The Woman & Her Expectations

It is my routine job to visit the temple (Wat in Thai) nearby and wander around with the people whom I am known and familiar with. One day, I was accompanied by my host to the inner chapel where the monks giving teaching to small kids on Buddha Dharma by chanting prayers and learning the values. Watching the process and activities inside the temple where some kids started feeling sleepy from the begging of class and their eyes peeping through the windows outside and just mouth murmuring the prayers for sake of doing. I understood that these kids could concentrate for few minutes in their prayers and listening to the lectures given by the revered monk as generation builder of Thailand.

Observing their behaviors, I could conclude that these kids felt it was just another burden on their free time amusement could have happened in the children park. These kids really did not enjoy praying but doing it for the sake of doing to fulfill the wishes of monks and parents.  On top of that praying, kids were asked to bow down on the ground paying respect to the Buddha and its values where some of them could face difficulty in performing it. How pity was seeing these kids tamed at so young age with bombardment of culture and traditions which they may not carry further after their adulthood. Will all these kids live with these values forever or one day they throw out  into trash bin and those efforts are gone into drain?

To me, those kids were like an "caged birds" in a chapel who wishes to flay away in the distant land and sing a beautiful song of freedom and amusement at such tender age. Recollecting my childhood days wandering with cattle in the deep forest listening the musical flow of nightingales and watching the best part of Nature and rivers whole day playing around. The musical instrument known as the flute was my best friend which I could play with joy in my heart and fill the forests with such charming notes. Think of those days that I enjoyed the extreme freedom of childhood and these kids are already burden with their studies and another cultural session given by the monks on Sunday. Their freedom is already lost at such tender age. The motivating factor for kids are like free coffee and some snacks to pick up from the balcony during the course and start munching to satiate their hunger and thirst provided by the monks and join the prayer holding the prayer books.

Indeed, I was the only foreigner, who visited these kids session on weekend holiday and observe their behaviors carefully.  To keep myself engaged, they provided me some books on "How to Talk So Kids Can Learn" written by Lisa Nyberg & Rosalyn Anstine Templeton in English version which I enjoyed reading through and enlightened me with some basic tips to guide our kids at home. It provides us the psychological handling of our kids by teacher and parents so that they can become the best nation builders instead of robbers and murders at the adulthood. I could recommend other readers can brush through this book. It certainly can give you very fine tactics to handle the problematic kids in the school and at home.

Seeping a cup of hot coffee at balcony with my kind host. An old woman came nearby us and my host had good conversation with her in Thai language. She finally could translate their talks to me in this way. "This Thai old woman with an specks dangling on her nose wishes to have one Bhutanese boy friend in Thailand". It was really shock to hear such wishes from an old lady who is already down the line. She could be around sixty plus by now.  It seems she is single for whole life or could be divorced long years back. It made me shut up for while and gave myself second thought to answer her needs at current moment. After analyzing the situation in my mind, I said to the old lady in this way. " At my apartment V.M Mansion, there are very few Bhutanese men living and I may not find one for you. Therefore, I offer you an option that I can be your Bhutanese boy friend for six months . Are you willing to accept my offer. There was great laughter filled the air which came from my Thai host and the Old lady could not say anything to my offer. Her face turn into red and felt so ashamed and left the scene immediately.

This incident made me to think, why Thai women like Bhutanese men the most? Does Bhutanese men have any special qualities and quantities that they can measure it as compared to other men.  I have many hypotheses in my mind for these but I want to leave it for the audiences to find themselves in course of time.


Mindu Wangdi

The Scientist Walking Behind

According to Lord Buddha, there are 84,000 types of diseases which can destroy human beings and animals and cause many illnesses. This declaration was made 2500 year ago by the Lord Buddha who had already perfected his wisdom in Biology and Chemistry of diseases indeed. How amazing it is to learn that Buddhism is not an orthodox text or crowds of beliefs we all place on but proven as scientific study done by our only Lord Buddha and left many medical solutions for the future generations to deal with. The Buddhism has got many medical and esoteric solutions that helps to prevent and protect from all these alien diseases and calamities as blessed by Lord Buddha so that we human beings can live happy and healthy life. 

