hApPyGaLaX's pAgE

The stupa Pema Lingpa, the true son of Bumthang and one of the great five kings of the Tertons (Tresaure Revealers) was born in the year 1450 to Yab Dendup Zangpo and Yhum Pema Dolma. He was born on the fifteenth day of the second month of the male iron-horse year. His birth was marked with many auspicious signs, and thus, the great Terton was born. Terton Pema Lingpa, during his early days, spent his time with his grandfather, who was a blacksmith. He thus picked up the skill and mastered it. According to records, Pema Lingpa experienced an unusual dream twice. The first dream was experienced when he was just twenty-five years. The prophetic dream was experienced two years later, on the tenth day of the second month of the Monkey year, while he was asleep near Mani Goenpa. A voice from a shabbily dressed monk awakened him and handed him a scroll. Without the slightest knowledge, Pema Lingpa was urged to read it as a key to decode the predestined Terma (Treasure). Wish-fulfilling chort...

Bhutan is a mysterious country filled with mystery and stories that are beyond our imagination, yet we Mount Jhomolhari seen from Singyethang believe and have faith in them. One such mysterious place is Singyethang. Singye in Dzongkha means lion, and thang can be translated as plain. Thus, Singyethang can be literarily translated as the plain where the lion resides or simply as the lion plain . Singyethang is located at about 3300 meters above sea level. Taking the faint trails among the woods, one has to walk about an hour from Taphag (Taphay) Goenpa in Trongsa. During the dry season, one can drive to Taphag Goenpa, from where you need to be guided by a seasoned local or a monk. The trail is so faint that one should not take the risk of visiting the place without someone who knows the place well. There are stories of pilgrims who lost their way back. The beautiful villages Walking through the woods for about one hour, one is suddenly out into a great pastureland. In the middle of th...

 The great Lopen Pema Juney visited Bhutan twice and is believed to have blessed every inch of the land. He is also believed to have hidden many treasures to be discovered later by prophesied Tertons (Treasure revelers). Guru's body print at the meditation cave . To visit one such place, walk uphill from Taphag (Taphay) Goenpa for about 45 minutes, and you will reach the open cave where Guru Rinpoche is believed to have meditated. The cave lies at an altitude of about 3150 meters above sea level. The cave has the body imprints of Guru Rinpoche. Just beside Guru’s cave, one can also see a similar cave where Khando was believed to have meditated. Without any written documents to authenticate the information, no exact time can be determined of Guru’s visit to the place, neither can pinpoint the khando. View of Trongsa from the cave. One can enjoy the scenic beauty of Trongsa town and majestic Chhoetse Rabtse Dzong, which stands like a sleeping white dog. The cave lies about five feet ...

  Away from the bustling of the developments, overlooking the majestic Choetse dzong, is the Taphag goenpa. The name of the goenpa was derived from the rocky cliffs located above the goenpa. One of the cliffs is believed to be the head of Tandrim (Hayagriva). The cliff is believed to be in the shape of a horse's head. One can also see footprints of the horse. The other cliff, which is about 100 meters away from the Taphag Goenpa as seen from Tandrim Nye Tandrim Nye is believed to be the blessed site of Khando Dorji Phagmo (emanation of Vajravarahi). Dorji Phagmo can be distinguished by the head of a female boar head (Varahi), which is visible above her right ear. Ta in Dzongkha refers to a horse, while phag is a pig. Thus, Taphag is the name of the goenpa. No formal records could be found about the goenpa, but oral history believes that the goenpa was blessed by Druthob Ngawang Samten. Later, His Majesty the first Druk Gyalpo built a lhakhang with nangtens (inner relics). His Majes...