A Delegation of Buddhist Town visited Bhutan

At the invitation of Rev. Chandima of the Sri Lanka Cultural and Educational Foundation, members of the Buddhist Town joined a delegation to Bhutan to participate in the Global Peace Festival, held in celebration of the 70th birthday of the Fourth King of Bhutan.The trip was co-organized by the Buddhist Town Community Association, with participating organizations including Fa Chan Temple, Macang Yuan, Holy Vajrasana Temple, and the Canadian Institute of Buddhist Studies, among others. A total of 68 representatives took part in this event.

As part of the visit, the delegation donated 500 sets of essential baby supplies, offering prayers for happiness, health, and well-being for every family. The director of the Bhutanese Ministry of Health attended the ceremony to receive the donation. Then the donated items were distributed on-site to pregnant women and mothers with newborns by those who attended this trip.  The related coverage of the donation activity can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A9QNfqqS4/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The delegation jointly sponsored the offering of 3,000 butter lamps and respectfully invited Master Shih Zhengda Jiaozun to preside over a 3,000 Butter Lamp Offering Ceremony at Kyichu Lhakhang, one of the oldest temples in Paro. The prayers were dedicated to world peace, the removal of obstacles and averting of disasters, and the flourishing and propagation of True Buddha Dharma. Kyichu Lhakhang is one of the 108 demon-subduing temples built by King Songtsen Gampo. It was established in 638 CE, making it one of Bhutan’s most sacred and historically significant temples.

Dasho Passang Dorji, former Speaker of the National Assembly of Bhutan, formally welcomed the Buddhist Town delegation at Paro International Airport. Thereafter, the delegation embarked on an amazing journey to visit the sacred sites associated with Guru Padmasambhava and to explore how Zhabdrung Rinpoche further propagated and established Guru Padmasambhava’s lineage teachings throughout Bhutan.

During this journey, the delegation visited many major temples and sacred sites, including Buddha Dordenma in Thimphu (21st century), Punakha Dzong (17th century), the Druk Wangyal Chortens (the so-called 108 Stupas, 21st century), Chimi Lhakhang (15th century), Khewang Lhakhang (15th century), and Gangtey Monastery (17th century) among others.

The final highlight featured the ascent to the legendary Tiger’s Nest Monastery (Taktsang, 8th century), perched at an elevation of 3,100 meters above sea level. According to tradition, Guru Padmasambhava is said to have flown to this sacred site, where he subdued demons and subsequently spread Buddhism throughout Bhutan, becoming the foundational figure of Bhutanese Buddhism.

With an altitude gain of over 900 meters and steep mountain paths, it takes 7-8 hours for a round-trip hike. This pilgrimage to sacred sites, receiving blessings, paying homage to the Buddhas, and experiencing profound spiritual inspiration, was filled with immeasurable Dharma joy and boundless gratitude. At every place along the way, it felt as though the land itself was reminding the delegation:

All worldly phenomena are ever-changing and impermanent; only the true Dharma of the Buddha remains eternally unchanged.



An Extraordinary Journey to Bhutan – Connection in the Land of the Thunder Dragon –– by Gongjue Tuji Rinpoche from Vajrasana Temple

In November, I had the privilege of being part of a large and extraordinary tour group. Together with my Dharma brothers and sisters, we visited the Kingdom of Bhutan. Although I did not know most of the participants before the trip, I felt warmly welcomed from the very first moment and truly felt like an integral part of this community.

It was an incredibly eventful week in which we immersed ourselves deeply in the spirituality of the country. We visited many holy temples and had the opportunity not only to get to know the land and its people but to truly take them into our hearts. An unforgettable highlight was our hike to the Tiger’s Nest, where we followed the footsteps of Padmasambhava along the steep paths.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to the organizing team. Everything was excellently prepared, and the entire schedule ran completely smoothly, allowing us to fully engage in this special experience. It was a journey that will resonate for a long time