The greener pasture

Every one of us at some point of time look back and think if only I took a different path; we dream, aspire and envy about the life others have, after all who doesn’t wish and want a better, happier, luxurious and beautiful things in life? But the sad part is that not every one of us is fortunate enough to reach that destination. The bridge that connects one’s present foot to the other often comes with so many prices and so many thorns.

Recently there was a vacant post for pilot in Drukair Corporation Ltd, which I tried my luck. I gave a try not because I do not like my present profession; in fact I very much enjoy my present work, despite the very odd duty timings and not-too-conducive working environment.  Every day I learn new things, touch new things and do new things. But being human, this so-called greener pasture motive had me drive to another land of fantasy. Seniors and colleagues around added the fuel with encouragements. And I am sure pilot is a dream job for everyone; how exciting is to fly over and above the clouds! The profession that involves insurmountable risks is also a very clean and courageous profession which is respected by the society as a whole. Besides the pilots is one of the highly paid professions in any country. You have a better scope in future.

Unfortunately this will be just a dream for ever.

Well, I am not hurt by the failure to get through the written examination, but that day, that very evening after the results were declared, I did realized something which I hope will remain with me and guide me henceforth. The incident has taught me so many life lessons; something in life is never meant to be ours, something is always beyond the capacity of one’s so-called ‘Soenam’ and that all things happen for reason. Even the brain that worked so well once completely does the very opposite at the much needed time. The questions for the written examination were all twelve standard and strangely it was that subject that pulled me down so badly. When expectations exceed achievements which so often happens, it is when we realize that life is fair enough! I also learned that we are what we were disposed to be and it is better to be happy and make best use of what we have and what we are given at hand.

There is always another mountain behind one mountain; we just have to keep walking. We just have to let the wind blow on its own and not disturb its rhythm.

In line with this, once a Bhutanese man went Australia following the steps of others with the hope to make money. He got job which was so easy but was highly paid. His job was just to press the switch ‘on’ and ‘off’. The reward for his simple work bothered him. He asked himself: “why do I get this much pay for just monitoring the switch?” He decided to dig and to his astonishment, every time he switches ‘on’ it triggered the sharp blades that slaughtered live cattle (the bulls). That was when he realized greener pastures are not always green. He resigned and returned to Bhutan.

Can you give it back?

“The trust that I entrusted upon you with all my heart; the undying hope which if piled would make up the highest mountain. The precious time I spent with you irrespective of whether I was busy or free; the moments of laughter and smile that I shared with you. The showers of tenderness, understanding and the appreciation I had for every little thing. The compromises, the adjustments and the sacrifices I made just to bring in smile for you. The rain of tears I shed with you and for you in the worst of your times. The happiness and the smile I brought upon your face with me and my presence.”

Can you give it all back? Well, it doesn’t really matter now, just do some homework to know about how much you meant to me and what it means to know that it is all past tense now. Perhaps you will a pinch of realization then or perhaps we were and we are never meant to make a story! No matter what differences, no matter how short the duration, it is something that I will treasure as a gift, it is an episode that will echo once in blue moon and resonate. I am happy that you came to my life although just in blink.  I wish you all the best for the rest of your life.

Life is better singly

While two hands are must to clap make sound, does it not become a noise then if we aren’t careful or mindful? Sometimes I feel it is much better and easier singly. Everything becomes half then- the burdens and tensions, the responsibilities and the areas to worry and mind about. It becomes easy to manage and maneuver. People say life is incomplete without someone to lean and talk to; that we have the space between each fingers so that one day we will have someone who will fill and complete.

Well it may be true that there is someone who can fill that space, but to fill it with a tenderness of excellence, care and by someone who understands and appreciates with all the loving kindness of heart is rare. Because these are not something that comes without compromises and adjustments or side linings;  Such thing doesn’t come out of that vast blue sky, it needs to searched first, search with all head and heart, then nurture with all the affection and care. If we search it in the wrong place, it is a problem, and if we nurture carelessly, then also it becomes a problem.

If two decides to be one but can’t share equally the yoke of burden or any other thing for that matter, life can never be smooth; there is always a room for imbalance and instability. People say Love is blind, while I wonder how one falls in love without even seeing with one’s own heart. Yes life is imperfect but to thrive in the midst of this imperfectness is in our own hand and it is sad that often we are swayed by the mirage of unseen thorns and once we get pricked even by that tiny spike, we complain and nag as if it is the only us who get chosen; as if everything is perfect. But still, ultimately what matters is how we tackle as an individual, how we thrive as an individual in the midst these maze; how we react singly. 

Life is much better this way!

For want of Kiss

Jigme drives his recently met girlfriend towards Kuensel Phodrang-the Buddha Point which seems to have become the young couple’s dating hotspot. Go for evening walk along that road you will witness what not scenes. It is sad to notice sanctity such as this being contaminated even when it is not fully constructed. More amusing is for the tourists who are every day witnesses.

Anyway Jigme was adamant that he would at least get kiss in front of that majestic statue. Jigme and his girlfriend met on the junction near Druk School. A soothing music was played and with silly laughs and conversation they drive until their car gets sudden struck on the wide road. They weren’t even at the middle of the way towards Buddha point! Jigme was luckily a technician by profession. He got out to trouble shoot and the problem was with fuel pump. He did everything he could to solve but was in vain. It demanded the fuel to be sucked by mouth so that there was continuous fuel supply to start the engine. There wasn’t other option then to resort to this and after vigorous moment he was successful. 

