Sonam Pelri: Some takeaways from from the Bhutanese movies - Ny...

Sonam Pelri: Some takeaways from from the Bhutanese movies - Ny...: What is Bardo and what do we do in so-called Bardo - an intermediate state? Buddhism notes six intermediate states: the Bardo of this life; ...

Some takeaways from from the Bhutanese movies - Nyilam Bardo and Sipa Bardo

What is Bardo and what do we do in so-called Bardo - an intermediate state? Buddhism notes six intermediate states: the Bardo of this life; the Bardo of Meditation; the Bardo of Dream; the Bardo of Dying; the Bardo of Dharmata; and the Bardo of Existence. We received so many instructions and initiations from high Lamas regarding the Bardo and its related teachings in our life. Nonetheless, we cannot really imagine how it appears in reality or feels about it? So for that visualization to occur, we might need some object like that of a movie - the combination of sight and sound. It can trigger our thoughts and imaginations on the teachings we had already received. 

To this rescue, Mr. Yeashy Dorji, a businessman to fluent Dzongkha Speaker to Poet, who is into film-making now has extended his kindness by telling stories through the making of movies on Bardo. In his every successful movie there are a lot of takeaways - dialogues, scenes enacted, songs, and messages through his movies are so meaningful in my own opinion. We must read between the lines of his dialogues in a movie as every line gives a feeling of enlightening thoughts. I personally feel his movies teach us or remind us of a good way to reflect on our own path to a good life if not enlightenment, although, the latter seems a long way to go. 

His most hit films I believe, Nyeelam Bardo and Sipa Bardo are two movies that contain informative, entertaining, and enlightening content as we delve deeper down into our thoughts about what he is trying to convey. Apart from verbal teachings we get from spiritual masters in our life every day, this simply serves as the practical solution to what actually a Bardo means as he portrayed in Nyeelam Bardo and Sipa Bardo. However, due to our differing views, we tend to make judgments quickly rather than digesting what is being offered as the best solution to reflect on our self. I think films cannot be all about adventure, love, music, and stunts. But it should be informative and at least tell a story which is present in all the films without which movies cannot be made. There won’t be a movie without a story to tell. However, the feeling is sometimes different from one another which is basically related to the choice of character, actor, and sometimes inclined towards our own expectation. 

I really appreciate what Mr Yeashy Dorji is after, as his films is all about

portraying different forms of Bardo and educating viewers based on the Buddhist principles of ‘Lay Judray’ (karma/cause and effect), which is a timely reminder that we all need to reflect on what we do and how we do things in our everyday life. 

My message here at last is a request to watch movies objectively, not subjectively, and read between the lines. Choice of character and actors may please you for some time, but it's not guaranteed always, so try to practice unbiased thinking on such feelings. 

Kadrinche for reading la ( LA is a Bhutansese word of respect attached at the end of conversation) 

Sonam Pelri: My analysis of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Sonam Pelri: My analysis of the Covid-19 Pandemic:   It is the retaliation for humans having dominantly partaken the natural environment. Doing this is certainly not to reduce the impacts ...

Sonam Pelri: Corona Virus Pandemic is a time for self reflection

Sonam Pelri: Corona Virus Pandemic is a time for self reflection:   The world is shattered into pieces by the coronavirus which has spread from Wuhan City, a province of China. Ever since its initial detect...

Corona Virus Pandemic is a time for self reflection

 The world is shattered into pieces by the coronavirus which has spread from Wuhan City, a province of China. Ever since its initial detection in December 2019, it has rapidly spread over the world in the blink of time. Today it has crossed 21 million, infected people, by a coronavirus and caused deaths of about seven hundred thousand plus people over the globe. It is a rapidly spreading virus with no cure as the scientists in the laboratory are still in trial and error experiments as inventing a medicine for such a new disease may take uncertain time. However, the spread has not halted yet, it continues at the light speed infecting millions of people. The study of how it spreads is still being studied at large. 

By this pandemic, it has disrupted the world’s economy - from unemployment to way of doing work, business losses to exchange rate crises, starvation, destitution, and many more to list. When at large, millions of people are suffering and the authorities concerned are taking numerous measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, we must take our own responsibility. Some of the measures are restrictions imposed on public gatherings, social life, and the conduct of businesses. We must at all costs abide by the rules of the local authorities, government, and the task force in action to combat coronavirus in our territory.  

 While this coronavirus has brought disengagement in social life to the maximum extent, it has also connected, united, and cemented the faith of relationship with the co-existing beings from animals to nature, and people. It has restored the faith in cause and effect - what we do unto others shall be/have to reap by oneself later or soon. 

