Tsemi, the man who walks for the dhamma

Tsemi's camp at the Convoy Ground bus stop in Gangtok

Tsemi walks

TSHERING EDEN
GANGTOK, 05 March: “Helping beings is the message of all the great gurus and of spiritual practice and is the principle message of all religions,” reads the message on the trolley that Tsemi pulls along as he travels, prostrating all the way.
“I am doing this to bring peace to all sentient beings of the world and set an example for people to follow their dharma which is the only way one can find peace,” reasons Tsemi on why he travels about performing the Jang-Cha [prostration], lugging along a trolley with his belongings. [click here for a photo-essay on Tsemi walking into Gangtok]

We caught up with him at the taxi stop near SBI Daragaon on Thursday evening where he was taking shelter for the night. Sitting on the bench next to his tent which he had set up for the night, Tsemi was surrounded by a small crowd of curious on-lookers.
Originally hailing from Paro in Bhutan, 41-year-old, Tsemi once had a family which he renounced to begin his journey on the footsteps of the Buddha. Starting on 01 October 2006, he toured through Bhutan, Nepal crossing over to India where he has travelled to Ladakh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharastra and then on to Sri Lanka.
“Talking is easy, but one has to experience it in order to find the truth of Dharma”, said Tsemi inviting us to watch him in action the next day. On why he turned to religion and thereafter this journey, he said, “It was my teachers, the Rapdung Rinpoche and the 17th Je Khempo of Bhutan, who introduced me to myself”.
He claims that he never takes any sort of public transport or vehicle in his travels, completely relying on his “11 number” [two legs] as he calls it. He survives on tsampa and water when he cannot find a place to buy food. He hopes to get to Tibet, Pakistan and Afghanistan in the near future but does not have any fixed plans.
“I don’t like to plan. I just get up and go when I feel like it. There is no point thinking about the past because it has already happened and who knows about tomorrow because it is yet to come. Life is all about living in the present and living the moment”, said Tsemi with a smile when asked about how long he plans to be in Sikkim.
“My main aim behind coming to Sikkim is to meet Dodrup Rinpoche”, says Tsemi. “I am going to start at 6 30 tomorrow morning and reach Chorten by 8 or 9 am to meet the Dodrup Rinpoche”, he added. Dressed in saffron and maroon, he is not a monk but is well versed with the teachings of Buddhism. Two short strips of band-aid across his forehead courtesy the prostrations, Tsemi will continue on his journey as far as his “11 number” will take him.