The car was fine but not his mouth. Even after a gurgle and wash with a bottle of water, the smell of diesel did not leave his mouth. And to his surprise, his girlfriend not only denied kiss, but also made him return from the middle of way…Poor Jigme…;).

Moral: 1. Sanctity surpasses all defilements

             2. Expect unexpected in life.

PS: Inspired from true Story

Joy of Little things

The May month has already dawned and some people say that it is but a month of happiness, a month of new life, an evolution and growth, the month that comes with and begins with complete package. I don’t know if it is true, but I would like to believe and hope that it is true. The April month wasn’t that bad too, although on the very first day of that month, it was funny to be fooled by a colleague; so called April fool.

Anyway for me, this month will remain as one of the most satisfied and happiest month. Not because great thing has happened to me or I have done great things, but because of the little things that I have always aspired to do; something I like to believe that it is ingrained with my blood, the aspiration to help and serve my parents in all times to come.  Happiness isn’t when you win a lottery or when you are being promoted, happiness is when you know for sure that that you have not enough and you still manage to give and share. Happiness isn’t when you know everything, it instill in us a kind of ego, happiness is when you know yourself that you don’t know and you still give a try. Happiness is knowing that not everything is under your very hand and that something are meant to be left as it is-unattended.  Happiness is when you are hurt deep inside and you still manage to smile and make around you comfortable.  Happiness is knowing that others won’t listen and you can’t change them but still remind them; a satisfaction that we derive out of it. Happiness is not when your wallet or bank account is full, but empty; still knowing that you spent wisely and for good purpose.

Such little things that hardly get the attention are sometimes the only ones that remain and stays with us. It reminds us of the cruelty that the so-called BIG things comes with. And once we begin to value such little things, we begin to understand that there are places for everything, no matter how small or how invisible one may be. We have our own roles to play in the midst of this big and busy world, with our own world of tenderness and affection.

So cheer up guys, happy days ahead….. J

BOB Incident

Have you ever felt that Bank of Bhutan is deceiving you? I don’t know if it is legally and corporately right about this: charging double for lending an ATM card. Did you ever experience with Bank of Bhutan officials where you were charged double while getting your ATM cards issued after you open a saving account? It happened with me at Paro BOB branch office. I maybe wrong and if I am, I beg my pardon; otherwise I really can’t imagine where the money is going. Although it is just two hundred bucks, how many people are there availing this service?

It was a month ago when I accompanied my sister who was opening saving account. I was her witness. We filled the form duly and the counter lady told us to get the ATM card issued, pointing to a gentleman with white gho who was perhaps an IT personnel.  We were quite happy that ATM card was being issued instantly. It was saving of time for not only us as customer, but also for them. The white man called us to his office, entered something in his desktop and took out an ATM card from his drawer. He made my sister sign and handed over the card to her. He then asked us to pay Nu. 200/- . At first I wasn’t that serious because I thought he was flirting with my sister. I pretended as if I did not care. My sister was serious and getting her purse from her hand bag; In between, I interrupted and said:

 “Seriously sir, because I did not pay at Thimphu; the BOB cuts from the account balance na or is it different here?”

And he was laughing hysterically saying that ATM cards don’t come free of cost as if I was dumb ass and do not know. I told that the money is already deposited in the account and that they can cut from that deposited amount; which is done with Thimphu BOB office. But he was adamant. Then he started lecturing me that it was company’s rule, it is what they do and that we had to pay by any means. There weren’t any logic and concrete reasons. Why do we have to pay double? Any way I did not argue much and let my sister pay, for it was just two hundred bucks.

Then it was again recently where the same thing happened with my cousin brother at the same BOB branch office.

It was completely different when I created my BOB account in the June month at Thimphu BOB headquarter. I deposited some cash that very day and when I got ATM card after about two weeks, I found my balance being de-credited with Nu. 200/- . That was when I knew we had to pay Ngultrum two hundred for domestic visa ATM card. 

Is this not confusing? Perhaps we are made to pay double when we are availed with card instantly. Otherwise what sense does it make? Or is it because there it is head office and here it is just branch office?

The Phallus Tower

There is famous Eiffel tower at Paris in France which is the symbol of love, where people from across the world visits to rejuvenate and celebrate their love. Who doesn’t dream about the visiting and experience such beautiful moments in such a majestic monument? Similarly in India we have beautiful Taj Mahal, also a symbol of everlasting love built by the great mughal emperor Shah Jahan for his dear wife Mumtaz Mahal. And this has left me thinking like what about something like the Phallus tower in Bhutan? Ever thought about it? Would it ever do justice with its engraved reasons behind?  Would it serve its very purpose?

We have unique culture, customs and traditions, which for the centuries has kept us in the shower of peace and happiness and which has ensured the very sovereignty and independence. Phallus is nothing new or different. It has a deep religious connection and symbolism in Bhutan.  The exciting stories about its significance are heard and known through the biography of Lama Drukpa Kuenley, famously called the divine mad-man. Its painting and wooden sculpted pictures are found in every door and walls of the Bhutanese households. It is believed to ward-off the evils and devils. So something like phallus tower in Bhutan would not only keep intact our preserved culture and beliefs, it would also protect us from the evils…lol

With the country going through rough path economically, something like this would be very helpful and viable! It would attract huge number of visitors, the foreigners in particular who are so curious about such unique existence in our country.

PS: this is an elaborate response to a conversation with Yangchen C Rinzin, kuensel reporter at Phuntsholing in twitter (@yrinzin) who came up about #phallus_tower topic a week ago.