Chogyam Trungpa Rimpoche's Crazy Wisdom: Some Reflections...

Chögyam Trungpa Rimpoche (1939-1987) was a Tibetan Buddhist meditation master, scholar, and founder of the Shambhala tradition in the West. He was known for his unconventional and provocative teaching style, which included the notion of "crazy wisdom." 

https://www.elephantjournal.com/

"Crazy Wisdom" refers to a teaching approach that challenges conventional wisdom and societal norms. Trungpa believed that enlightenment could not be attained through traditional, predictable, and comfortable means but rather through direct, unfiltered experience and a willingness to step beyond one's comfort zone. He encouraged his students to embrace the full spectrum of human experience, including the messy and chaotic aspects of life.

Trungpa's teachings emphasize the importance of embracing the entirety of our human experience, both the light and the dark, in our journey towards enlightenment. He believes that true wisdom often emerges from the chaos and unpredictability of life, rather than from following a predetermined path. This perspective can be both liberating and unsettling, as it requires us to confront our own limitations and fears.

"Crazy Wisdom" is the idea that we should not shy away from discomfort or the unknown. Trungpa's teachings encourage us to engage with life fully, without clinging to rigid ideologies or seeking refuge in familiar routines. This approach challenges us to step outside our comfort zones, confront our own prejudices, and embrace the world with a sense of wonder and curiosity. It's essential to note that Chögyam Trungpa's teachings are not without controversy.

Lastly, not the least by any means, "Crazy Wisdom" is a thought-provoking concept associated with Chögyam Trungpa that challenges us to re-evaluate our understanding of spirituality and personal growth. The idea of "Crazy Wisdom" continues to inspire individuals to approach life with openness, authenticity, and a willingness to embrace the unconventional aspects of human existence. 

Readers interested in exploring this concept further can delve into Chögyam Trungpa's works and the writings of those who have been influenced by his teachings.

 

The Quintessential Samtse

Have you ever felt the irresistible pull of wanderlust, that undeniable urge to explore the uncharted territories? I certainly have, and recently, I had the privilege of setting foot in a place I had never been before – Samtse. Upon the kind invitation of the President of Samtse College, I had the opportunity to visit Samtse. 

Stepping off the car onto unfamiliar soil was an exhilarating moment. The air carried a      different scent, and the sights and sounds were entirely foreign to me. As I navigated my way through the winding roads towards Samtse, a sense of excitement mingled with curiosity and a dash of apprehension. What would this new place have in store for me?

The first few hours in Samtse were a whirlwind of sensory overload. The southern architecture was a fascinating blend of old and new buildings, creating a unique skyline that beckoned me to explore. The not so bustling streets, awash with a kaleidoscope of colors and noises is the usual way greeting northerners like me.

As I entered the college gate, I took a picture and made a story update. This was seen by my childhood friend Selden and my college mate Pem Deki. This was how a dinner with these beautiful ladies ensued.

I have a friend named Purna, now undergoing his Masters studies in Samtse, let me borrow his bran new slippers for four days as I had forgotten to pack mine due to the wanderlust excitement.

My stay in the college took me back to my university after seeing the speck and immaculate Library of Samtse College. How I wished to do some research using the actual crackle of the pages in the library instead of the internet and how I wished to reflect and soul-search in the meditation room.

The laughter with new friends, the unexpected adventures, learning on Aussie[i] cultures– these are the moments that stay etched in my heart. Travel memories have a unique power; they have the ability to transport you back in time and evoke emotions like no other.

Each new place you visit adds a layer to your identity, making you more open-minded, adaptable, and empathetic. This is what I have learned from this trip to Samtse.

Thank you, Dr. Rinchen, Dr. Sonam, Professor Vicky, Sangay, Pema and finally Acho Zangla for being with me in my short but fulfilling tryst with Samtse. 

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[i] There were 10 Aussies on student exchange programme

Off into the Cold and Clouds

This year the NC Elections took nineteen of us to different places (Polling Stations) under Thimphu Dzongkhag. I got to go a place I have heard before but never been to. So, Naro Gewog Centre it was.

