Wednesday, August 31, 2005

MT. KACHENDZONGA


There is one special thing about Sikkim. The kachendzonga peak is the highest in the country. With a height of about 8586 meter from the mean sea level, it is third highest in the world. The local people especially the Bhutias and Lepchas worship it. Soon a grand festival is going to be held in Gangtok to celebrate Mt. Kachendzonga. People from all over the world are going to participate in it. There will be lot of food and dancing. I am looking forward to it. The rainny season in Sikkim is over now and plenty of sunshine has warmed up the environment here.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

I will tell you more about this pre-Buddhist religion in Sikkim in my subsequent blogs. But I keep on hitting new and interesting things in Sikkim. For a break let me tell you that I met this person called Gyatso, who kept a tin of biscuits given to him about forty years ago. The tin of biscuit is still with him. He is even trying to make it figure in Limca Book of Records. He think that it must be the oldest tin of biscuit in Asia. Best of luck to Gyatso!

Monday, August 29, 2005

BON : THE PREBUDDHIST RELIGION OF TIBET



Lama Yungdrung smiled and said that he belongs to Bon sect, a pre-Buddhist sect of Tibet. Before the coming of Buddhism in Tibet , Bon was the prevalent religion. 'We are Bonpos and our religion is Yungdrung Bon'., Lama yungdrung said. 'Ours is the original religion of Tibet. ' He said with a resolve and I noticed the streak of a humble prideness on his face. 'We have our own Buddha whom we call Sangey Tonpa Shenrap', He said. Later on I discovered that the followers of Bon religion were reduced to minority after coming of Buddhism of Guru Padmasambhava in Tibet in the seventh century. There is even a history of conflict between Buddhism and Bon in Tibet. But I noticed no tangible difference between the two religion. Their Lamas wore same dress only with a difference of a blue inside their robe. They have their own religious head called Lopon Tenzing Namdak who now live at a Bon monastery in Nepal. On the way a little far from a small helmet called Rabangla, we reached Shohing, a small village. Where on the road side I came across a small monastery. 'This is my monastery', he said. ' Presently only 15 lamas live here, but we have a plan of expending our monastery, so more and more lamas can be accomodated and we can preserve our religion and tradition', Lama Yungdrung sounded exited. There was even a small guest house for the guests in the monastery. We were lodged there.

Sunday, August 28, 2005

GURU PADMASAMBHAVA


Guru Padmasambvhava (7th century BUddhist Tantrik master)) is credited with bringing Buddhism to Sikkim. He is regarded as the second Buddha by the Buddhists of Sikkim. In Sikkim I came to know that the Buddhists of Sikkim who mostly belong to Bhutia tribe follow four schools of Buddhism. The four of schools of Tibetan Buddhism are Nyingma,Kagyu, Sakya and Gelugs. Most of the Buddhists in Sikkim are followers of Nyingma which was founded by Guru Padmasambhava. It basically is a Tantric sect and its Lamas keep long hair and are allowed to live with their consorts called 'Khandrula'. They claim that they achive enlightenment through Tantric way taught by Buddha. The photgraph here is of Gurupadmasambava recently built at Namchi (South Sikkim). It is 135 ft tall statue of Guru Padmasambhava said to be tallest in the world.

I was full of surprise when Lama Yungdrung told me that he doesnt belong to all the four sects mentioned by me. His sect is the oldest. He belongs to a pre-Buddhist sect of Tibet. Read my next blog to know about this pre-Buddhist sect.

LAMA YUNGDRUNG


My meeting Lama Yungdrung was accidental. I was learning Buddhism in Sikkim. I heared about a 2oo years old monastery called Pemayangtze in West Sikkim. I decided to visit it. I contacted a local freelance photographer friend Mr Lepcha. He agreed to accompany me to pemayangtze monastery which was a 4 hour drive from Gangtok. He said that it would be nice if we take a Lama with us. The Lama according to him would be able to explain to us what we will not understand at the monastery. I was doubtful about the idea of taking a Lama from Gangtok, dont we will get plenty of them at the monastery! Mr Lepcha said that he knows a Lama who is a good friend of him and who has agreed to accompany us to the monastery.
Next day morning it was drizziling. Mr Lepcha arrived with vehicle and honked at my residence. I entered the vehicle and saw an elederly monk with a big smile. 'How are u saheb?' He said. I returned the smiled and shook hand with him. 'Please visit my monastery . It is a small monastery , but ours is the oldest religion', Lama Yungdrung said. At that time I hadn't comprehended the full meaning of what he was saying.
It was only later that I understood what he meant by his 'oldest religion'.
Read my next blog...for more that what I discovered.

Friday, August 26, 2005

A Village Near Gangtok.


