Flying to the land of Enlightenment- Bodh Gaya

Flying dream

Flying is a dream in making for all. Yet the inspiration came before science could challenge the world with proof and experiments, Buddhist ideas of flying dates back to the origin of martial arts and meditations. Many like Mila Repa attained the siddhas and flew from place to place.

Churning excitement infringement

 Hearing the upon the legendary story of Guru Rimpochey flying at the back of a tigress from Singye Dzong to Paro Taktsang and Kekharathoe sending into exile from Tibet to Khenpajong in wooden crafted aeroplane in 7th century-makes me to think of Guru Rimpochey's blessings throughout centuries.
  Glimpsing Paro Taktsang cliff from the plane window was breathtaking- bringing some urgency for waking up call for life.
Flying is fun as the creativity and imagination has played the wonders for human from flying like a bird and swimming  like  a fish.
It was a deep touching moment of life to see my old souls being seated for second time. It brought me the tear of joy to see the old feets stepping on the wings of Druk air.
Delightfully a time came for the departing Dragon from Bhutann in a few minutes.

An old faces- readying to fly

A kind of celebrating the meeting of son and a mother in same seat.
Inside a flight, beautiful airhosters with smiles and native Bhutanese music for ears- viewing the snow capped mountains flying was like meditating in action.
Reading a Trashi Delek magazine and chewing snacks was the most fulfilling dream for me as lover of reader.
 Many passengers from differnt walks of life- monks and lama chanting. Surprise meeting of old friends bring big smiles and some are in good sleep.
Having landed at Gaya Airport, the passenger's sense of quickening to the entrance of an immigration office and lagguage collecting was an instant act.
After waiting for more than half an hour, I went in search of my lagguge and found one packed box was missing. Immediately asked for the official to fix the lost lagguge. It was found in awhile.
The half of the job was already done by  cousin Lama Jamyang booking air tickets, arranging rooms, reserving Taxi and buying a SIM card for me.
 Safely my team was dropped at the spot of Buddha's land in the middle of day getting the sickening experience in town.
Mouthing Indian tongue was challenging and I wished for watching Hindi cartoons in childhood days.
Funny at the same time and some embarrassing incident strike me like others to remember the day. knocking and entering to another room. I tired unlocking others room using a key which was my ignorant acts.( I forgot the room no. But in a key numbering was wrongly mentioned.
On second day, we had the good fortune of receiving the Blessings from Minling Khenchen, Gyangkhang Rimpochey, Garab Rimpochey and Muksang Rimpochey. They were presiding over  the last day of 30 th Annual Moenlam Chennmo.
On third day-I consider the prigilimage with my grandfather was most rejoicing movement of my life- grandfather promised to say sorry to himself for being an active smoker. And reduce the drinking habits.( his daily subsituated drink includes juice, water and  Indian masala tea)
On same day we chanced the nearby scared sites visit and it was a great blessings of the lord Buddha that my grandfather was spritually transforming- seeing his  eyes closed and  bowing withfolded hands and chanting the mantra in decreasing breath.
 The pleasure of flying with my Grandparents to the heart land of Buddha's Enlightenment was  like family trip to 'the land of Buddhas' to what Englighment means to individuals understanding.
By the Blessings of Guru Rimpochey, lama Rimpochey ,parents, relatives- I have felt the blessings of the Lord Buddha and seen his enlightening activities as vast as sky and deep as oceans.  Sadly, to my eyeing beggars, I couldn't offer anything then a gesture of love and smile- but they were never away from my prayers for the cause of their Enlightenment!
Returning flight was a big blessings for my team-got blessings from Younphu la Rimpochey and Nyoshoel Yangsi.
My inspiring prayers to all my sentient beings are may they attain Buddhahood under buddhas wisdom and kindness.
This time flying was a most fulfilling as it was a total cause for spritual undertaking and experimenting the truth of sufferings and enlightening deeds of Buddha.

Gamung Dungjur- heart of Gamungpas

Gamung:the land of joy.
 A village is surrounded by maize field and skeleton of orange trees.If you look further, there are abundant of red scarlet covering every households.I dont know who and when the  village was founded  but being the true son of Gamung, it became my subject of writing for today.Geographically  it is sandwiched between Shali and Gonpung villages.

Gamung village- photographed from Gonpung.

It has household around 30 roughly. The village  is touched by modern connectivity and wires-road and electricity.
After many years of schooling and finding the way of living, I traced  the significance of origin and it was my village.It was the days I was brought up with a piles of dried dirt  over red hardened face and terrorized  much by the words of  Khekpa( head hunters).

It still reverberates the beating of drum, cymbals and the music during Tshechu days and much feared from the emotioning faces of Atsara.

And only a place was DUNGJUR.

