Take away from Month long Wang-Lung

The ongoing month-long Wang-Lung at Anim Dratshang is coming to an end. It was started

Devotees lined up for the Blessing

beautifully and now it’s coming to an end satisfactorily. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to stay till the last end (ending on 24.03.2019) due to the compelling reason which I am going to narrate as this goes on. I believe it’s due to the Karmic action, the past bad deeds that have prevented me from completing the Wang-Lung fully. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful experience for me (21 days) to have received the Blessings from His Eminence Sangay Nyenpa Rinpoche. I have learned a lot, gained more, transformed massively, improved enormously in terms of Wisdom, knowledge, action (body, speech & mind) to be minded and the overall compassion we need to render for all the creatures.

As Rinpoche pointed out in one of the occasion that “Choe-Zap sa Due-Zap”, meaning the

Top View of the arranged spot

religious ceremonies like this are very important and are rarely conducted, so it has got so much of powerful tips for one’s life (both while we are alive & afterlife), similarly, the negative energy will be gigantic enough that will obstruct/Disturb (Bar-Choe) us in getting the Blessings. These Barchoes will come in any form, in any matter, news that will bare us from the full dosage of blessings. So we need to be careful, mindful and extra cautious during Wang-Lung ceremonies. The evils/demons (obstructor), may not be what we think, like the one who got long Trunk, got long Horn, Stains of Blood in the Mouth, furious expression, but they can be our friends, families, our children, anything that disturb us. They are all Barchoes in our way. In order to minimize all those, one has to mandatorily present during Gag-Tor, the special ceremonies performed by Rinpoche before the start of every Wang-Lung. It’s believed that it will eliminate all the evil spirits that are obstructing/ trying to obstruct us from receiving the Wang.

During my 21 days of Wang-Lung, I have encountered numerous obstruction that can be listed below:

1.    Site Meeting: conducted among the staff of Adit-II. I believed that it will be the last meeting.

2.    Site Visit: numerous visits have been made where I attended the visit made by Chief DGPC.

3.    Producing MC: medical Fitness Certificate needs to be obtained and submitted to DGPC for completing the selection formally. It has to be produced from Trongsa Hospital.

4.    Dismiss of Grandma: my Grandma passed away on 06-03-2013 at Khaling.

5.    Mom Sickness: got her sugar High and was taken to an emergency to Gelephu Hospital.

6.    Meeting with MD: to discuss the pending issues/claims.

7.    Cough & Cold: suffered for 3 days. Luckily there was a team from Hospital providing the medical treatment to all the devotees. I availed the service and got myself cured. They also made it compulsory to have the blood tested. All are Good as per the Report.

8.    Frequent calls: by the Contractor and, from the office. I accept all the calls since I didn’t apply for CL.

In the process of attending the above-stated works, I have missed some Lung in between.

Selfie with my Choe-Dro

To add on for SL 4 & 5....i feel sorry for I couldn’t attend the funeral rites of my grandma. But then I offered my condolences and did my part in offering for the Zangchoe Moenlam (prayer to the heavenly lord) and did a Ngo (recitation of the text by Rinpoche) reading the names of the deceased. It is a rare opportunity for Ngo from Rinpoche, especially like His Eminence. I hope the merit shall dispel all who are suffering in Khorwa (Samsara) and lead to a heavenly body (Zangdo Pelri).

But then, nowadays, it has become a custom, like, all the relatives/parents gather when someone related passed away. It has become mandatory for all to attend it without fail. Otherwise, we have a fear in the back of our mind the society will blame us. “What will all think if I miss it?”. I am with the trend and like the way so that we mourn together for the loss. But it’s not happening the way it has to be. Showing off has conceded the system of offerings. That makes someone disadvantaged families concerned when one of their family members dies. What is more important is the prayers & offerings we do in the name of the deceased, wherever one stays. The later will help the deceased to find the way to Nirvana. I may be wrong and I admit my psycho thoughts but that’s what I feel. Anyways I am missing my remaining days of Wang-Lung to attend the 21 days’ ritual of my Grandma at Khaling. It falls on 27.03.2019. Khaling is my native place where I was born and brought up. I started my Schooling there and studied up to 4th standard. I don’t really remember the structure of a place and the position of the houses. When someone says it is near/above/right/left side/below... says so, I simply say “I don’t remember”. Going after long gap shall be my best opportunity to explore the lost memories and to create a bonding between the relatives that I don’t know. I am looking forward to many new relatives.

Secondly, I am guilty of not able to attend my Mom when she was sick and admitted to

After Ku-Sung Men-Drel

Gelephu Hospital (in an emergency). She was admitted to an emergency unit due to her high sugar level and Gastritis. Luckily my Elder and Younger sisters were there to accompany my mom. She was sent back with 3 days’ medication and asked to return if the pain doesn’t subside. Fortunately, it wasn’t severe for further review. She is now fine with a medication (one month). You know what, in today’s society, most of the time the boys are being blamed for not attending the parents. The girls are being praised for helping their parents when they are in need. Boys are known to be shrewd and never attend their parents (the phrase can be reverted in some cases). But I feel it’s not that urgent for me to attend my mom when my sisters were already there. (If I miss attending and if my presence were required that time, I am Sorry Mom).

View of Kil-Khor

Some of the take away after attending Wang-Lung:

1.    Wang is not something that is placed on the head by Rinpoche. Wang actually starts with the recitation of texts by Rinpoche. It is generally being observed that the people rush for receiving Wang (placing of the religious item on their head) while it’s not actually the blessings if we missed the text recitation.