The fear of AIDS, HIV, High Blood pressure, Diabetes  virus is now taken over by the latest Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) out break from African Countries and  scientists and Doctors are left without any solutions for this virus to content it. How come, our scientist and Doctors are walking behind the diseases. The virus can take advantage in different forms to destroy human beings and our scientific development and research is always lagging behind the virus and feel great level of frustrations when they are helpless to destroy the virus of Ebola. This Ebola virus have already killed many people and now the World Health Organization is declaring as emergency state to contain the virus through prevention to other Nations. The Bhutanese people are also trying their best to prevent the deadly virus from entering our soil and the Health Ministry is deputing many health workers in the airport for quarantine of sick people which may be the perfect solution. 

It is very interesting to learn that disease can take very strategic level of changes in their forms that the medicines cannot easily destroy them. How come, these viruses acts like human beings. They uses many tactics and strategies to puzzle our Scientist and Doctors leaving behind. When the enemy "virus" is killing the patients; the Gods "Doctors or Scientists" are watching the drama for they are fighting the war without any guns in their hands to shoot their enemies instantly. How pathetic we human beings are indeed, we cannot understand the best strategy of viruses that destroys faster than we can can prevent through medical solutions? We all think, we are the best and great thinkers and innovators but sometimes, we lose the war to such tinny viruses and get killed in mass. How should the scientists and Doctors find the solutions to such mutating viruses? 

Should the scientists and Doctors follow what lord Buddha has left for us as solutions available in Sutras and Tantric forms of evading such alien viral attacks? The scientific advancement is in slack  period and the viral attack in critical path in this modern days? It is my sincere and humble request to the scientists and Doctors to explore some solution from the Buddhism to apply in the world and accept as the scientific proof instead of getting frustrated without any solutions left after long scientific study. We should fight the war with guns in our hands, if we want to win the war from Ebola virus.  Prevention alone is not long term solution to such attacks which might wipe away the human population from this earth. May Buddha Bless you all and live happy and long life ahead!

Mindu Wangdi

The Man & Book

It was really wonderful to open my heart and listen carefully to his (Thai brother's) story for long hours in his room seeping a cup of tea and munching some fruits offered on the bamboo made table. He would throw out his sad moments and troubled times and ask for any solutions to adopt immediately in the future and the conversation continued for many nights under the dim light and soft Thai music played on his radio. Being senior people, suggesting some solution is quite sensitive and re-bouncing for their want to remain in their "caged thought". The resistant to change is sensed but I could melt his heart with my diplomatic way of advice based on Buddhist principles which loves to embrace it.

He would complain to me that his friends never listen to his problems but ignored him and once he bang the table during the dinner which hurt his friends emotionally and their strong bonds nearly got shattered with that incident. I can see his frustration and stress in his face, as he comes to my room with beer and guitar to release his tension. I offered him chair and we continued talking on his failed and troubled days. His future worries are like, maintaining of his house which is getting natural decay, financial re-bounce, family stress, client handling and many future plans that he listed. So he would ask me "Mindu" how do you deal with it?

He cornered me with such big issues that is beyond my advice and suggestions indeed. Nevertheless, I offered him some options to handle with those problems by selling away the house before it is gone completely that he cannot think of it yet. Otherwise, rent out to some people nearby for minimum amount of rent. The problem is that he never trust anyone to stay in his house and maintain it annually. There is big doubt in his mind looming around that people will destroy his house if allowed. His house is now being haunted by Thai Ghosts and demons since the owner is far away in the city. This makes him go crazy as he spent huge amount of money to purchase. I told him the story of Naga (serpent) with nine heads with nine jewels on it and have to guard it from the enemies. How worrisome and difficult time that Naga is having under the ocean safeguarding the jewels. In the similar manner, your life is also pressured with worries of house, money, family,car. girl friend,  boy friends and neighbors.  

