Video: Bhutanese Monks in Debate #1 One day I am lucky enough to come upon monks practicing for debate. Tibetan Buddhism has a long tradition of philosophical debate where all the monastic community will gather to confront and question one individual to see what...
Welcome to Bhutan (2 of 2)
Oct 21, 2010 | Bhutan
Welcome to Bhutan (1 of 2)
Oct 19, 2010 | Bhutan
Buddhist Mask Dance Festivals – Bhutan
Nov 29, 2009 | Bhutan
Two short video clips from the recent celebrations in Bhutan... These dances are part ethical parable, part Tantric secret--visual stories that teach basic Buddhist principles yet also have deeper esoteric content to promote the spiritual release of everyone watching....
Night Hunting
Nov 20, 2009 | Bhutan
"C'mon brother, let's go!" Tshetem's older brother used to urge him out into the night, needing a companion for the long walk to a home far enough away that it was unlikely to house a cousin or a valued neighbor. Once there, Tshetem's brother would settle him on a...
Takin, Tsa-Tsa’s, and Trashichhoe
Nov 14, 2009 | Bhutan
Drukpa Kunley was Bhutan's famous Divine Madman. He would do outrageous things, including drinking and womanizing, to help shake people out of their illusory existence. Once, villagers wanted him to perform a miracle for them and prove that he was indeed a holy man....
Bhutan Beginning…
Nov 12, 2009 | Bhutan
The aspens have turned golden and were glowing in the afternoon sun when our plane landed in Bhutan. The Paro valley airport requires sharp turns just before landing, and we skidded sideways a bit as we touched down. Unnerving. After that, however, everything was...