The country side of Sikkim is very beautiful.

Gangtok And Shimla


Sikkim is a small Himalayan state. Gangtok, its capital is small and beautiful. Gangtok, I think is more beautiful than Shimla. This could be because Gangtok is new and younger than Shimla. Like other Hill stations in India Gangtok was never under British. Sikkim remained protectorate of Government of India till 1975. In 1975 Indira Gandhi took some strong steps to make Sikkim a part of India. There was also a people's movement here for Sikkim's merger with India. Under the leadership of L.D. Kazi, the Chogyal, the king of Sikkim was removed and a democatic election for the first time was held in sikkim in 1975 and Kazi became the first Chief minister of Sikim. The Kazi is still alive. Now more than 100 years old he lives in Kalimpong, a nearby hill station adjacent to Darjeeling. The young generation now seem to forget him. He leads a reclusive life.

But Gangtok moves on. People now eager to excell in life are vibrant and dynamic. One thing that is remarkable about the people of Gangtok is that there is a streak of spirituality in their quest for material things.

Thursday, August 25, 2005

india and china


These two contries are the greatest emerging power in Asia. India has its own strenths and weaknesses and China has its own. But sometimes I think that we are not as disciplined as China is. Their achivement is something that we see. We lack marketing skill. We dont know how to market ourselves. How to sell the things that need to be sold. China despite its closed society and being communist is progressing and we with all the politically correct things are not showing signs of development. The flood in the Mumbai was an eye opener.

SANDY SINHA

my world

my world
While coming to Sikkim (India) and doing some research here on Buddhism I discovered that Nathula Pass is the door which is going to open in the first week of October this year in Sikkim. Nathula Pass is about 14,000 feet from the mean sea level on the Indo-China border. Trade, which will mostly be in barter system will begin this year. The people of Sikkim are excited about the opening of the border and they view that it will bring new prosperity to the people of the region. Many people are excited that they will be able to visit Lhasa in future. This is a new chapter in the relation ship between India and China. Nathula was the part of the old silk route.

SANDY SINHA

my world

my world
I live in a small town. My milkman is a very honest man. Today morning when I asked him 'Hey! Milkman is your milk pure?'. He said 'It is my cow's milk sir, I dont give milk I only deliver it!'

'Okay -okay is your cow's milk pure?
'Yes sir! the milk is very pure, I mix Bisleri only!'

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

POETS

my world
EEK DIN EEK TRAFFIC POLICE
WALE NEY
EEK SCOOTER WALEY KO
DOOSREY SCOOTER WALEY KA
TEEZI SEY PEECHA KARTEY
DEKH USEY ROKA
RASH DRIVING KEY LIYEY
USEY TOKA-

TRAFFIC KA NIYAM TORTEY HO
DOOSEREY SCOOTER KA PEECHA
KYON KARTEY HO?

YEH SOON UK SCOOTERWALEY NEY KAHA
YEH APNEY KYA KIYA
USEY BHAGA DIYA!

MAIN KAVI HOON WO BHI KAVI THA
USNEY MERI KAVITA SUNI NAHIN
KAMBAKHT APNI SUNA GAYA!

SANDY SINHA


my world

my world
EK BAR EK NETA NEY
ELECTION SEY PAHLEY
APNEY P.A. SEY KAHA
MERA TO ELECTION SYMBOL HOGA GADHA

KYONKI HAMAREY DESH MAIN
GADHON KI KAMI NAHIN HAI
EES DESH MAIN AAP JAHAN JAYENGAY
HAR TARAF HAR JAGAH
AAP GADHEY PAYENGAY

VOTER TO ELECTION SYMBOL
DEKHTEY HEE PAHCHAN JAYENGAY

YAH SUNTEY HEE P.A. NEY KAHA
LEKIN SIR EK BAAT TO BATEYEY
AAPMAIN AUR AAPKE ELECTION SYMBOL MAIN
KUCHH TO FARK HONA CHAHEY

SANDY SINHA

my world





The special thing about Hindi Comedy poetry is that it sounds best when it is recited. The great comedy poets in Hindi, also called Hasya Kavis have such a reputation that the momenmt they reach on stage people starts laughing. Their very sight is laughfable. Not often, but sometimes these comedy poems are also laden with Vyanga, which means that it conveys some serious thoughts coated in comedy. The poet conveys message through these comedy poems. The two comedy poems that have I have posted doesnt have any serious thoughts. They are just for laughs. Such poems are good for health. Enjoy them. The only hurdle in enjoying the posted poems is not knowing Hindi. You must know Hindi to enjoy them. If you dont know Hindi but know only English then contact me. I may teach you some Hindi. With best wishes.