The best solution that I suggested him is to reduce your desire of wanting to possess and live contented life with what you have. Don't plan too much; you get frustrated when your plan fails. Don't visualize future too much, it is uncertain to reach that goal and it would again bring unhappiness to your mind. In Buddhist way of living is to live at present moment. No point of regressing the past and forecasting future as both would bring unhappy results. These suggestions have huge impact on his mind whereby I can see smile in his face and laughter coming naturally. He is now re-united with his friends with dinner and chats.

 And finally, he showed me his secret note book where he writes all his sadness, worries and complaints. Since, he wants to blow out his tension by writing everything in his thin note book which quite amazing and typical character that I could see this man. He said, this is my twin soul ("notebook"). How difficult time did he face when no one listened to his personal problems. It was me who could open his mind and heart by listening carefully with compassion and love for narrator with nodding my head and interrupting few moments for clarifications.  This is power of good listening and we could change and influence someone to live happy life  and save from  future dangers of killing oneself when people find one solutions in their life. We need not get training of Psychiatrist to heal someone but we should learn and listen to their problems well and let them open their hearts and minds for the change. Show them the new paths to walk in life and you will feel satisfaction at heart for serving them without involving any financial support.  

Currently, people need love and compassion from others not the money and powerful words of science to heal them from mental stress and torture from their job and surrounding. This is how I help sentient beings in little way to live simple and happy life rather than buried under tension and die with worries on their head.

Mindu Wangdi

The Black Magicians

The principle of Yin-Yang (Good & Bad)  rules this world. During my childhood days, my mother used to hide me from some strange and dangerous village people who can poison and do some black magic to kill me and family. The man with disabled left hand would visit my house and ask for some butter and food for his dogs at home and my mother has to give it immediately without any question in her mind. I was really innocent to understand such strange and harmful man which my mother used to share me after he left the scene. Indeed, he is a "black magician" who killed many village people, cattle and horses with his black magic if he is not granted what he wished from the owner. The village people are really afraid of this ugly man who would frequent the villages asking to give him as he wishes. No one can dare to deny his wishes, otherwise, that family will be in critical danger zone if done. This man will leave a word, "I will see you whether you can make up to few days on this earth". Such dreadful comments and torture did subdue everyone in the village. He acts like king in our village ordering to innocent people to provide his sustenance.  This man and his wife will never work in the field but ask from others and sustain on it. My father and mother used to feel such fear of this black magician. My late father was ill for more than one year due to this ugly man's black magic. He nearly killed my father with his black magic before we sort out with another black magician to backfire his wrath on my father and regained his health. He also killed many of our cattle and horses and pet dogs according to my mother's narration.

This black magician would always go for fishing in the river and once he got bitterly stoned by the village people near river bank. People in the village hate him so much and wanted to end him with any means so that our village have good people to trust and live in peacefully. The happiness of villagers are lost due to this black magicians presence as ghostly haunts. Villagers felt he is just like a dust in their eyes and wanted to clean out but the Black magicians never die early due to his hidden spirit power and support. To my surprise, this old man taught his black magic to many bad villager men and became his good followers by killing others. The bad people in the village started to flourish in my village since Buddha Dharma is rarely heard and practiced. The few dedicated practitioners are helping villagers with Buddhist ceremonies of death and rituals. Most of young men turn into black magician rather than good people. It is a sad trend developing in rural life setting. Indeed, the Yang (bad) people are winning the war against the Yin (good) and people wanted to leave their village forever and get settled in good community.

The readers may not believe in what I am saying if I have no support from other context. Having lived for more than one year, my adopted sister at Thailand shared me her own story of black magicians in Thailand. According her narration, her ex-husband is an dangerous man who possess black magic to destroy her life. She is a very dedicated women who meditates for many hours everyday in the temples. She said, her husband is doing black magic to control her and keep as his wife even after he got married with another lady. His ex- husband declared that 'you cannot go away from him" and she got struck in this dilemma. She feels pain at her back and sees someone stabbing on her during her dream. This is her husband who wants to destroy her but power of Buddha saved her from fatal death. She asked me "do you have any solutions for this black magic" which is mystery and beyond my thoughts. I am want to explore solutions to this cancerous attack of black magicians and save many lives.

