PT GYAMTSO CONTINUES DIALOGUE ON BHUM-CHU

Letter:

Criticism and commentary welcome because they add to understanding
Apropos rejoinder of Duechi of Tashiding Monastery carried out in your paper of 11th August 2011 under the caption “Tashiding Duechi Questions Gyamtso’s commentary on Bhum Chu” and the comments of Mr. Karma Lhendup Kaleon carried out in your paper of 18th August under the caption “Vum-Chhu under cloud: Evolution of Survival Instinct”, I thought I owe some further explanation to the readers so that the matter is understood in its correct perspective.

Vum-Chhu Under Cloud: Evolution of Survival Instinct?

Letter:
This has reference to the rejoinder of the Tashiding Duchi to the book “The History, Religion, Culture and Traditions of Bhutia Communities” written by Mr. P.T. Gyamtsho, former bureaucrat and Parliamentarian of Sikkim which appeared in the 01 August 2011 issue of Sikkim NOW! and his counter to the rejoinder which appeared in 04 August edition. It is very heartening to see the evolution of survival instinct in the Denjong Aku-Lhopo people. The seed of dialogue for settlement of conflict has germinated. We pray that the seed grows. This is how a civil society is begun.

Tashiding Duechi Questions Gyamtso’s Commentary on Bhum-Chu

We, the Duechi of Tashiding Monastery, would like to publish the following article and desire to inform all about Bhum-Chu.
According to Sikkim NOW! newspaper dated 04 August 2011, in a response carried under the caption “have not diluted the significance of Bhumchu,” PT Gyamtso, the author of “The History, Religion, Culture and Traditions of Bhutia Community”, has tried to clarify things by claiming that he is a Vajrayana Buddhist, who believes the Tashiding monastery to be most sacred and has performed the death rituals of his mother here by erecting 108 prayer flags and sponsoring daylong feeding of the lamas. These are all personal matters for which you went to Tashiding monastery and not for the welfare of the lamas of the monastery, infact, if you have esteem respect for Tashiding lamas then how can you say “day long feeding of the lamas” which sounds more like you are feeding a beggar. All your responses are not enough to justify the Bhumchu’s ethos which we had tried to explain in the NOW! newspaper previously but you twisted the subject and went off track.  We are lamas and our responsibility is to preserve the Buddhist culture and tradition and we are very much engaged in such activities on a daily basis.

“PT GYATMTSO MISINFORMED READERS ON BHUM-CHU”

The quote that Bhum Chu has no recorded history has portrayed one of the most sacred religious belief and practice of the Buddhist devotees as unrealistic. It has disfigured the religious value and importance of the holy water as being merely a practice having no religious history. But the truth is that the record of Bhum Chu is present with the concern dept. and in the holy books or paycha and it is still found in the Holy Monasteries like Pemayantse (Pelling), Ralong (Ralong), Dupdi monasteries (Yuksum) etc.
Chogyal and three pioneer lamas (who visited Sikkim and the first Chogyal of the kingdom of Sikkim was consecrated in 1641 AD)  are the key witness of the holy Bhum Chu and had lots of contribution towards it. The Norbugang Chorten nearby still has the evidence of the consecration ceremony in the form of stone seats and a footprint of the head lama on a stone.

Have not diluted the significance of Bhum-Chu, PT Gyamtso clarifies

Apropos the new item published in your paper of 1st August 2011 under the caption “Tashiding Duchi condemn misinformed write up on Bhum Chu in new book”, I may mention here that the sentence of comparison of the holy water in a sacred urn to that of water contained in a copper vase has been quoted out of context in isolation to give a tangential view and convey a message that I had deliberately diluted the significance of the ritual and hurt the sentiments of Duchi. This is not true.
I am a true Vajrayana Buddhist and I have always held the view that Tashiding Monastery as the most sacred religious institution in Sikkim. It is for this strong belief and reason I had performed weekly death rituals of my late mother and sister in law in Tashiding Monastery in 2003 and 2009 by burning 1000 butter lamps, hoisting 108 prayer flags and daylong feeding of the lamas. I have always held the Duchi and lamas of Sikkim in highest esteem and I personally know the Head Lama of Tashiding monastery and therefore to think that I would sully the name of the monastery and the ritual which I always hold to the core of my hearts is simply preposterous.

Tashiding Duchi condemns ‘misinformed’ write-up on Bhum-Chu in new book

DUCHI AND PEOPLE DEMAND THAT PT GYAMTSO’S BOOK BE WITHDRAWN AND CORRECTIONS INCORPORATED BEFORE RE-RELEASE
ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 31 July: A joint-meeting of the monk body and residents and their representative organisations here at Tashiding Monastery in West Sikkim on 29 July, Friday, resolved to condemn a section of the book, “The History, Religion, Culture and Traditions of Bhutia Communities” written and published by former Member of Parliament, PT Gyamtso. The section being condemned is the part which details the Bhum-Chu ritual held at the Tashiding Monastery every year. Mr. Gyamtso could not be contacted for his response.
The Tashiding Monastery Duchi, Panchayat members and locals of the constituency have come out strongly against what they allege to be “irresponsible” and “misinformed” facts on the historically significant Bhum-Chu ritual held at the monastery.

Holy vase measures out quarter cup less

THOUSANDS CONGREGATE FOR BHUM-CHU AT TASHIDING
WANGCHUK BHUTIA
TASHIDING, 20 March: Thousands of devotees [12,000, as per the organizers] congregated at Tashiding in West Sikkim over the weekend to attend the Bhum-Chu ritual at the Tashiding Monastery, where water from the holy vase was measured out on the midnight of the intervening night of 18 and 19 March. The holy vase, which holds 21 cups of water, measured out a quarter cup less this year. While some of the devotees at the spot saw this as portending a year of conflict and unrest ahead, the Thungyee of Tashiding Monastery, Tashi Wangdi, while confirming that the holy water filled out 20.75 cups, clarified that this was in fact a good sign for the year ahead.
The official divination will be made over the coming days by the monks at the Monastery, who will also recommend special prayers and offerings which now need to be made, and will be released by the Ecclesiastical Department later.

Bhum-Chu at Tashiding Monastery

Tashiding Monastery in West Sikkim

Acharya HISSEY WANGCHUK
Bhum-Chu is an auspicious event observed at Tashiding monastery every year with great faith and glory by devotees from all over the country, with this day eagerly anticipated by every Buddhist. From the 8th day, until the morning of the 15th of the first month of the Tibetan calendar, the Thugjaychenpo khorwaledol text is recited in the lead up to the distribution of the sacred water [this year, the occasion falls on the intervening night of 18 and 19 March, and the Puja, or sadhana, started 6 days ahead). During earlier times, these prayers generally started from the 1st day of the 1st month and continued till the 15th. On the morning of the 15th, the most auspicious event takes place when the sacred Bhum-pa [vase] is removed from its casket. This is witnessed only by aristocrats, officials and high lamas. As per tradition, only three cups of sacred water are taken out: one cup is for the royal family, one for the monks, and the third cup for the general masses gathered for the ceremony.