Putting into words life in Bhutan……a living complex and rapidly evolving society, an amalgam of hundreds of thousands of people in the business of being human together, may be difficult. But suffice it to say that the underlying factor is Buddhism. So much so that it can even be called the essence of life in Bhutan.
Bhutan is inseparable from Buddhism. The influence of Buddhism plays a major part in the everyday lives of a Bhutanese, with the extent of the same being manifest in almost everything that meets the eye. Irrespective of whether it is lifestyle, arts and crafts or customs and traditions.....Buddhism permeates and dominates all. It has an overwhelming influence in Bhutanese architecture as well, be it in homes or the countless temples and chortens (stupas) that dot the landscape. Almost every rock, every lake, every tree has a spiritual significance. We are a people of prayer, faith and devotion. No wonder many refer to Bhutan as the last independent bastion of Vajrayana Buddhism.
Bhutan is inseparable from Buddhism. The influence of Buddhism plays a major part in the everyday lives of a Bhutanese, with the extent of the same being manifest in almost everything that meets the eye. Irrespective of whether it is lifestyle, arts and crafts or customs and traditions.....Buddhism permeates and dominates all. It has an overwhelming influence in Bhutanese architecture as well, be it in homes or the countless temples and chortens (stupas) that dot the landscape. Almost every rock, every lake, every tree has a spiritual significance. We are a people of prayer, faith and devotion. No wonder many refer to Bhutan as the last independent bastion of Vajrayana Buddhism.
Buddhist tenets are the basis of daily life here and sacred rites are treated with the utmost respect and reverence. One can almost say that compared to the west, everyday life in Bhutan is highly ritualized. Religious rituals may have changed in the west, but here, it has more or less remained frozen in time.,,just as highly elaborate and just as colorful as it was so many years ago.
Monks are revered by large sections of the population and remain an integral part of everyday life for many people, performing birth and death rituals and presiding over prayers just as they did for centuries. For us, they represent the sensibilities of our ancient world as well as the voice of reason and wisdom. Statistics reveal that we have more of monks than soldiers. That alone should suffice to present a decent perspective.
Buddhism shaped our history and is as neatly interwoven into our lives just like the silken threads of the innumerable sacred tapestries and murals that adorn the walls of our countless religious monuments. Our very culture is rooted in Buddhism. We are a deeply spiritual people devoted to seeking out eternal peace. Everyone believes in and lives by the laws of good and bad karma, reincarnation and rebirth and heaven and hell. Here it is not about humans, animals or plants, but about all sentient beings. Firm in the belief that life has a purpose that transcends the material plane, we are all about the transformation of body, speech and mind. We seek not the material, but the eternal. Buddhism is the safety harness that we cling on to as we make our way through the turmoil that is life.
Monks are revered by large sections of the population and remain an integral part of everyday life for many people, performing birth and death rituals and presiding over prayers just as they did for centuries. For us, they represent the sensibilities of our ancient world as well as the voice of reason and wisdom. Statistics reveal that we have more of monks than soldiers. That alone should suffice to present a decent perspective.
Buddhism shaped our history and is as neatly interwoven into our lives just like the silken threads of the innumerable sacred tapestries and murals that adorn the walls of our countless religious monuments. Our very culture is rooted in Buddhism. We are a deeply spiritual people devoted to seeking out eternal peace. Everyone believes in and lives by the laws of good and bad karma, reincarnation and rebirth and heaven and hell. Here it is not about humans, animals or plants, but about all sentient beings. Firm in the belief that life has a purpose that transcends the material plane, we are all about the transformation of body, speech and mind. We seek not the material, but the eternal. Buddhism is the safety harness that we cling on to as we make our way through the turmoil that is life.
All these can be largely attributed to Padmasambhava or Guru Rimpoche, as he is referred to in Bhutan. Guru Rimpoche is undoubtedly the most important and universal of all historical and religious figures. He is considered the patron saint of Bhutan as well as the Second Buddha. For us he is both a precious teacher and the quintessential divinity. Amongst others, the Taktshang (the famous Tiger’s Nest) and the Kurjey caves, where he is supposed to have left his body imprint on the rock face (whilst meditating) are associated with his journeys to Bhutan and stand as irrefutable testimonies of his benevolent works in the country. From the grand state festivals to the first prayers mumbled by toddlers, from the fleeting dreams of hermetic monks to the giant monuments, the figure and worship of Guru Rimpoche permeates Bhutan’s spirituality and religious culture. A great number of Bhutanese religious festivals, ceremonies and prayers have him as the focal point of worship or meditation.
Besides Guru Rimpoche, there are many other spiritual personalities who contributed to the spread of Buddhism in Bhutan. They are said to have travelled across and blessed every inch of the Bhutanese landscape and of the Himalayas in general. But Guru Rinpoche is, by far, singlehandedly the most important as well as prominent. Undeniable proof of the fact can be witnessed all over, in almost every temple or monastery in the country where one will inadvertently come across his statue as the central statue.
The sights and experiences pertaining to Buddhism in Bhutan are sure to awaken in the receptive visitor a sense of belonging, light-heartedness, and mystery unique to a purely Bhutanese Buddhist setting. The spiritual potency is almost undeniable. It just so happens that the awakening can happen only here in Bhutan. And the only way to really experience it for yourself is to book your tour with bhutantours.sheydra.com at the earliest.
Besides Guru Rimpoche, there are many other spiritual personalities who contributed to the spread of Buddhism in Bhutan. They are said to have travelled across and blessed every inch of the Bhutanese landscape and of the Himalayas in general. But Guru Rinpoche is, by far, singlehandedly the most important as well as prominent. Undeniable proof of the fact can be witnessed all over, in almost every temple or monastery in the country where one will inadvertently come across his statue as the central statue.
The sights and experiences pertaining to Buddhism in Bhutan are sure to awaken in the receptive visitor a sense of belonging, light-heartedness, and mystery unique to a purely Bhutanese Buddhist setting. The spiritual potency is almost undeniable. It just so happens that the awakening can happen only here in Bhutan. And the only way to really experience it for yourself is to book your tour with bhutantours.sheydra.com at the earliest.