July 28, 2025

On this most auspicious day in the Buddhist calendar, on the altar.

While I could have waited for the monsoon to pass and travel there, I decided to go despite the poor and dangerous road conditions. The reason: the village lost four members in two months – one in a tragic accident, and they were terrified by these deaths and requested me to help. Some asked me to invoke Deity Palden Lhamo (whose abode is there) on their behalf because they believe she listens to me.

So, while celebrating the achievement of completing the Guru Tshokhang, we also conducted Marmey Moelam and collectively mourned and prayed for those who left us. In happiness and in sorrows, we are in together.

I did ask Aum Pelden Lhamo to watch over them too. But what could be a bigger blessings and protection than our own Second Buddha – Guru Padmasambhava and the Eight Manifestations? I am sure now everyone will alright.

I also made a quick visit to another village in the valley – Lamga, to offer the silver butter lamp made from the bangles of my late mother. (See picture).

This village has a peculiar problem: only in rare cases, do people hits 60. At 59 people there drop dead like flies. Things improved after we initiated invoking Drolma (Tara). So, I promised them to initiate a Sangye Tshepamay (Buddha Amitayus) practice.

Thank you, all people of Rukha, Lawa and Lamga for the support, love and opportunity. I wish you all health, happiness and continued Dharma practice (there was none when I first landed there in 2007).

Needless to say, with all the support they received from different organisations and the government they were saved from abject poverty. Now they are thriving.

I feel truly blessed and fortunate to be able to do this. I remain inspired by the words and encouragements by three different Rimpoches who told me the same thing: everyone rushes to do and to be seen in places like Thimphu and Paro. There is no greater merit than leading people in such places out of spiritual void.

And lastly, thanks to my three friends, who sponsored three of the eight statues (my family sponsored the rest), and for being part of this spiritual journey in 2025.
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Next stop: gold painting of statues in another temple.

*Guru statues set of 11 are:

• Guru Nangsi Zillnoen (5 feet)
• Khandro Yeshey Tshogyel
• Khandro Mendharawa
• Guru Tsoki Dorje
• Guru Sakya Sengye
• Guru Loden Choksey
• Guru Nyima Oser
• Guru Sengge Dradok
• Guru Pema Sambhava
• Guru Pema Gyalpo
• Guru Dorje Drolo

(On this day, some 2600 years ago a man by the name of Gautama Buddha taught for the first time in Sarnath, India, on the universal truth on suffering and cessations of suffering)