My earlier post on kindness and hate drew a lots of responses. To all of you who have sent encouraging words, I thank you for taking your time to share your thoughts.

And to all who have enquired how we are doing now, thank you too. We are doing fine. The journey of healing was long, the mental trauma was even longer but we have all come home now – to our minds and to our senses.

Looking back.

They say everything happens for a reason. Maybe that’s true, but you must make extra open-minded efforts to find that reason. What is the universe trying to tell you? Then everything – both good and bad will make more sense.

In many ways, I guess, the tragedy was the final message from the divine to take a different path – that of spirituality – of greater service to humanity and back to the Buddha Dharma (my birth prophecy required me to pursue a religious path). I must say this helped me immensely to find some solace and sanity. It was only when I delved into such greater and deeper meanings that things began to make sense. And healing began.

In pursuit of the Dharma, I also found my lama in Khandro Dorje Phagmo Rimpoche for whom I helped complete a large stupa of her destiny, and the dharma center in Zhemgang, while she protected me and put me firmly on the path of compassion and loving kindness.

I have built three stupas and three temples, so far, in remote Athang Gewog – something that makes me very content and confident, more than I ever was in my life.

To all those who maybe going through some struggles – fighting a demon of some sort, hold on! Keep fighting. Keep exploring. And don’t lose the essence of what makes us human. You will get to the end of the tunnel and see the light.

Reinventing myself.

For me, I also discovered another career – teaching and research, and a place in the rarified world of academia and intellectuals. A short stint as a substitute teacher to Sherubtse College opened a door, which I would have never discovered had I continued in the limelight of fame and power.

Retreating to Kanglung made me reflect on my own life without the distractions of memories of people and places in Thimphu, where I had built my family, career, friendships. I could look closely at who and what really matters in my life and who goes in the thrash.

It also gave me the courage to embrace whole-heartedly what we love and are passionate about. For instance, since academia was going to be my life ahead, I gathered the courage to go back to school at 48 and complete a PhD six years later. And because I had no job waiting for me in Bhutan, I was super relaxed and that helped me learn so much – even beyond my field – such as sociology, anthropology, Buddhist studies, etc. I was paid well and was also given the opportunity to teach students from different nationalities, which provided me deeper knowledge on others.

Today I have minimised my needs and wants in life, I refrain from going to social gatherings, and instead spend a great deal in reading, writing, learning, and teaching, besides spirituality. During the pandemic I also realised that there is much goodness and hunger among westerners for a life of selfless service and greater purpose. I also take every opportunity to mentor our youth, and share with our people, what I know, whenever opportunities arise.

So, life goes on

😇😇😇

(Photo from my last teaching assignment at the Desuung Academy in Punakha, plus some photos from my recent travels)