Dec 30, 2024 – Day 7 of Bhutan Survey_Visiting Sonamthang, Marangdut, Nangla Trong, Kaktong, and Moving to Bjoka
Hello. Today is the 7th day of the Bhutan survey. Today, Sunim will visit four chiwogs in Ngangla Gewog: Sonamthang, Marangdut, Nangla Trong, and Kaktong, to have conversations with the residents, and then move to Bjoka Gewog.
Sunim completed his morning practice and meditation, then had breakfast. After breakfast, he reviewed various reports and proofread manuscripts. At 8 AM, Sunim departed for Ngangla Gewog.
Today’s schedule begins with a survey of the toilets at Sonamthang High School. Sonamthang High School, with about 700 students, is one of the large schools in Bhutan. Recently, Sunim received a request to renovate the school’s outdated toilet facilities, so he decided to conduct a survey before making a decision.
The journey from Panbang Gewog to Ngangla Gewog took only 40 minutes due to the well-paved road. Compared to the two-hour trip to Tashi Bi village yesterday, it was a stark reminder of how well-constructed roads can make life more convenient.
Ngangla Gewog didn’t feel like the remote mountain villages we had surveyed so far. It appeared more like a somewhat urbanized town.
Soon, Sunim arrived at Sonamthang High School. The high school was as large as a Korean university campus, with big buildings and spacious grounds.
“They’ve built a large high school. Come to think of it, Bhutan seems to invest heavily in education compared to its income level. When I first came to Bhutan and students said they needed smart TVs, I didn’t even know what those were (laughs).”
Having arrived early, Sunim took a walk around the school grounds.
After a while, the survey team, including the Dzongdag of Zhemgang, the planning officer, and Mr. Ishi from the central administration, arrived.
“Good morning, Sunim. You arrived early.”
“Welcome. The road was good, so we arrived quickly. I wanted to look around the toilets, but they were locked.”
The school staff brought the keys and opened the doors.
Upon inspecting the interior of the toilets, it was clear that the facilities were indeed outdated. However, perhaps because the students had been keeping them clean, there didn’t seem to be any urgent need for repairs.
“Sunim, please take a look at the toilets inside the dormitory as well.”
Sunim entered the dormitory to inspect the toilets. The toilets and showers had partitions but no doors. While the facilities were outdated, they still seemed usable.
Sunim said.
“From what I can see, the facilities are old but not unusable. I think they can continue to be used as they are. I recently visited the toilets at Yebilaptsa School, and they were truly in poor condition. Sonamthang can use these a bit longer before renovating.”
The Dzongdag said.
“Yes, Sunim. But what if we at least put doors on the toilets? Even though they’re children, it seems too open for them to use like this.”
“Yes, you can do that. However, it doesn’t exactly fit JTS principles (laughs).”
Sunim was informed that Sonamthang residents had gathered in the auditorium, so he moved to the auditorium of Sonamthang High School.
“It’s nice to meet you all. I come from Korea, which is located further east than China. My journey to Bhutan, so far away, began with an invitation from the King last summer.
In the past, we used Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a measure of how well we were living. The idea was that ‘producing a lot and consuming a lot means living well.’ But this overconsumption has now led to a climate crisis. As we enter this era of climate crisis, the concept of GNH proposed by the 4th King of Bhutan is gaining new attention worldwide.
Until now, when we made an investment, we evaluated it based on ‘how much production it would generate.’
However, advanced countries like New Zealand and Finland have started to evaluate investments based on ‘how much happier the investment made the people.’ In other words, the concept of GNH is becoming a practical concept that is reflected in real life and national policies.
The concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) was proposed in Bhutan 20 years ago, but it didn’t receive much attention at the time. Now, 20 years later, the whole world is interested in the concept of GNH. However, after coming to Bhutan and seeing the reality firsthand, I find that Bhutan is focusing more on how to develop further rather than on the concept of GNH.
From my perspective, it’s regrettable to see Bhutan changing in this way.
When the amount of carbon dioxide we emit through consumption equals the amount absorbed by forests, we call it CO2 zero. But as carbon dioxide emissions increase, forests can’t absorb it all. The carbon dioxide that isn’t absorbed by forests covers the atmosphere above, and this phenomenon, like covering with plastic, causes the temperature of the Earth to rise. This is called the greenhouse effect.
While living in Bhutan, you might not feel the climate crisis yet, but globally, we’re already in a serious crisis. Heavy rains may suddenly pour down, or there might be droughts. The strength of typhoons could increase, causing massive damage, or extreme dryness might lead to large wildfires. Additionally, glaciers in the Arctic, Antarctic, and the Himalayas could melt, causing sea levels to rise significantly.