Finally, some astrologers said that, I am also under the attacks from black magic since I have had an dispute over the land fragmentation in my village. Most of my relatives are unhappy about our land distributions happened few years ago.  It seems that they hired someone to do black magic on me to revenge. It was true indeed, as I was sick for more than one year at Bangkok even after long medication, my sickness could not get fixed and be normal. The dangerous dreams always haunts me signalling some danger behind the scene. Some people may not believe on this subject but it is still there in the community harming others and destruction are done every time. That is why Yin-Yang goes together and sometimes good forces are defeated by such evils people. Be mindful of such dangerous people living in the community every where in Bhutan and Thailand. 

Mindu Wangdi

Perceptions on me!

Seeping a cup of tea offered by Thai sisters at MBK shopping mall was another memorable day. My sisters working as freelance tourist guide at tour east travel company owned by a Singaporean business tycoon.  Resting my arms on the sofa set and watching shoppers ferrying with purchases and checking their face-book status on their I-phone striking likes and share buttons. Nearby me, an old  Indian woman  tourist who is settled in London namely Sonia with her daughter were also in the cohort of discussion. With long nose and wrinkled face burning with  ballooning egoistic  mind.  She said, her father was smart man and she too is smart lady at brain. Moreover, she praised her daughter is far better than anyone of their family members. Then, my conversation with this old lady abruptly end for she thinks as if she knows everything like Gods. She was the women who declared me as "fool". She finally concluded me as foolish man! That was her perception on me. I never defend her description on me and remained silent until we departed to different directions. Did she really comprehend my inner quality or Is she deluded completely with her own burning ego?

Chit and chat on the way with my sister, suddenly reached to another beautiful temple for earning merits for all sentient beings. No sooner did I enter the gate of temple, the peace and happiness begins to settle in my heart forgetting all my mundane worries like, study, research, money and sickness that tortured me for almost fifteen months. Trailing through the foot path surrounded by forest cover in the heart of city. It was such an experience of having reached the secluded place of retreat and happiness provided by Lord Buddha and Yogis. I was taken to a place where the famous Thia masters statues were erected for their blessings and empowerment. Having down  in front of Thai masters, prayed for their support and blessings for my practices to become true realization so that I can support all sentient beings. Listening to my sister briefing on these famous Thai master made me feel shocked and amazed of their level of meditation realization. 

We happily walked towards the inner part of huge temple where many white dressed men and women doing meditation and reciting some prayers. Nevertheless, my sister too join the cohort to resume her concentration on the chair. I was walking round the relics of Buddha and Yogis preserved in the glass container. Vow! There is many Buddhist relics in Thailand which are very precious, rare and wish fulling for faithful people.  Having sat for while with cup of coffee offered by sister after her meditation under the canopy. She opened her heart and shared with me of her realization as  a practitioner. She is such a women who can communicate with Nagas (serpents) and other spirits who want her help to get merits from Buddha. She is a messenger of Nagas,devils, Pretas and Gods to connect with Lord Buddha. It was really amazing women with her level of practices as a die-hard Buddhist and dedicated women. 

Looking at me, she said, "you are not a human being in her eyes but a yogi" that is found in Tibetan mountains wandering freely. I could not believe in her statement for I am just a lay man who does not know anything and still confused with delusions. And I said " Are you sure that you can see me as Yogi at my heart?". She said, yes, I can see you through my third eyes that ordinary beings cannot penetrate your mind and heart. And one of my sisters said, you are like a "witchcraft" or "black magician" who can chase away the ghosts and devils from patients. That was another perception on me from the audiences. 

Nonetheless, it was such an amazing declarations of their own perceptions and comprehensions on after we share our views and comments. The famous Yogi, Lam Drukpa Kinlay (The Divine Mad Man)  too accepted whatever the audiences declared sometimes him.  I am  "Yogi"; "foolish man"  and  "witchcraft or black magician". Vow! Who is right in defining me based on their judgmental thoughts? Hope to get more perceptions from other audiences and friends before I leave this world.

Mindu Wangdi