Nye Pemaling

P.C. trashiyangtse,gov.bt/institution/pemaling-ney

 Pemaling Nye (sacred site) is the most revered holy site blessed by Guru Padmasambhava in 8^th century. The multi-directionally site besets Pelriphu in east (Part of Singye dzong in Lhuntse), Rinchenling in south (Rigsum goenpa in Bumdeling), Pemaling in the west and Karmaling in the north. 

Pemaling Nye is further categorized into four directions viz. east Samtenling, west Pemaling, south Ugyenling and north Karmaling. It is a three day trek from end of the motorable road at Pamadung, Bumdeling following the banks of Kholongchu, crisscrossing many streams and pilgrims must spend two nights along the way. Pilgrims halt night at Lawog, a herding place for nomads and reach Shingphel the next day. The sacred objects can be spotted along the way from Shingphel till Pemaling. Singphel serves as the summer residence to nomads of Tarphel and it is the gateway towards sacred spot, the hidden bowl of Pemaling.

Guru Rinpoche spent his days meditating in caves at Pemaling areas and have had undergone secret practices concealing numerous treasures. Footprints, finger prints, and secret religious objects of iconic religious figures of past are commonly found treasures in the region. There are many treasures and relics in the area, although all are concealed  that include treasure of Tsepame (Buddha of countless life), Guru’s treasure box, Guru’s hat, his walking staff and throne, lake of goddess Tara, Body imprints of Goddess Tara, Elephant’s head, feast offering bowl of Dakini, tortoise, gateway towards future sacred sites, face of Yamraj (Lord of death), thumb impression of Guru, feast offering place of great merchant Norbu Zangpo, hand impression of Dakinis, foot imprints of Guru, skull, cremation ground, passage way for religious text (Sutra), altar, Phurpa (religious instrument), hidden treasure of Pemaling temple, 108 stupas, longevity vase,  white conch, shrine of compassionate Buddha (Chenrize), holy water of Dorji Phamo (Vajravahari in Skt.), and many more.

Further, the site endowed  with mysterious and inexplicable features of Guru Rinpoche offers overarching picturesque over the lakes and mountains. The spot also provides exquisite view with masses of mighty snowcapped mountains endowed with spectacular meadow enclosed by numerous lakes. 

It is located at around 4500 m elevation covered by lush alpine vegetation and many medicinal herbs are spotted there. According to elderly, there are numerous lakes sanctified by Guru Rinpoche and believed to be under the guidance of sacred Lhatsho (divine lake). Neyig (Letter about sacred site) revealed that among many Lhatshos, Pel Dechog Khorlo Lhatsho (Charasamvara in Skt.) swiftly drains to an outlet of Kholong Chhu and thus, derived its name as Khorlo Chhu. However, the name lost its original tune and people subsequently misinterpreted as Kholong Chhu.

The site over the years turned blind spot to many people across the country. Visitors must depend on local people as porter due to poor condition of walking trails, inadequate shelter, and remoteness of the site resulted to attract less visitors. Those challenges have now become minimal since Trashi Yangtse Dzongkhag spearheaded enough effort to make the trek adventurous as well as easily accessible. Monks from different levels of society visit the site during autumn season undergo short retreat and few pilgrims also visit the site. In summation, the site is no different to pure land of Guru Padmasambhava’s Glorious Copper-Coloured Mountain and visitors stepping their foot /feet on such highly blessed site is said to accumulate umpteen amount of merits. 

Education at a glance in Bhutan: Education during the pandemic

 

The last 60 years have seen tremendous breakthrough in provision of education to all in Bhutan. Bhutan faced huge challenge when the country experienced first COVID-19 case on 5^th March 2020. Thereafter Bhutan started experiencing plethora of uneven crisis since schools, entertainment and business centers remained shut. Education system and student’s learning is likewise upended with no end in sight by the unrelenting global pandemic. The unending threat has necessitated education ministry to ramp up capacity to address teaching learning disruption caused by the pandemic. Online education in Bhutanese schools has remained almost, a Black Box over the decades until the implementation of Moodle-based online learning system known as Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) in 2011 by colleges under Royal University of Bhutan. But it went on striking the blind spot of education system as education in Bhutan was yet to experience the long unwalked journey towards digitalized teaching and learning. It was not up until 2020 when the whole educational ecosystem was disrupted by the global pandemic. Closure of schools has not only allowed digital transformation but infusion of new teaching-learning modality into Bhutanese education system. As brick and mortar classrooms have shifted to virtual classroom, online teaching in Bhutan has gone far from emergency novelty to a ubiquitous teaching learning tools right from day one of the school closure.

