Musing Mind in solitude and its rhythm! (II)

Hi there,

Now that the summer equinox has just begun people of lower village Chede (Chemrey) have drawn their first ‘Pabchi’ (meaning glacier water be drawn for irrigation as a special measure) that is, drawing glacier water for 48 hours non-stop so that families could irrigate their farms!

This is an ancient practice still prevalent in a relatively water scarce year due to cool weather conditions this year? As mentioned earlier, we have just one agriculture season getting our main crop within period of sixty days.

The time also collided with the famous mask dance festival of Hemis Gompa*(monastery) a seat of the former royal Namgyal Kings belonging to Drukpa Kargyut tradition.

With its founder first Stugtsang Raspa who became the royal Guru during the reign of most famous of Namgyal Kings, Singe Namgyal during early 17^th century. The duo was famously remembered as the ‘Lion of a King and Tiger of a Guru’ in the annals of history of Ladakh.

The monastic dance festivals of Ladakh have been excluded for the public due to Covid-19 Pandemic. Hence these are being observed exclusively by the monks of the monasteries. There may be need for the authorities to look into the logistic needs of the monasteries during such difficult times?

The monasteries of Ladakh are themselves the repositories of Buddhist culture and heritage and visitors being the key contributors in terms of ticket fee also fee for museum wherever it exits.

This is a two way process of ‘Sanghas’ (monk’s congregation) helping the household in organizing various rituals during different season of the year especially the funeral ceremony. The families on the other hand pay towards this end as per their means.

The rituals differ from Buddhist tradition to tradition. But final aim is to appease the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for the peace of the intended family, community and region and world at large.

This is so beautiful and there is so much to learn yet to a modern educated person both man and woman; it is not easy to comprehend that too after spending many years of study outside its own region they are disconnected for considerable period of time in their lives?

With economic improvement many of the families want to consecrate more rituals which they could not do earlier? So in a way monks have become rare and extremely busy in modern day Ladakh.

Here, you would be thinking that I am contradicting myself which in a way is true but during such times even the Venerable Sanghas too have been affected by this un-imaginable Pandemic?

But, as H H Dalai Lama often states that there is always a hope and scope for doing good and improving one’s Karma is of greatest value for self and the community, region and the world at large! So once again ‘Happy Hemis Tseshu Celebrations’ as it sets summer days ahead.

The occasion also marks the Birthday of the most profound teacher of the three time period ‘Guru Padmasambhava’ especially in such degraded times as present ‘Nyigma Ngador’ (Kalyuga)

Please do recite the most helpful mantra ‘Om A Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum’ also ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ many time !   Bye.          

The monastic dance festivals of Ladakh have been excluded for the public due to Covid-19 Pandemic. Hence these are being observed exclusively by the monks of the monastaries. There may be need for the administration to look into the logistic needs of the monasteries as public who become indirect patron during two days of ritual consecration is barred since last one and half years.

But the monasteries of Ladakh in themselves are repositories of Buddhist culture and heritage and tourist visitors being key contributors in terms of ticket fee also fee for museum wherever it exits.

There is a two way process of ‘Sanghas’ (monk’s congregation) helping the household in organizing various rituals during different season of the year especially the funeral ceremony. The families on the other hand pay towards this end.

The rituals also differ from Buddhist tradition to tradition. But final aim is to appease the Buddhas and Buddhisttvas for the peace of the intended family, community and region and world at the furthest extend.

This is so beautiful and there is so much to learn that to a modern educated person both man and woman it is not easy to comprehend that too after spending many years of study outside its own region they are disconnected for considerable period of time in their lives?

With economic improvement many of the families want to consecrate more and more rituals when they could not earlier? So in a way monks have become rare and extremely busy in modern day Ladakh. Here, you would be thinking that I am contradicting myself which in a way is true but during such times even the Venerable Sanghas too have been affected by this un-imaginable Pandemic?

But, as H H Dalai Lama often states that there is always a hope and scope for doing good in such times and improving one’s own Karma is the greatest value for self and the community so as the region and world at large!

So Happy Hemis Tseshu the celebration of the Birthday of the most profound world teacher of the three time period ‘Guru Padmasambhava’ especially such degraded times as present ‘Nyigma Ngador’ (Kalyuga) Please recite ‘Om A Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum’ also ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’ many time !