Bhutan Images

REINCARNATION DEFINES:

* Any living creatures or object can be manifestation of boddhisatva or Buddha.
As an example the wind breeze which drifts upon you when you are sad, individual like bartender, waiter and so on, even some could manifest as Alexander the Great, Napolian and Mahatma Gandhi.
But as matter of fact is ‘recognition’ that distinguishes the Chosen One and other ordinary being.
*The highly revered or incarnate one will be discovered by Buddhist council lead by great master who are also refer as ‘lama’ or ‘Rinpochoe’ after several conventions. A search party will be deployed to pick the right boy as per signs or letter left by previous predecessor.
*Historically such concept of reincarnation in Tibetan Buddhism was effectively started by Karmapa Lineage. So this long standing practice is ingrained in Tibetan culture for centuries thus technical and local term ‘Trulku’ or ‘Teoba’ has originated.
* Nonetheless all the people devoted to Buddhism around globe still continues to foster the counterpart wing of Buddhist immense believe in rebirth or reincarnation.
Note
- Such interpretation will help us to let westerners understand more about reincarnation or rebirth because such topic always remain skeptical and common to most of tourist visiting Bhutan.

Auspicious arts epitomize Buddhisms (Nangba/Sangha) moral ideality or an identity of symbolic name and forms.
to skillful local painter!

It’s a must place to visit if you are a Bhutanese, Buddhist and Adventurer.

Nyechen Dongkola inner relics are most sacred Bhutanese spiritualist especially the statue of Yidam Thongwa Dondendrup- A wish fulfilling statue at sight. Whatever you wish and seek help would be definitely fulfil and blessed.
A story behind: This statue was believed to reached Dongkola flying from Bumthang, Mebar Tsho- Where Tertoen Pema Lingpa was challenged to proof himself as a treasure revealer by the ignorant and powerful local chieftain of Chokhor. When Tertoen presented him with a metallic box from Mebar tsho, he got furious to see just a metallic box and he furiously hitted the box with his sword 🗡 -where 3 statue came out flying from that metallic box. One reached to Dongkola, one went flying to Mongar, Yagang lhakang, and the other one went to Bumthang (one of the lhakhangs). So if one happened to visit Dongkola and seek any kind of blessings from the statue, it is still believed that your wish can be fulfilled.

I believe it well as many of my friends and relatives gone away were visited this most spiritualist religious site ( Dongkola ) whoes their wish were fulfilled.

The name Neychen.
The name NEYCHEN is the highest Title given to the holy place according to the degree of it’s sacredness. And in Bhutan, it’s just Neychen Dongkola.

108 Vajras (Dorji)- It is believed that 108 vajras came flying from nearby lake. This vajars also has its own significance and blessings.

A Statue of Guru Padmasambhava- Guru Sungjoenma (statue that has spoken).
It was believed that the statue was actually located in the nearby lhakang (Mindrup Goenpa lhakang). But how that statue reached Dongkola lhakang was the main reason for its sacredness. Once the mindrupling lhakhang was believed to caught on fire and during that time it was believed that that statue had spoken saying to shift him to Dongkola lhakhang. And if one visits and get blessings from that statue then one is believed to be blessed with whatever you pray for from that statue.

A Footprint 👣 on the slab of Terton Tsherjng Dorji.
It was believed that the Terton when he was a boy, he was a ignorant cow 🐄 herder with an ill tempered nature. One day Tertoen and his friends was believed to have stole one pregnant mother cow, and when they slaughtered the cow, they were shocked to see one beautiful and innocent calf ready to be born but found dead. This very moment made Tertoen to change his mind and then immediately decided to become a monk whereby he realized his destined role of a Toerton later and built the Dongkola Lhakhang.

The famous bronze Vase 🏺: A story were every Bhutanese students might have heard in Dzongkha class while learning why one shouldn’t involve in taking what is not given to you. It was believed that one man in the past tried to take that vase 🏺 from the Dongkola Lhakhang without anybody’s notice. He kept walking the whole night carrying that vase but when the dawn broke out, he was found that he had not moved much from the temple. People believed that the deity had kept him whole night circumambulating the temple carrying that vase. So when dawn broke out he had the fear of getting caught for stealing the vase, and the man tried to vanish from the scene by leaving behind the vase on that spot but he could not move his hand from the vase. His hand was struck on the vase. He tried with every possibilities but couldn’t succeed. So he finally cut off his hand and left the scene, and if one visit the lhakhang- you can still see the hand of that theif. It is still preserved in the Goenkhang of that Lhakhang.

The Tshomen Thinley Pem.
It was believed that there was a lake underneath the Goenkhang. And mermaid Thinley Pem was the deity of the lake and believed that she was the youngest of all mermaids. If any couple who couldn’t have a baby, and if you go there and seek blessings from the mermaid- one is believed to be blessed with a baby girl. So there is a way for you to have your own baby.

A big butter lamp 🪔.
The butter lamp present in the Dongkola Lhakhang may not be biggest butter lamp but it definitely had the biggest significance. The significance of the butter lamp is that it has five fire 🔥 points and that fire is the same fire that was litted around 3000 years ago. The fire was kept on transferring without letting it go off. The greatest significance is that if one happens to see this butter lamp then one will overcome the fear of fire 🔥 after your death. So if you have fire phobia, and if you think that you may fear for the fire after your death- there is a way to get away from that fear.