Education during the school closure

Had Bhutan not experienced the pandemic, new chapter in education system would not have unfurled. Indeed it provided green signal and came as a wakeup call particularly to education fraternity to rethink education in more than one way. Accordingly, education ministry in collaboration with relevant stakeholders started spearheading number of preparations and tangible initiatives in the short time available. Activities include Education in Emergency, a comprehensive guideline for schools and teachers to maintain the continuum of education in new conditions. Gradually, a group of teachers voluntarily started broadcasting video lesson through BBS channel 2 popularly known as Bhutan E-Learning Project. Hence E-learning and online teaching has increasingly become revolutionary system in schools across the country. Teachers on the other hand found niche to conduct mobile teaching and home visit ensuring that every students get equal opportunity to education during the pandemic. The Ministry of Education developed Self-Instructional Material (SIM) and distributed to students who do not have access to television, smart phone and internet.

New normal education

Schools across the nation geared up for new normal education, ensuring all precautionary measures in school campus to stop the spread of COVID-19. Classes X and XII students rejoined school on 1^st July but then the normal flow was once again interrupted due to nationwide lockdown. However, schools in Bhutan reopened on 14^th September and a week later, classes IX and XI resumed face-to-face teaching. Classes IX to XII started applying prioritized curriculum, a well sort out curriculum comprising key knowledge, skills, strategies, methods and procedures. Adapted curriculum, theme-based curriculum was applied for classes PP to VIII. In addition to the provision of curriculum book, schools with Special Educational Needs program and special schools received both prioritized and adapted curriculum to support learning for students with disability. Although schools at present are on full swing with face-to-face teaching and classes PP-VIII undergo blended teaching and learning, the certainty of all those measures are not sustainable in long-term.

Academic reforms

End-of-year examinations for classes PP-VIII have been cancelled and their transition will depend on the assessment records maintained by teachers so far. The most important adjustment, is that the academic year for classes IX-XII is extended till the end of March, 2021.

 

Disclaimer: The information shared and views expressed by the author is intended to provide general understanding on the education during the pandemic.

Omba Nye: Taktsang of East

The great lotus born is an unforgettable figure who propagated and founded Tibetan Buddhism; Vajrayana Buddhism in Bhutan. Guru Rinpoche’s deeds are vastly profound that left many lasting impressions. One is during 8^th century, when King Sindhu Raja of Bumthang invited Guru Rinpoche to visit Bhutan. Buddhism thereafter flourished to every far flung places of the country and the blessed places are considered to be the manifestation of Guru's body, speech, mind, wisdom and secret activities.

Omba is one untouched sacred site of Guru Rinpoche from many holy sites  because of the district’s remoteness. It is located towards northern Trashi Yangtse and takes two hours uphill climb from Kheni or there is another two hours route from Tsangphuchen. The mansion is magnificently pinnacled on rocky cliff giving similar view and uncanny resemblance to Paro Taktsang and people often call it as Taktsang of east. Omba Nye derives its name from letter ‘Om’, an inscription on holy stone surface before getting into the main holy site and believed to have more than hundred inscriptions on the same rock. Omba was initially discovered as sacred holy site of Guru Padmasambhava by Guru Choewang from Kurtoe Ngalamdung. Although no existing details are prevalent about the sacred site, local people believe that Guru Rinpoche blessed the site after his visit to Gomphu Kora and Gongza. Dating back to the oral history, Omba Nye is the epithet of body, Aja in Mongar for speech, Hungrel in Paro Hung for mind, Khenpajong for wisdom and Singye Dzong for secret activities. History has it say that Guru Rinpoche visited the site as per the prophecy and merely following his visions to subdue a snake demon, Phurba Tashi who then said to have tormented community of people. With all his wits, Guru furiously rode on a pony and subdued a demon. Guru Rinpoche meditated for two months in a cave at Om Bha and then headed to Aja Nye in Mongar. At the site, Guru Rinpoche concealed many treasures with the hope to flourish his doctrine and benefit future people. Omba is punctuated with treasures viz. imprints of stupas on the rocks, Guru’s treasure box, Rinchen Terzoed (sacred holy book), Guru’s walking staff and many more Neys are said to have remained unexplored because of scant information and also due to misplacement of Ney Yig. Annually, sacred site attracts hundreds of pilgrims and tourists. People visiting the site have profound advantage to cleanse sins and accumulate countless merits.