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Land of the Thunder Dragon (Or, less mythical, "Land of the Friendly Dogs")

Visiting Bhutan

Annette
2005-08-29 18:40:32

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your feet from turning icy very quickly. This room is long, a rectangle with windows on the right wall. A diffused light comes through thin, silky curtains in yellow and orange. A couple of ancient carved trunks serve as a reading- or writing table. The monk is the only one in sight, he is the one who takes care of the inner sanctuary located through another doorway to the left off this room. It is the most sacred portion of the monastery and houses some of the oldest religious treasures in the country. The sanctuary is a small room. Stepping in, there is a large and tall altar with flowers, decorative cakes and various religious objects and offerings. On the back wall are three large seated Bhuddas - the Present Bhudda, the Past Bhudda and the Future Bhudda. Ancient silk is draped around their gold-leaf bodies. The three Bhuddas sit emanating utter stillness, detachment, and patience. There are four Bhoddisattvas each on the wall to the right and to the left, all standing and draped in silk. From the ceiling billows a large silk sheet, attached at the corners only. The colors are muted, a combination of rusty-coppery reds and shades that have faded over the more than 1300 years since they were new. They cast a warm glow over the entire sanctuary.

I take in this sight, and still marvel at the impression it left with me. This is not anything I was allowed to photograph - cameras are off-limits inside the walls of Dzongs. Interestingly, this may be much for the better, as I tried to absorb and retain as much of the images surrounding me as I could.

"Where there is abundant water, it rains;

Where there is abundant heat, the sun shines"

***

"The arrow of the accomplished master will not be seen when it is released;

only when it hits the target"

Another most extraordinary site I witnessed was the Dzong at Punakha. For several years now, this Dzong has undergone ...