Circumambulating the memorial chorten!

Memorial Stupa-Thimphu

The memorial stupa of great bliss, built in the honor of our Late Third king Jigme Dorji Wangchuk is a tourists sight-seeing place and also a home to many old people. It is symbolic figure representing Bhutan of its flourishing Buddha dharma. Set against the backdrop of enclosures of the compact Thimphu city, the stupa rests calmly in between the busy traffic road but it is always filled with resounding chants of mantra.

 It is located in the close proximity to the JigmeDorjiWangchuk National Referral Hospital, the highest referral hospital in Bhutan until date. This site gathers peoples from all walks of life from in country as well as tourists from neighboring countries and overseas. People are seen gathered before dawn and leave late after the dusk to complete their promise of certain rounds. It is normally a Buddhists devout who very often make to this destination for the confession and accumulating merit for the sake of enlightenment.

Memorial Stupa against the scenic backdrop of Thimphu valley

As dawn outshines the calm abiding scenario of Thimphu city, feet of people finding its way forward hastens around the stupa. Gathered there are numerous people known and unknown but with a common goal of enlightenment. Some confess their faults and takes a solemn oath to not commit the same in the future. Some says prayers for the longevity (supplication prayer to the Buddha Amitabha for blessing with long life). Some chants mantra of Avaloketishvra (Buddha of compassion) for the peace of all sentient beings. Benra-Guru is also being chanted in great devotion, evoking blessings from the peerless Maha-Guru (Padmasambhawa). Of the actions being performed, it is in accordance with the principles laid with the Buddha Dharma.

The place of bliss induces people to have faith in Buddha dharma. This short-lived life, ephemeral though, people enjoy in parties, forgetting the essence of life that is difficult to achieve. Momentary pleasures seem to bring them happiness but not in reality, it lives momentarily.

Aromatic, scented flowers in the premises of Memorial Stupa

 Picture Courtesy; Royal Bhutan Flower Exhibition.