The future- philosophically pondering the prospects

“What will become of us?”

This is a question we have asked ourselves forever, from China days and well beyond. Those days seem like a daze now. From the heady investments of working in Japan, to indulging in following dreams with a minimum of security later in Thailand, then the disastrous disappointment of Tanzania and finally back to beautiful Bhutan where the love affair with the people, the place and the culture will last our lifetimes. 

When we began to see that the welfare state was over and that we didn’t have the requisite attitude or desire to accrue enough to support retirement, alternative plans were laid.But how long is a piece of string? How much will be enough? Who can say?

Resistance to change and risk is a topic that arises for discussion in this digital age. Addiction to it is not! Is that where we are at? I don’t think so, but clarity is not easy. 

In a world where AI is compelling, profit is motive and obstacles and challenges uncontrollably overwhelming for so many, values and passion have become underrated and irrelevant. 

Now the question is different. 

Neither one of us wants to become the “one man standing.” However, now we avoid discussing that issue. It’s not analysed or planned for.It’s not a future either of us wants to consider. 

We are a team. We operate in an interdependent domain relying on each other constantly. We don’t want to imagine it otherwise. Nonetheless that is 

what it will become. 

It’s not, “What will become of us?.…. but, “Don’t let it be me,” that becomes the worry. But that very well may be decades or just days away! No-one can say.

Live in the present! What else is there in reality. 

Written 10/3 

Pangri Zampa Monastery and Astrology Institute revisited!

Sunday Funday

Such a red-letter day.

Finally a chance to get back to Pangri Zampa and a chance to see how it has evolved. It is a tranquil sanctuary, just as we remembered it but now it is much more expansive and so thoroughly renovated.

Projects are still underway and obviously significant ‘Khempos’ are coming and teaching. While on our previous visits, it was hardly possible to sight a monk. It was at that time a sleepy, secluded and spectacular institute for the studies of astrology, not a thriving monk body with guidance and eminent teachers. Or at least that is the way it came across to us. 

                                                     

Shortly after arriving, we were invited into the room containing butter lamps and encouraged to light the last three ourselves. What a lovely gesture and of course we made a donation to ensure more butter lamps would be made and offered.

That in itself brightened my day and was almost the most positive change we have seen in Bhutan this time round.

Emerging from the room containing the burning butter lamps we discovered the taxi driver who had dropped us there was waiting outside, pointing at his bank account in his phone and muttering Nu. 200. After some confusion, both of us assuming that the electronic payment Ian had made was insufficient, he finally produced his wallet and refunded Ian that much money. We had in fact overpaid him and he had returned to find us to correct the imbalance! Well that was a first and certainly helped to restore our faith in humanity after recent events. 

We saw many, many more young monks in the monastery this time and they were both well behaved and looking exceedingly happy. It couldn’t help but transport me back to our much-loved Little Monks of Kep and the times we all shared. We still miss them. 

The courtyard was abuzz with anticipation and we observed the arrival of an obviously revered religious leader of the monk body. All the monks then silently followed him to a nearby hall and we continued our rather aimless rambling about their silent, serene and spectacular campus.

I’m grateful for the few days like this that are possible. When the connection to place, people and culture restores your inner calm and brings solace.  

And, also the foresight to try again and persist with one of the most magnificent and memorable experiences of previous times living in the capital.

Our last attempt was such a disaster that we started the day with trepidation and are so relieved to have ended it in jubilation. 

We walked over half the way back into Thimphu and felt both refreshed and revived after our thoroughly joyful morning and homemade picnic brunch in the beautiful grounds of the Astrology Institute.

Follow your heart! It is the path to happiness.

oNe PhOtO a DaY aPrIl 2024:

APRIL 1st SOMETHING PINK: Today it would be my tego, which is the outer jacket of Bhutanese traditional dress. It would have to be my least favourite colour closely followed by green. However, on Monday we must all wear green and bring a rainbow lunch and these two items were kindly donated to me to wear while we are here so ‘beggars can’t be choosers’

 

APRIL 2nd SOMETHING AQUA: Our school logo is definitely mostly aqua

 

APRIL 3rd SOMETHING PURPLE: I spotted this purple school bag and water bottle matching set in the class IV room this morning

 

APRIL 4th SOMETHING YELLOW: after a 10-hour day at school, the only vaguely Bhutanese and yellow objects in our apartment: a book containing my favourite Bhutanese lyric poem and one of the set of greeting cards I bought last weekend

 

APRIL 5th SOMETHING BLUE: Masks are a big part of Bhutanese culture and this blue face demon is obviously one of the consorts of the Lord of Death for Tshechu because it has the skulls depicted on it

APRIL 6th SOMETHING GREEN: In this house we eat our greens and the Centenary Farmers Market here sells seasonal, locally grown, organic vegetables so it’s a joy to shop there. The current supply of green in our household mostly purchased this morning looks like this and some has already been prepared as Bolanis and frittata

APRIL 7th SOMETHING WHITE: This depiction of a conch shell on the mural of a stunningly beautiful temple we hiked to today caught my attention. Conch shells are another of the eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism and are played in religious rituals often.  The sound and image are both beautiful but I always wonder how landlocked countries like both Bhutan and Tibet ever came in contact with them let alone acquired so many

