Gungtong the empty households - From a positive lens

I visited most of the remote villages in the country in the past five years as a radio/TV reporter. I also read articles and stories about the Gungtong (empty households) and Rural Urban Migration. However the issues are slightly different from the way I see. I may be wrong, but I have different opinions. I discovered that many who left villages were mostly parents who are living with their children or with some close relatives. Now, let us consciously realize the expectations of our parents. Our parents sent children to school despite facing lot of hardships in remote villages. They do this with a hope for a better life style in future with their children when they grow old. This encourages them to commit their children to education. Parents  prefer or say that they will stay with one of their children in future. Therefore many of us prefer our parents to stay with us once we get a decent job. I think we all at least prefer our parents to stay nearby especially when they grow older rather than keeping them far away in remote villages. I am sure many of us feel sorry for such parents when we come across them, living in remote villages and their children living in towns. I was very emotional when some elderly people shared their admiration for those who stay with their children, far away.

But I also know that there are some parents who prefer to stay in village, in their own house but they are mostly the wealthy ones. But I am talking about the ones who own their children as their only property. So, I think we cannot abandon our poor parents in the old poor villages for the sake of this simple issue. By doing this we are not only taking up great responsibility of taking care of our parents but also preserving very rich social values by having them around to share their wisdom and experiences with today’s diverse challenges.

Ritual of Twelve World Religions in the Netherlands- Europe

13th April, 2014

My Short Speech at Ritual of Twelve World Religions in the Netherlands

Om Ah Hung Benza (vajra) Guru Padma siddhi hum- I am neither a religious personnel nor a religious person. So, I am bit hesitant to speak on this very very huge complicated subject. Please forgive me, if my speech doesn't make any sense.

Ladies and Gentlemen good afternoon!. To introduce myself, my name is Kuenga Tashi and I work as a Camera Journalists in Bhutan Broadcasting Service. I am here at Radio Netherlands Training Institute for 3 months pursuing a Broadcast Journalism Course, which ends this months.

To begin with- Om Ah hung Benza (vajra) Guru Padma siddhi hum literally means-May I accomplish the state of Guru Padma Sambhava. And this is Guru Padma Sambhava’s mantra, and he is a precious buddhist master also known as Second Buddha. Om Ah Hung are general prefixes symbolizing the enlightened body, speech and mind of the buddha respectively. I am sure a lot can be said about these syllables but in brief they represent enlightenment through the physical form, verbal speech and enlightened spirit of the buddha. They are attached to many mantras.

Hung at the end is also a common suffix for the mantras. The middle part Benza(vajra) guru padma siddhi hung indicated the unique reference to Padmasambhava. Siddhi is accomplishment and guru padma refers to Padmasambhava in this case.

The mantra is thus a short prayer wishing to actualize the state of Padmasambhava for oneself and all sentient beings.

I am sure the mantra can also be explained in greater details by explaining its outer, inner and secret meaning but perhaps I am not the right person...an excuse for not knowing much..ha..ha.

Generally mantras, in brief, are powerful spell to help the practitioner on the path of enlightenment. They come with a lot of power invested in them by the enlightened beings such as Padmasambhava. A mantra also represents the Buddha in a word form just as the enlightened person is a Buddha in an individualised form.

It is believe that all sentient beings who see, hear, or remember this mantra will gain limitless amount of merit for now and future.

All, what I say is not my own, I am just trying to interpret in the similar way of our buddhist lamas and scholars. Therefore, it may not be as good as lamas/Rinpoches though.    

To be honest, I recite this mantra more seriously and continuously especially when i am boarding the flight, and this is truth.  

Om ah Hung Benza (vajra) Guru Padma siddhi Hum-Thank you to the organizer for this wonderful opportunity.

Thank you.