"...A spiritual walk, solutions based on ancient teaching to solve modern problems" written by Karma Sonam Gya Rumtse, member of Young Drukpa Association
(YDA) for Kargil Number - Rangyul, a leading local newspapers in Jammu and Kashmir. Click to view article in PDF format.
An unusual 42 days walking pilgrimage (Pad Yatra) of His Holiness the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa, the spiritual guru and supreme head of the Drukpa Lineage, accompanied by ninth Khamtrul Rinpoche Jigme Pema Nyinjadh and other Tulkus, with more than 650 entourage of monks, nuns and other foreign disciples and devotees, that started from historial holy mountain of Tilbu Ri of Himachal Pradesh state on 23rd May 2009 and concluded at Hemis Monastery in Ladakh on July 1st 2009, coincided with the famous Hemis Festival that falls on 10th day of Tibetan 5th month, the sacred day of the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava.
The team comprised of 650 participants including Tulkus, monks, nuns and lay followers, which was facilitated by thirty-eight co-workers with 310 mules and horses, which made the Yatra a successful and a fruitful one. This walking pilgrimage was the 3rd such kind of Pad Yatra of His Holiness the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa, and the earlier ones were organized in the year 2005 and 2006.
However, this Pad Yatra is considered to be something different than usual. As besides the daily Buddhist teachings, the team put stress on creating environmental awareness among the general public covering more than 35 different villages from Kelong - Dharcha Zangskar to Shang Sumdho via Markha Valley.
Simulataneously, the team also taught them the importance of conservation of our mother nature and disseminates the messages to various villages as "SAY NO TO PLASTIC BAGS" throughout the Himalayas. His Holiness with the whole team has been distributing pamphlets and around 7,000 canvas bags have also been distributed to households of the said 35 villages, especially to those who are not well informed of the negative impact of plastic bags and other plastic wrappers.
This commendable efforts and blessing of His Holiness may help to support the mission of Ladakh Women's Alliance project who has been boycotting the use of plastic in Ladakh for the last many years.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|