 

APRIL 8th SOMETHING BLACK: The carved black slate that is embedded in the wall of the chorten, which we circumambulate every morning. Each of the four sides has a different image enhanced with gold but the Buddha is certainly my favourite

 

APRIL 9th SOMETHING RED: This is the season for Rhododendrons and they mostly seem to be red flowering varieties. Today we had an all-day field trip to the Botanical Gardens and this specimen caught my eye

though I much prefer this image taken in the national park 

 

APRIL 10th SOMETHING BROWN: Firewood is used for both cooking and heating in at least some cases even here in the capital in Bhutan but I was surprised to see this wood pile this morning as there are strict regulations about cutting down trees. I am assuming that this is the result of pruning in the eco park and is possibly destined to be burned

 

APRIL 11th SOMETHING ORANGE: It’s pretty easy to guess whose desk in the staff area this is! Orange loving mine

 

APRIL 12th SOMETHING GREY: Just a little cairn I built with the help of a friend on Sunday while we were picnicking in the Jigme Dorji National Park after a fabulous hike and visit to the Tango Monastery and Institute for Advanced Vajrayana Studies

 

APRIL 13th NEUTRAL TONES: just a simple fence that caught my attention while we were out wandering today

APRIL 14th 3 COLOURS: The iconic 3-coloured design on the front of my current sleeping T-shirt is the Indigenous Australian Flag

 

APRIL 15th MELLOW: I have a very small class of just 8 students as my home group. Whilst they are great fun, they are often very loud and they are also overly exuberant so this is my attempt to mellow them. The singing bowl is for mindfulness at the beginning of each class.  How could I live without a bookcase full of books, a plant and splash of orange in my classroom anyway?

APRIL 16th STRIPES: There are numerous traditional striped patterns in Bhutan and these two are my outfit today. The horizontal stripes of my Kira (skirt) and the vertical stripes of my Rachu (ceremonial scarf) required for formal occasions like our assembly this morning. Interestingly enough the patterns are the same but women’s clothing always has horizontal stripes and the men’s always has vertical with the exception of the Rachu

 

APRIL 17th FLORAL: Right now, the wisterias are in bloom and there are gorgeous displays all over Thimphu. I took this shot out wandering on Saturday and it inspired us to purchase one for the school. It will be hopefully be joined by an Acacia as a small green legacy we will leave behind when we go

 

APRIL 18th POP OF COLOUR: Driving through the clouds and cold, cold, mountain air today on the bus to Bumthang (love that name) with lots of grey and green but the prayer flags add a pop of colour at regular intervals along the way, 9 hours down and counting. Not far now …

APRIL 19th 1 COLOUR: In Bhutan it could only be red. Red, dried, fresh, huge or tiny chillies are a feature of every meal and we both love them

*This one was also selected for the Fab four on Facebook

 

APRIL 20th PATTERN: Yesterday we attended Tshechu and the patterns and elaborate designs of the costumes were almost as impressive as the skills of the dancers. This religious festival is our favourite event in Bhutan and they are held annually at different times in towns all over the kingdom

 

APRIL 21st MATCHING Looking pleased as punch with ourselves dressed in our favourite traditional clothes and heading to Tshechu. We are unintentionally matching each other and the room decor

 

APRIL 22nd DARK: this window in the chorten door allows you to see the water turned prayer wheel within. See below for the full picture and interior view from the window

The view of the interior 

The whole picture 

 

APRIL 23rd LIGHT: A light-hearted look at Bhutan’s favourite exterior wall decorations. The phallas has symbolic meaning here and these were all snapped yesterday while taking a walk at our lunch halt in Nobding!

 

APRIL 24th COLOURS: These vertical, maypole style prayer flags are relatively new and very colourful and striking. On Monday returning to the capital, following a long-honoured tradition of flying prayer flags at every pass on the lateral road we added to this display at Kiki La by hanging the small horizontal set at the base in the front. It was a totally satisfying activity for Earth Day! Blessing the Earth and wishing her healing

 

APRIL 25th PASTEL: A pastel pink peony just about to open. Spotted in the local nursery

APRIL 26th VIBRANT: We spent the morning watching the junior school Futsal finals and these goal keeper’s gloves were definitely the most vibrant item on the field

 

APRIL 27th CLASHING: When what was once a traditional Bhutanese Dzong is taken over by IMTRAT (Indian Military Training Team) the decor is clashing - the colourful, intricate, Buddhist designs and architectural features become suddenly boarded over and painted bright yellow. Road trip to Haa

 

APRIL 28th GOLD: I have turned every wheel I have seen all weekend but only this set surrounding the White Temple in Haa was gold

 

APRIL 29th SILVER: A couple of weeks ago I bought this little silver locket for myself as a souvenir from Bhutan. The character on the outside is the Dzongkha word for ‘Om’. It opens and I hope to put a photograph of my siblings and I inside it and I don’t intend to wear it until then. It took quite some time to clean it up but I’m thrilled with it

 

APRIL 30th RAINBOW: The wheel of Dharma painted design on the door of a traditional shop front in Haa, where we spent the weekend

  

 

THE PROMPTS