As a bonus one will get to enjoy the beautiful scene from the Dongkola. You will see the beautiful Thimphu valley as well as paro valley.

Source:FB

Archery in Bhutan

The glory of Bhutan is not hidden from anyone. The country, as beautiful as heaven itself, is known for its vivid culture, vibrant festivals and its richness in sports. It is true that no matter how developed or beautiful a country is, it never becomes complete until its citizens have an unleashed spirit for sports. And it is the royal sport of archery or "Da" (as it is called in Dzongkha, the national language of Bhutan) which completes Bhutan.

Throughout the history of Bhutan, fire and the bow and arrow were an important means of survival in the highlands during war and on hunts. The bow and arrow play a significant role in many Bhutanese myths and legends; images of the gods holding a bow and arrows are considered especially favorable. Symbolic and religious significance of the bow and arrow is associated with the legendary murder of Tibetan King Langdarma in the 10th century. The king had persecuted Buddhism, and thus failed to perform his duty as he made mischief. A Buddhist monk, Lhalung Pelgyi Dorje, performed the Black Hat Dance to entertain the king, during which he feigned a bow before the king, drew a bow and arrow hidden in the big sleeves of a ceremonial dance costume, and killed the king.

In the 15th century, most prophecies by Lama Drukpa Kunley are believed to have originated from his bow and arrows. Modernly, the bow and arrows are an obligatory feature of any religious ceremony, ritual, festival, and holiday in Bhutan. Archery has also been a favorite sport of the King of Bhutan, handed down from generation to generation.

During the Bhutanese period of theocratic rule (1616–1907), there was no regular standing army. The bow and arrow were among the principal means of arming the population during frequent upheavals and invasions. During times of crisis, the government raised militias from among local lords' retinues, all commanded by one dapon (Dzongkha: མདའ་དཔོན་; arrow chief") The title dapon continued to be used among military cadres well after the establishment of the Bhutanese monarchy in 1907.

Declared as the national sport in 1971, the inclination of people towards archery in Bhutan started in the 1920s, under the leadership of Jigme Wangchuk, the second king of the country. However, archery has been practised in the country since long before then. It was used as a major weapon against Tibetan and British invaders in the 1864 battle. Not just this, bows and arrows can be seen even in the historical paintings and wall carvings, demonstrating the importance of this sport in the lives and history of Bhutan.

In a traditional game of archery, the target is placed 100-145 metres away from the shooter. The relatively small targets are cut from wood and brightly painted, usually measuring about 3 feet (91 cm) tall and 11 inches (28 cm) wide. Bullseyes are called karay. Traditionally, Bhutanese bows are made of bamboo, and arrows from bamboo or reeds, fletched with feather vanes. Arrows may be painted and tipped with metal arrowheads. Quivers may be wooden, with an animal hide covering and a woven strap.

Bhutanese archery teams number at 13 players; teams take turns shooting two arrows at a time first in one direction, then in the opposite direction. The first to score 25 points wins, however because the scoring system is complicated, winning can take a very long time. For example, a second hit by an opponent can invalidate the other player's score. In addition, the interplay of wider socializing and festivities, with archery as the nominal focus, gives Bhutanese archery competitions an excruciatingly slow pace. In the past, the most traditional matches could last for as long as a month, though modern matches tend to span a number of days.

Preparations for archery matches are different from other sports: competitors are advised not to spend the night with their wives the night before the competition in order to achieve a high level of concentration. On the eve of a competition, the team spends the night in the woods or in a barn. Opening events precede the initiation and breakfast, and alcoholic beverages can be consumed on the morning of competitions. Teams often employ astrologers to select competing members. In their prognostications, astrologers use puppets (tsip) to symbolize archers, puppets of fate who have no control of their destiny. These astrologers are often hired at substantial fees in archers' attempts to have favorable tsip performances, cast curses against other archers, and gain an upper hand. Astrologers also calculate the time and place for competition.

Although the archery in Bhutan is dominated by men, women leave no stone unturned to prove an asset to the country and sport. In present times, the participation of women has increased marginally in the game. But many still consider archery as the game for males and not females. Even if the ladies do not participate in the tournaments as archers, they play an active role in cheering up their family members, competing in the match.

They bring food for them and dance in joy every time their team hits the target and sing traditional songs to cheer up their own team. This is a great source of motivation for the players, who are being expected to win the match. So, women's role in archery is very important as they make for the supporting people, whose presence doubles the thrill of the tournament.

During the matches, women cheer their husbands or favorites with heavily symbolic songs. They also mock opponents with distracting gesticulations and humorous insults. One insult goes: "Whose forehead is bulging and swollen like a wine-serving spoon, in aimless flight his shaft will drift to hit the mark not even once, Ah kha kha thu lu lu!" (Kuchu pehew gi da mephog, phog rung bam i pchi lay yeen, Ah kha kha thu lu lu!) Another more burlesque insult goes: "Lips sheltered in a black beard, in aimless flight his shaft will drift to hit the mark not even once, Ah kha kha thu lu lu!" (Kha nag pu so da me phog, phog rung bam i pchi lay yeen, Ah kha kha thu lu lu!)

The cultural significance of archery in Bhutan can be observed at shrines to local gods, where historically arrows were confiscated as tribute and in modern times are often left as offerings.

Tashi Delek

'Archery' typical nonetheless overly popular and integrated with Joy's as fun as it seems.