Took the refresher’s course and divided the amounting provisions amongst ourselves and here we were ready and set. On 19^th, I and my team were the first ones to board two (Bolero) vehicles and off we went into the unknown.

As precarious as it may seem

Driving towards Tango and Dordena, all smooth sailing until the paved gave way to the unpaved. The unpaved road was the most precarious in its literal sense and every bump sent a bone-chilling fear down my spine. An arduous three hour ride on the bumpiest road that I have ever ridden, came into view the ruins of a magnificent structure. Upon hearsay, I got to know it as the ruins of the Bar Dzong. Now, why ‘Bar’, the Bhutanese language loosely translates it as ‘Middle’. Now, whose middle and ‘Bar’ of which places, please read the following. The name Bar was inscribed on the information board and everyone calls this place, Barshong.

Panoramic View of Barshong

The Bar Dzong

The following anecdote is from a young monk I bumped into while taking the not so professional picture of the Dzong.

The name of the palce is Barshong and the Dzong is named Bar Dzong because it falls right in the middle (bar) of Lingzhi Dzong and Thimphu Dzong. In its glory days, the Dzong was used as a structure to fight off enemies and never mentioned who the enemies were. He also mentioned, the dzong was built simultaneously during the constructions of Drugyal Dzong and Lingzhi Dzong.

The importance of this historical landmark is bolstered by the national flag fluttering beside it.

Come next day, no voters turned out to cast their votes in the morning and one voter in an hour was the count. After the closure of polls, we counted only forty-five. Imagine the wait of my team in the picture. 

The waiting officials

The next day, hopped into the same vehicles, thoroughly enjoyed the bumpy ride once again and Home, at last. All seven of us experienced what was supposed to be in my opinion not the best but an adventure off into the cold and clouds.

Thanks for dropping by! 

 

 

Let us be the best of ourselves…be a leader!

It is a common knowledge that Bhutan is usually associated with a monarchial form of government. In fact, monarchy serves as a symbol of aristocracy, stability, preservation of ancient traditions as well as respect to the historical events and occasions.

The monarchy witnesses about the rich history and high social and political culture of nation. Thus, it evokes positive images and associations, connected with the political awareness and appreciation of the historical heritage and customs. Nevertheless, the other point of view, nations claim about the incompatibility between the monarchy and democracy.  To those, we say look at us. The Bhutan that we call our country-the land of the thunder dragon and we are not the first, certainly will not be the last that we are a fine example of the constitutional democratic monarchy.

We are Bhutanese and must contribute to the nation building and it doesn’t matter if you are a farmer, teacher, doctor, engineer, bureaucrats, a corporate employee, a banker or a soldier, a minister or a decorated dasho. My only humble opinion is doing the best of farming if you are a farmer, be an inspiring teacher, an honest bureaucrat, a compassionate dasho etc. When we work together in a team, or in a broader sense as a society, the leader takes on the most important role. It is the leader that helps prioritize activities and direct people’s thought process in the right direction. They are the ones who have the ability to bring the group together as a whole. Because of this, not anyone can be a leader. And in my country, we have our dynamic kings who can do that.  Our kings unite the Bhutanese nation around a common historical past, cultural inheritance as well as ancient customs and traditions.

Due to the very fact that live in a unique country makes me unique and I am more than grateful for my unique kings, unique ways of life and I know the Bhutanese in general will remain unique for all times to come.

Long Live Bhutan and Long Live my Kings and Long live all leaders of my country. Let us be the best of ourselves…Let us all be a leader! My former Lopen Jose KC mentioned to me some 16 years ago, "A sweeper is an asset if he sweeps as Michelangelo painted." Do you spot the leader there?

The capacity and the will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence. —General Montgomery

Until then.....let us all be leaders...

