Witnessing the Guru Thongdrol on the last day of Paro Tshechu was never on the cards during my 12-day Bhutan trip, but it started to make sense after I read Guru Rinpoche’s faith-infusing words – “I am present in front of anyone who has faith in me, just as the moon casts its reflection, effortlessly, in any vessel filled with water.”
I visited the ‘Tiger’s Nest’ on my last day in Bhutan, and wished to have spent more time at the spot where Guru Rinpoche meditated, but had to leave to make room for other visitors. On the other hand, the ‘Guru’ had some other plans, which he hinted by serving me holy water in my dream that night. I woke up at 2AM and wondered what it meant; and believed that the sight of magnificently lit-up Paro Dzong, through my window, has the answer to it. We had to leave the country at 7AM but I left for the Dzong immediately to find my answer.
After a long walk I entered the Dzong at around 3AM.
The chants of ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’, the sin-purifying sight of the world’s biggest Thongdrol, soul-awakening sounds of the drums, lit-up butter lamps and mystical performances of the masked-monks welcomed me. Shortly, several other monks joined the ritual and started the holy prayer. That moment transported me to another world.
That world possessed the fragrance of eternity, soul-purifying vibrations of the chants, the voice of the Budhha symbolized by the sound of drums, stories of the 8th century recited by dancing spirits and Guru Rinpoche blessing everyone. Including me. He looked at me and smiled, and the whole place got illuminated with blinding white light.
As the light faded, miraculously, the sun had risen, the ceremony was over and the monks were leaving. I couldn’t acclimatize between the two worlds. So I checked my camera and surprisingly, it had a few pictures of the ceremony, which were different than what I had witnessed a few moments ago. I didn’t really understand what happened, but I smiled and thanked the ‘Guru’ for fulfilling my wish of spending more time with him and giving me an experience I would cherish for the rest of my life.