Lama Rinpochea

Dungse Thinley Norbu Rinpoche (1931-2011) was an influential modern Buddhist teacher in the lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, and patron of the Vajrayana Foundation. He was the eldest son of Dudjom Rinpoche, the former head of the Nyingma lineages, and also the father of Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche and Garab Rinpoche, known for his Theorma Tshogpa. He wrote many books on Buddhism including ‘White Sail: Crossing the Waves of Ocean Mind to the Serene Continent of the Triple Gems.’ Dungse passed away in America and his Kudhung(body) was brought to Bhutan. His Kudhung was kept for the wellbeing of Bhutanese people for a month. I was there in Paro( Lango) when his Kudhung was put on fire. Thousands of devotees gathered, it was said there were more than 20-30 thousand people. Some as early as 2am in the morning came to occupy the place as near as possible. Those who came late have to parch on the caves and rugged terrain. Buddhists believes, Rinpoche was the incarnation of Guru Rinpoche. Below are the photos were taken on Mechay’s day.



In the darkness, shines through Rinpoche's Kudung



Sanctuary in the sanctum







Have a close look, who is he? Politics in religion

Ah…oh wondering minstrel

Taking kudung in a Bhutanese procession

Swapping body into smoke, an evanescent of life. Many people cried at this time. It was an emotionally poignant moment.

People rising up to inhale the smoke and to show veneration

This is how rich people misuse the space-the good space while people have to parch on the rocks and in the trees.

Smoky to be on fire

Many Neljorpas tents camped around the place

On the way back home the famous Paro Dzong stands rain or shines for hundreds of years. My son’s son would be fortunate enough to see the same Dzong. I said this to my son and he unhappily said to me that I will turn into smoke and disappear. My heart broke apart for sometimes to tear away especially from my beloved people and the earth. But who am I? The great Rinpoche has the same fate.

Forget the dying for now. Live now or never, I told my family. So, we mingle in the tingling town in Paro town for some time. It really is a tingling town, the prices of the things made our head tingle. Those non-eating chilies Chilips tourists have inflated by buying of no use things.

The next day, we went to Phuntsholing to have gracing and blessing from Lam Chime. Lam Chime resides in Sikkim and is the main leader of Theorma Tshogpa in Bhutan. Lam is living for his devotees at this die-able age with his wife. Not all photos were clear and I think it was the cognizant nature of Lama to blur his image for an errant person like me!

And the wheel of the life rolls on and on...and kick the bucket unknown known, unlike Lama rinpoche.

OK Seems to be Nothing Okay

 When I was in tenth standard, we had an ‘OK’ teacher. We called him ‘Sir Ok.’ But nothing seemed to be okay with that ‘Ok’ teacher. One day, he pushed his lesson (which we always wished from his lackluster teaching! Don’t mind Ok, I think it’s okay to write what is true) and told us about his journey from Phuntsholing to Samdrupjongkha; about 10 hours bus ride.

“Ok, let me tell about a very tiring bus journey. Ok?”

“Ok sir, ok,” we noised.

We seemed to be accepting everything. The first word would be Ok and it would end with Ok.

“Ok, half of my journey, I have to stand and hold to the bus as there was no vacant seat. It was hard, exhausting journey. Ok.” (Now what is okay with this ok)?

Before we were ready for Ok’s story, it ended.

“Ok then, what happen?” some voices shot up.

“Ok, then I reached Samdrupjongkha and enjoyed the new place and prepared for the next journey. Is that ok.”

Ok was nothing okay; always busying, preparing for the next journey, daring to dread fatigue?

He was our humblest and briefest Ok teacher.

Now, many times, I have taken journeys liken Ok, sometimes entire journey standing like Ok. What Ok sir suffered was okay to him. But to me, nothing seemed okay, by the time I had reached the destination; I would have no vigor to see places like Ok. I would sleep, not wishing to try another journey (Dream).