2.    We should not do the noble act because others are doing so. Never do out of Jealousy. In the present days, there are some who does for the name and fame. They will offer seeing others offering. Some do so, fearing the criticism from others. If someone prostrates 3, “I’ve to do 6”. If someone offers 2, “I’ve to offer 4”. This kind of offerings and prostration is not the right way to practice.

3.    In the present scenario, people are practicing out of culture. We offer Choep, Karmi (Butter lamp) & Pai (Incense Stick) because it has become culture. This is also the wrong thing to do if we are not genuinely interested and meant it for the benefits of all the sentient beings.

Wang by Lamas & Truelkus

4.    There are no external enemies. The enmity lies within ourselves. The enemy that we consider will not take us to hell, it’s our own desire, ignorance, and hatred that will lead us to hell. So we must be careful with oneself.

5.    We have come a long way with life in many forms. The forms were eternal until we have this human form. A form best suited for following the religious path. We shouldn’t waste this precious life blaming each other and arguing for the worldly satisfaction. Instead one should take this rarest opportunity to accumulate noble merits.

6.    We all should think of Impermanence once in a day. The only thing that will surely happen to us is Death but we don’t know when. Death shall creep its way to all and we have to leave this world leaving everything, even we don’t have a right to carry our own cared body. At that time our merits shall be the only thing that will guide us. So be good to all, do treat to all the way you wanted to be treated.

Devotee serving Men-Chu

7.    We are being watched minute-minute, second-second, the way we live our life. Even the way we think are being recorded in the CCTV (both above and below). We can cheat/lie the CCTV mounted in our towns but not with Gurus’ and ChoeKi-Gaps’. We have to face the consequences once we leave this world.

It is said that the Wang-Lung that we are receiving from Rinpoche has been received by Marpa (the learned Buddhist master) by traveling 3 months of journey crossing the dangerous jungles, crossing the hardest rivers and the food was limited. He has changed his flesh three times (like the snake changing its skin) to reach the destination.

The first kind of this wang was presided over by Late Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and this is the second time in Bhutan. We all should be lucky to have the Wang-Lung at our doorstep, three meals served by the devotees, tea and snacks served. The villagers/volunteers form themselves in groups and make a turn to serve the meals. I can see the villagers offering their produce (vegetables, fruits, milk, curd, butter, cheese, Zaw, Sib, etc..) depending upon their capacity. It is known that they are not doing because they got enough capacity of their wants but they are doing it from their heart for the benefit of all the beings. I always pray for their good health, the merits to be beneficial for their luck and they are happier with better produce season to season whenever I take (meals/tea/snacks).

The list of the Wang-Lung presided by His Eminence as mentioned in the schedule are as listed below:

1.    Lam-Zap Lama Drup-Pa

2.    Mar-Lug Gag-Dor Lha-Gu

3.    Mar-Lug Rig-Du

4.    Yum Dag-Mai LhamoCho-Nga

5.    Day-Chog Rig-Du

6.    Ma-Ha Ma-Ya

7.    San-Jay Jai-Pa

8.    Dorji Dak-Zhi Yum-Ka

9.    Den-Zhi Yum-Ka

10. Jam-Pal Sang-Den

11. Shat-Mar

12. Sang-Dui Me-Chot Dorji

13. Jig-Jay Lha-Gu

14. Ray-Chung Lug-Ki Chag-Dor

15. Chag-Dor Tum-Chung

16. Pha-Mo Lha-Nga

17. Day-Chog

18. Day-Chog Nyoe-Zhi (missed)

19. Mar-Pai Lha-Sung (missed)

20. Dol-Kar (missed)

21. Drup-Gyal Tshe-Wang (missed)

Desups & Serving Team Serving Lunch

However, the lists of Lung are not mentioned in the schedule, but then it was announced by the MC and the names of the Lungs were also given by RInpochhe (which I forgot to take the Note).

I have taken part for the last 21 days without availing Leave and my Boss (Nagpal sir) was too kind to understand me better. But then I was always conscious that I, once seated tried to be in the same place without roaming around. I don’t unnecessarily visit the bathroom unless in an emergency for the simple reason that I don’t take a chance being noticed by the staff (I don’t really know if that will cause any harm but then I feel safe without being bothered 😜😜😜).

In between, I have to opt for Wang-Lung from Works (Thank you Nakul), I have to sacrifice my time for my daughter (Thank you Thayeden Maimai). I am sure indirectly or directly I have hurt some people when I was being absent from the work field. I beg for your forgiveness.

In the Kitchen

Lastly, I wholeheartedly thank the coordinator of Wang-Lung, the sponsors, the cooks (not to be forgotten), the servers (Students), Desups and police for the successful coordination. I pray for the same opportunity for times to come. I thank my Choe-Dro (religious friends) mostly the aged people of Eusa for keeping my seat ready when I enter the tent (usually I am late).

Today is my last day and took the opportunity to visit the Kil-Khor (usually the Alter consisting of Rinpoche's seat). Offered my deepest gratitude and later I joined the team from Tshangkha to offer Ku-Sung Mendrel.

May the Merits of all, Benefit to all.

PS:

The words, expressions, feelings expressed in this blog are the thoughts of the author. Any resemblance to the readers (if found) is purely coincidental.