Path to progress

There is a certain calmness that takes over when you greet His Eminence Thuksey Rinpoche. He is seated with his students from the award-winning Druk White lotus School in ladakh, who nod in unison to wish you with their beaming smiles. It is exhilarating to learn that His Holiness the 14th Dalai lama and the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa had meditated together and had a vision that he was the true reincarnation of the late Thuksey Rinpoche.

“I was born in ladakh in 1986 and was recognised as a reincarnation of one of the great masters in our lineage. But I always say that we’ve all been reincarnated including animals. The Buddhists believe in it very strongly. After I was born, His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa came to look for me. My mother had passed away after giving birth to me but my father was around and would not let me go since I was still very small. When I was two-and-a-half year old, I became a monk. They brought me to a Druk Sanga Choeling monastery in Darjeeling which had been built by my predecessor so it sort of became my responsibility. I was brought up under strict rules, where I used to wake up every morning at 3 am, there was so much to learn with no distractions like TV or comic books around. It was a disciplined life,” HE shares with us. At the age of 19, he left for Bhutan to pursue his higher studies at Tango Buddhist University for nine years.

“Bhutan and my lineage (Drukpa Kagyu) have a lot of connections. Bhutan has also something to do with dragons and so does my lineage as Druk means dragon. We also follow the teachings of the same Guru. Two years ago, I graduated and returned. I have taken over the responsibility of the monastery in Darjeeling and other monasteries in ladakh,” HE tells us.

It is with utmost passion that he speaks of his masters who’ve dedicated their lives for the cause of other beings. He explains, “They are in this world for others and are unlike normal human being. From the day we are born till the day we die, we always talk about ourselves. It is only when we concentrate only on yourself when the sufferings begin. If someone achieves more than you, you’ll question yourself and that is how one suffers. We often don’t realise that it is harming us. If you think about others, you are at peace and will be happy. Those masters had always been dedicated to others and even when they passed away they persisted and believed that they would return to this world for the sake of other beings.”

He is also the chairman of the Druk White lotus School in Shey, ladakh which was also featured in Aamir Khan starrer 3 Idiots. The eco-friendly school, designed by UK-based Arup Associates, has also won many awards including World Architecture Awards, 2002, (Arup Associates) for Best Asian Building, Best Education Building and Best Green Building (joint winner).

“It was the wish of my predecessor to start a school but before he could start working on it, he passed away. My Guru Gyalwang Drukpa started the school in 2001. At present, we have about 800 local students. Around 370 students, from remote areas and some from unprivileged families have been provided with hostel facilities. The school was built while keeping the environment in mind and local materials have been used. It has been designed in such a manner that even when the temperature goes down to -20 Celsius, it’s warm indoors. We also use solar energy and have panels for water, light, et al. We also have an IT and music room,” HE informs us, while adding that efforts are on to upgrade the system since the school provides education till Class X only and students then need to move to other schools.

In 2007, a global humanitarian movement called live to love was started by Gyalwang Drukpa with focus on environment, education, health, relief aid and heritage preservation.

“ladakh has such a rich culture so we are trying to preserve and promote it. Over the last 20 years, it has changed. People are making good money and are sending their kids to schools in Delhi, Chandigarh and adjoining places. When they return after completing their studies, they are unable to relate to the place. ladakh is not a luxurious place with malls and cinema halls. So it’s challenging for them. Maybe after 20 or 30 years, the culture will completely be lost. Culture is not just the art or the temples which have been there for 100s of years. Culture needs to be preserved by the people. I’m trying to stop the children from going out by offering them the best education. If parents are spending so much of money for their kids to receive education from outside, then they can also help us to bring in the best of facilities and education. They will be there till they complete schooling and can maybe then go for their higher studies. A few years down the line, we might have build a university also,” HE tells us while sharing his concern. The students there have access to modern education but every Wednesday, it is compulsory for the students and the entire staff to wear traditional ladakhi clothes. Even in the food menu, there is one local dish every day. The students are also taught the folk songs and alphabets.

Helping someone in need is equal to doing a prayer for him. “I am a monk and since I’m also wearing a robe, you must think I must be doing some special prayers. But I’ll tell you that I don’t do anything different or special. But I try to help anyone in need and that is what prayer is for me. Action is very important. We need to be compassionate,” he says.

Being compassionate towards all beings is also the motto with a project called live to Rescue, an animal care centre. “This is especially for the dogs and we have about stray 200 dogs who are often neglected. The temperature drops so they die due to cold or are hit by vehicles. We also sterilize them.”