 

The pursuit of more and more of the less and less we have…

Doing nothing on the Sunday evening, scrolling YouTube and watching the subscriptions that I have, I stumbled upon the following and watching it made me realize, how emerging are we in our thoughts about our country. In the name of progress, we are being forced by forces unseen to dam the mighty Drangme Chu. All the other major river systems are dammed or beginning to be dammed. I am neither a hydro power specialist nor a development economist but my little brain and logic tells me, it is wrong to dam the Drangme chu and a bad idea to listen to others about damming it.

Image Courtesy: Google

The pursuit of gaining more and more from the little that we have is capitalism on steroids. The unending greed of yearly policies that is being push forward is shrinking the little environment and ecosystems that we boast of. We cannot proudly declare 70 percent of the land under forest cover is mandated by the constitution and forget about the river systems that are interlinked and symbiotic in their existence. Without one the other cannot survive.  

You and I witnessed how troublesome were the years due to the Covid-19 pandemic which was an imported issue. People panicked, many lost their jobs, the economic hub of country came to an eerie standstill and many more, you name it. If the government go ahead with damming the mighty river of the east, the temporary relief may come in the form of revenues for some years. We have been told time and again, glaciers are melting ‘sey’. If they are, what will our lakes and glaciers hold during our children’s time.

Imagine the sustainability of such project when climate change sells like hot cakes in every international conferences at the UN. The power hungry neighbor of ours will only facilitate such projects if they benefit from the export of our electricity at the rate decided by them.

Ten years into the future from now, I would like to tell my kids that, the Golden Mahseer, the chocolate mahseer and the Snow trout are native to the Drangme Chu instead, before the dam came up, all these were there. I don’t know who coined the term climate change or what will it do to our lives and whether or not if climate change is a hoax, but what I know is we have to live through climate whether changing or not. The damming of the Drangme Chu will be a move towards our own haste towards climate change in Bhutan.

I am neither trying to make any political influence of any sort nor trying to petition against the damming of the only free flowing river of our country, I am just trying to put through a humble opinion about the issues concerning every nation in the Himalayas...

You are advised to draw your own conclusion after watching the following video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjw0zfDAvSE

And thank you for dropping by…! 

A visit down memory lane…

My official chore took me to Phuentsholing after 4 years. I spent a part of my childhood in Phuentsholing and reminiscing the good old days only made me miss the fun and the excitement back then. One commendable thing that has really happened is the cleanliness that the small city has maintained. It is clean indeed.

In other ways, the oldest city in our country has lost its charm due to the entry and exit formalities. The IC (Indian Currency) hiccups. The famous Gol Buidling is now the Pedestrian Terminal. During weekends, I saw long snaking lines of people trying to enter Jaigaon. The Indian vehicles no longer
clog our roads although people from across the border still come to refuel their cars. There used to be a different kind of fun and excitement when the two peoples mix in the southern heat, but mind you it's not even warm these days-fog, smog, pollution...you name it!

The orange depot area where oranges used to be put in huge-sheds for exports are no longer visible, instead huge containers (I don’t know of what) align the roads connecting the famous Toorsa picnic spot. The roads there have maintained its infamous reputation-still super dusty and dry.

The famous cinema halls of Norgay and Mig have dwarfed and Norgay is nowhere to be seen. This was the cinema hall where I watched the block buster ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ paying Nu:15/- in the year 1999.

I remember a building where we used to play cricket and I am not sure if she was the owner or a tenant in the Pelkhil House, a plumpy Indian lady used to chase us away with a long hard broom. I strolled around Pelkhil House as well, faintly smiling as I remembered the shouts of the lady, ages ago.

The good old Ashok Hotel is still there, Blue Dragon, Peljorling the famous Deki Line, the nearby Rum Gaddi, and yes the lower market area which has undergone a complete metamorphosis and some Indian vendors are still with grocery stores. The oldest tailor in town I know, a muslim uncle near the famous Tobden Gully isn’t there, my childhood friend Chunku has put up a grocery store in the same alley.

The official chore hasn’t given me time to visit the place across the border and when I do that, there will be another update on it and for some reasons if there is no update on it, you can assume that I didn’t get the time to visit. Until then, thanks for dropping by.

Kadrinchey la and happy new year!