A glimpse of Bhutan's gold pots

December 2007, I went on this short course to New Delhi, India for a Indian Embassy-funded Training Course on Sub-national Governance for two weeks. 

My fellow co-participants are not many, only ten people from Bhutan, India, Philippine, and Sri Lanka. They are all in above thirty, all married and have children. Most of them are coming from Local Government department, as this training is originally intended for civil servants, and have years of experience in executing decentralization. Being the youngest (I was only 25 years old at that time),  I was the one who had to write down the group assignments, and basically become the guinea pig of every activity. Not that I mind, though. 

Of all the fellow participants, I became particularly close with this fellow from Bhutan, Mr. Shey. From our conversations, it was obvious that the serenity of living in Bhutan had nurtured him to adhere to such value. It is a quiet place, literally and figuratively speaking. Culture is preserve and modernization is cautiously embraced. Building can not be higher than five floors because the temples should still be the tallest. Every building also has to have a hat-roof to deter from further construction. There are even no traffic lights, only policemen holding up signs of green and red to car directions. When I asked why, Mr. Shey asked me back why did I think they need it. The cars are few and the sign holders brings employment. This trivial fact was particularly made fun of by the  Sri Lankan. Wise and collected as Karate Kid's Mr. Miyagi, Mr. Shey had remained silent amidst the mocking.  "We might not have traffic lights, but we surely can carry a tune. "he said to me quietly whilst the two Sri Lankans performing song during our cultural night. It was two days after the traffic light sneers were made. I laughed so hard and realized that Mr. Shey had the last laugh indeed! What I find admirable was that the comment was only shared with me. He had no intention to return the public ridicule that he earlier received. 

The incident says a lot about Mr. Shey's character. Growing up, he had to carry buckle of water on his shoulder everyday for 20 km which teach him to be humble and appreciate luxury more than people who are accustomed to supporting system (*knock knock to Jakarta's middle to upper class). Living a life resemblance to how the monks are living, he is able to understand the real state of peace. These bound and solid composite of values were further reflected in one of his thoughts which he conveyed to  me: 

"A loving person is someone who able to say hatred is driven out by love it self. Therefore, the only way to handle anger is with compassion and the only way to handle fear is with courage. “

Few years later, as in now, I had somewhat forgotten these values, which I view as the 'gold pots' in life. The wealth we need in order to build an honest relationship with life itself. A respectful relationship to the physical realm we live in (earth, country, city, neighborhood). A mindful relationship with love and hate entailed in our social interactions. 

However, one memory on Mr. Shey that still hovers is his humility upon making plan. Every time we part after the class ended, and when we parted in our last day of workshop,  he said:  "I'll see you again, Anggie. If luck permits. " 

                                                                                                      September 8, 2011, 23.25 PM