Dungjor was first set up by Lopen Chendrak and Tawmey as sponsoring of the mantra scripts for Dungkhor was  Domkhar lopen Barmu.(Domkhar lopen in common)
A Carpentery work  and labouring  of Mani Dungkhor was monitered by Jetshel Wangdi.
After few years,  a small temple was built up by locals and finalised a common spot for the people of gamung, similarly,

Newly built Mani Dungkhor- sponsored by local, civil servants and generous donars.

First cham was instituted for lhakhang. Some of the mask dancers  were sent to Yaak Gang Monger to learn the chaams.
Among them Gaylong Drak Tsechu's father was known as Gasha  watsu( being a Hunter) was  one.
Today the Chaam Poen's role was shouldered by Mr. Tashi Phuntsho.He had the experience of dancing for more than thirty years. He is also  a  legendary dancer of  our time. He trains the new ones and make sure the Tshechu is performed annually. ( experienced Dzongkhag dancers)
Before Tshechu was  a good time for the people to share the common joy of appreciating the cultures, wearing an eye catching dresses and sharing a meals and  drinks. Only a few- very less of local shops could be sighted but now a days, Tshechu has been a place of businesses hub, gambling place and smacking the beer bottles.
More than the Tshechu it is a festive mood for the people to celebrate their hard work of the year and hope for another better more years to come.

Chaam poen- training the assistant Chaam poen.

During Tshechu- annual rimdro called Mangdok, fireoffering and other obstacles averting rituals are performered as per the astrological findings and the advices.
I was happy to hear about the legendary dances performed by local folks in olden days.Meymey Tendri( passed away)- who was gaint and tall resembling the appearance of mountain always had the pleasure of  dancing with a lion headed mask during Dramitse Ngachaam. The way he danced was amusing and till date people remembers him for the beautiful gesture of his dance.
While another lopen kuwang, lhendrup and Bobjay ( all passed away)had the preferences of dancing the Yamataka dance in pairs.

Small temple that houses for few statues.

The performing antics and dances of An Atsara was Meymey Donpey,(passed away)his boldness, humorous and short tempered qualities was the man of legend who remembers him till date.
To my growing age in a village , I remember the days when lama kinga from Kheri Gonpa and Chaskhar lopen would come and preside over the Tshechu and the naked dance of lopen Norbu to stop rain.
The Tshechu was also performed during the eight months of the Bhutanese calendar but now with the decreasing number of villagers, they  opts  during winter with School going children.
Finally, it was a blessings to know such place that holds the significance and inspiration. It is a good reflection for the aging man like me and one day I shall take pride in explaining to my children about the place.
Declaration: The information provided above are liable for change as and when I can authenticate the facts and figures.

New structure-sponsored by govt.

Note:Serthakpa lopen ( short in appearance)had an influence over Nongar lopen and Domkhar lopen- the roots of all teaching was originated from Tokden Sakya Shri.
Tsampa Thinley from Ngorkhe(zobel)was the teacher of Kinzang Yeshey.(Dechen Ata)From him, he was introduced to the skills of painting,crafting and performing rituals. He had much influence in uniting and sustaining the annual Tsechu for many years.
Asper my findings: no recorded dates of establishment. Calculating of time period was heavy headache for me since no written notes could be traced out. No proper facts and figures.

Source: oral history from Gupdrep Rinzin

New year note 2019

Closing Note : 2018:Tuesday,1st January,2019.
Generally,the year has been a great year for me. At national level, witnessing the big event over BBS,the beautiful face of H.H Je-khenpo, His Majesty the 5th king,His Majesty the 4th king and our little crown prince , meeting of their together-time and day has been a touching moment of the year for me.
At personal level, It has been third year of my service to the nation as a teacher. I have laughed enough,joked enough and taught enough, answered enough for the students,but I still question, * Did they learn enough from me?* It has been a good year of reflection. But seeing their innocent faces and smiles was the everyday miracles teacher sees in a year.
Year was spritually rich but financially poor for me however, everyday answers and solutions lies in *how you manage!* Having attended the Youngla Phurpai Drupchen and various religious discourse have given me the impression of our past glory as a Buddhist. I rejoiced on the legacy of our forefathers.
I have learnt to live in a society, where now the sense of competition is taking its roots over compassion. People likes to see more of Drunkard man than hardworking man.It was a sad findings of the year.
It was a big success in nurturing the dream of having home Library. Ofcourse a small collections! I have found a big reason for the books and Buddhist scriptures to be inside my rooms. As wished I got the books of my taste and prints.
Written regular journals but updating the articles in my personal blog was very less. So, this coming year would be the year of reading more books and watching less Tv.
As usual years, I have had good times reading books, eating all the losars, visiting toilets and drinking cups of water.
I have Watched less of Tsechu but admired more of Atsara dance in a Dzongkhag.
Finally, it was a blessings of Kenchoksum and Tsaawaasum for the year that I see parents,love, relatives and friends with a smiles around. Magically, I am breathing years after years, thanks my an old lungs and clean air. Happy new year 2019. Trashi Delek.