Back home, sweet home

Flew into this sparkling fresh Paro Valley that was rinsed by the incessant rain of recent days. For those missing our beloved home, this is the latest picture from this morning.

Back from a superb three weeks of a mixed trip of business, fundraising, another billion-dollar investment deal in the making, identifying architecture firms and experts, and a denting-painting of my teeth (for free). And some Vipassana meditation and Tom Yum soup.

In Thailand I also visited some top retreat centers in the Khao Yai area. It is mainly to help us do the final designs for the spiritual center in the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC).

The spiritual centers in GMC, in my view, should go beyond a temple caretaker and just ritualistic practices. They should inspire Buddhism in action and an alternative way of living and being in the world—not only sustainably but also in a regenerative manner—all founded on the Vajrayana ideals.

There should be infrastructures to organize festivals and fairs to bring communities and countries together – thus creating not only harmony and solidarity in the world but also direct employment opportunities for our people and an economic system around it that indirectly sustains a couple of thousand families.

My dream is to see something like Boudhanath in Kathmandu, where around the stupa countless people make an honest living, and thousands more are welcome there regardless of race or nationality.

That’s my vision to help fulfill the greater vision of GMC.

Picture: The red roof square building is Rinpung Dzong. The cluster of red-roofed houses is Paro College of Education.
.
.
.
.
(PS: All my travel expenses are from my own savings and income, and for now I don’t gain anything monetarily out of these. But I am gladly doing it as my humble contribution to the project in GMC, and along the way I am also able to support the greater cause of selfless service and nation-building. I have, of course, no doubt that in the long run anything done with good intent pays off.

Leave a comment