High society for a day
‘Surrender’ was the word that was popping on my head yesterday as I attended the annual polo match between Thailand and Malaysia. The trophy is known as the Queen’s Cup and all proceeds and donations go to a cancer initiative patronised by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.

Anyway the point is, my new-found friends from Columbia University New York texted saying they were going for this. I had met them only a day earlier but I instantly connected with them after a brief convo that went like, “You are from Bhutan? My best friend is close to your King”, “I know him. I was chatting with him this morning”, ” Oh my God!”, “Let’s take selfie snd send it to him” and so on.

And so I went after another one encouraged me with, “Oh! You must come. They would love to see you there”. In fact the owners of the club, who were organizing this noble event, welcomed me like a VIP and even included me in their official photo of the award ceremony. What an honour!

Yes. The surrender.

Since Covid-19 killed all my plans for my third career in the academia as a tenured professor, I stopped planning my and I just let the universe take me – putting my faith in myself (to adapt to any new situation), in my Gyalwa-goms (whose blessings and generosity I can always count), and the protection of my lama and my dharmapala – to whom I continue to serve to further the Buddha Dharma.

They say everything happens for a reason. Well, I believe one must actually go beyond and uncover that reason and not just leave and resign with ‘there-must-be-a-reason’. You do it by being open, broad-minded and genuine. “What is the universe trying to tell me here?” One must ask. This way you discover the greater meaning of the reason of every encounter and every moment passing by you.

And yes! I found why I was pulled there. I have had a eureka moment there for my works in compassionate leadership research and education – a field that I am currently working in.

The thing about surrender (there is a book by Michael Singer on this) is you MUST show up authentically – with no ego, with no prejudice, without laziness (I drove over 200km yesterday), without being a miser or mean, and without expectations. And then let the things be revealed to you. Amazing things have happened after I adopted this philosophy of life.

I shared some photos to a couple of my friends and one guy texted, “Damn! From building stupas and making pilgrimages to polo clubs that’s a big jump. What a progress!”

Well, it is because I just surrendered.

😁😁😁

(NB – Gyalwa Gom is another local term to refer to enlightened monarchs and fore-bearers)