Bhutan, unlike other countries, being a Constitutional Democratic Monarchy system of governance, we are blessed to have visionary, benevolent, and caring leaders who lead the frontline workers in combating coronavirus. What if, we are not being led by the visionary leader, His Majesty the King, tireless frontline workers, Dessups, Volunteers, and contributors in any form. By this situation, we can conclude that we are being blessed, protected, and cared for always. 

As Bhutan entered into lockdown a few days ago due to possible detection of community transmission, people have been panicking and blaming each other for the cause of such lockdown. However, on deeper thought, we cannot blame anyone else for this cause as it is related to our own actions. We are always overwhelmed by the external stimulus and tend to react quickly to it without any proper analysis. For having accumulated unseen negative actions for so long, we have to bear an equal share of pain we might have inflicted on others. 

And this is the time we reflect on our own actions - arising out of our own thoughts which cannot be traced back to its origin. Nonetheless, it is said to be arising out of the gathering of causes and conditions. For now, as Bhutan is officially locked down for an uncertain period of time, although we don’t have any exciting things to do at home, we are blessed with secluded time to reflect on ourselves. I reckon people during lockdown can do meditation, say some prayers for the peace and well being for the world, and learn something new at home. This would most probably be the best time for self-reflection as we normally don’t get special time to do all these things while we are continuously occupied with thoughts triggered by external environments - getting distracted at the sight of something seemingly beautiful, hearing pleasant sounds and music, agitated, exhausted, and bored to name a few. However, this is the time to reflect more on ourselves than getting carried away by the external environment and stimulus that triggers something not necessary. 

My humble requests to all the people during the lockdown is;  Please follow the rules of the government and COVID task force, listen to advice from the medical authorities, follow the standard of practice to contain the community spread by revealing your travel history if you have traveled to any coronavirus hotspots, stay home, don’t put blame on each other as the first lady to trigger lockdown was a blessing in disguise indeed, practice meditation, say some prayers, and contemplate on many initiations you might have received during this life before it goes ashtray. 

Kadrinche for reading. 

Disclaimer: this thought is not intended to provide any form of advice or information, so the discretion of the reader is highly recommended. 

My analysis of the Covid-19 Pandemic

 It is the retaliation for humans having dominantly partaken the natural environment. Doing this is certainly not to reduce the impacts but by far to fulfill our desires – luxury and comfort are way of life and even got down into everyone’s veins now. For this, the calm natural environment has lost its essence, inhabitants – animals have to nonchalantly sacrifice their territories and move to less privileged areas. By most, humans have claimed everything to themselves. The equipment, material, garments, and foods are mostly the outcome of animal life – they are slaughtered for wool, hide, meat, and of course for anything we can extract out of it. We don’t even spare the last drop of blood to dry. How far we have been playing this dominant role yet ignorantly?

The time has come for us to realize, feel it, and share it in common as they do. All these arising out of our non-existential self have given birth to many negativities: desire, hatred, ignorance, anger, and jealousy. As these negative seeds are sown, all other things follow accordingly. How we inflicted them with pain is reversed now. The seed of karma has risen and reaped its fruits. We enjoy no pleasure than such pains as they do. So, it is a complete retaliation, restoration of human-environment behavior, and making realize there is cause and effect’ in anything we do.

The principles of Buddhism got me thinking it is not something that comes easily out of nowhere; it got to be originated from elsewhere but it’s all that we sought for. We have no time to change ourselves completely and get rid of such karma so easily. However, to remain committed to not engage in negative behavior henceforth establishes the hope for the restoration of the world as it is.

By this effect, all people got home; animals in the place they are. So, the eco-system revives gradually. Our daily habits get changed; working from home, more family time, lessoned time going to bars, gyms, beaches, saloons…

Society is getting restored and the eco-system is revived with an equal share of our natural environment that nobody owns.

It is the time for self-realization……

Celebrate - the breathing period

Life is as a dew that dries up instantly; The moment we are born Then we grow old and become aged Ultimately we die - uncertain.

Phajoding-November 2016

Don’t fear this - death is not unusual occurrence,
But we fear as we are not prepared; It is just a passage where we transform To another body with the same soul. What’s important today is to cultivate The seed of goodness and positivity Which can be carried within our own soul To next life and form. While being in the comfort of ephemeral existence, Be positive and earn good merits That shall guide our future and the way forward By which all turns in our favour - happiness.