant, at this sacred occasion dedicated to my root guru, Lord Buddha. I gleaned additional insight from the Tshogpa, who informed us that the Lhakhang had recently undergone a Rabna (consecration) by Lama Namkha Ningpo Rinpoche, a rite aimed at enhancing the well-being of the local community post-renovation. It marked a dual first—a Jinda from my end and a Chekhor representing the Lhakhang and the local administration, both contributing to the wel...

  The lineage of astrologers, locally known as ''Tsigpa,'' has flowed through my family for generations, tracing back to my father and even my paternal grandfather. Their practice has contributed significantly to the welfare of our community over the years. Hailing from Bongzor, a quaint village nestled within Thrimshing Dungkhag beneath the auspices of Trashigang Dzongkhag, we boast around 15 to 20 households. Our village's nomenclature finds its roots in its geographical placement atop a hill, coupled with a tale involving a pack horse. Interestingly, recent revelations have illuminated our ancestral origins—our forebears hailed from Trashigang Bihar and subsequently adopted the distinctive Tsigpa title upon their arrival in Bongzor. As I introspect on my own pursuits and passions, I discern a profound connection between my endeavors and the fervor that stirred within my ancestors.          

Numerous universities have continuously delved into emerging technologies, adapting to the rapidly changing requisites of the 21st-century global landscape. The advent of online courses such as MOOCs, Edx, and Coursera, enabling worldwide student participation and learning, stands as a tangible outcome of seamless technology integration. These open educational resources have proven invaluable for educators and learners worldwide, facilitating sustained engagement in teaching and learning even amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.   While the Royal University of Bhutan (RUB) adopted a virtual learning environment (VLE) technology across its constituent colleges as early as 2008, the full exploitation of VLE's features for course instruction had not been optimally realized, not even during the pandemic-induced circumstances. This gap persists despite over a decade of VLE availability, as observed by Pem et al. in 2021.   With the issuance of the Royal Kasho o...