The only way to solve the climate crisis is to stop consumption. But people are currently in a state of consumption addiction. Addiction has the property that once you start, you have to keep going, right? And with consumption, the more you consume, the more you want to consume. Look at your own lives. In the past, when we were hungry, we just needed to eat. But now, we need to eat delicious food. We need to wear pretty clothes. We need to build big houses. We need refrigerators, washing machines, cars. It’s endless. The whole world is currently going in this direction.
Now, the big challenge is how to reduce consumption and still be happy. To be happy while consuming less, we should follow the Buddha’s teachings. The teaching that we become happy when we let go of all desires is the only teaching that can overcome this climate crisis. 
The Alternative in the Era of Climate Crisis: A Life of Less Consumption, Convenience, Cleanliness, and Happiness
Bhutan is a country where people follow the teachings of the Buddha and implement the concept of GNH (Gross National Happiness) as a national policy. Therefore, we aim to create in Bhutan ‘a new future civilization, a way of human life to survive the era of climate crisis, different from what we have had so far.’
If we develop too much following our desires, we will all die due to the climate crisis. However, if we don’t develop enough, life becomes inconvenient, and we won’t be happy. The middle ground between these two issues is the new future civilization and sustainable development.
The King of Bhutan is also deeply contemplating how to harmonize the demands for development with environmental protection and preservation of the traditional culture. That’s why there are discussions about developing the new city of Gelephu, as well as talks about protecting forests and traditional culture.
In fact, harmonizing these two aspects is not an easy task. However, we must solve this problem for our descendants to live sustainably on Earth. So, I hope you will approach this with a somewhat pioneering attitude to create a future civilization.
First, life shouldn’t be too inconvenient, so let’s improve our living conditions to make them more convenient.
Those without homes should have homes, and those with homes but poor interior facilities should improve them. Especially for young women in the future, kitchen facilities need to be improved. Toilets also need some improvement. Homes should have good water supply. However, if we develop too much, we will face the climate crisis again.
The more rural you go, the more houses need to be fixed, and as you come to the city, there are fewer such houses. Panbang is a small town, so everyone is living well, right? And there’s nothing to improve, isn’t it? Everyone is well-dressed too. (Laughs)
Earlier, the Tshogpa mentioned that there are three people without homes. You all need to come together to build those houses. Water shortages also need to be addressed. The Tshogpa is a man, so he might not know much about women’s household needs, but kitchens need to be improved too. (Laughs)
We need to change the house structure to make it more convenient. The purpose of this project is to improve these things to live conveniently, cleanly, and happily.
The Bhutanese government is also making many efforts to improve your quality of life. However, building and repairing one’s own house is an individual responsibility. Therefore, those who can afford to repair their homes should do so on their own. But for those who want to repair their homes but lack materials, we will provide support with materials.
The water supply project is a government project. However, government budgets are limited and cannot improve everything you need. Also, if you wait for government funding, you’ll have to wait until the budget is allocated.
If you say you want to construct water facilities in your village because it’s the water we drink, we will provide the necessary materials, and you can do it yourselves. JTS doesn’t just provide support. We work together by providing materials when you decide to do something.
The ultimate goal of this project is to increase GNH, Gross National Happiness.
To increase happiness, first, inconvenient facilities must be improved to become more convenient, and we must work together. When we do something collectively, even if it’s difficult, we feel satisfied after it’s done.
Do you all know Lebati Chiok? Lebati had a water shortage. They wanted to bring water from a new source, which was 7km away. I thought it couldn’t be done. I said, ‘How can you do 7km? Wait for the government project.’ But they said, ‘No, we will do it.’ So we provided cement and pipe materials.
Surprisingly, they did it two months later. I was amazed. When I asked how many days each person worked, they said they worked for a month. The women dug the ground to bury the pipes, and the men carried the pipes. Of course, it was hard. But on the day they opened the water supply, they were overjoyed.
When we work together, we experience joy, and our happiness index increases. Even if we may appear poor, if our lives are convenient, clean, and livable, that is ‘the way to be happy while consuming less.’
I’ve talked for a long time. Was it a bit difficult to understand? It’s hard enough for you to live, and I’m talking about solving the global climate crisis (laughs). So, to put it briefly, let’s improve our lives. To expand on that a bit, let’s develop our Bhutan. And to put it in even broader terms, let’s present an alternative for the era of climate crisis.
That’s why I’ve come here from far-away Korea. And in this respect, it aligns with the Bhutanese government’s policies and the King’s intentions. Did you understand? Was it too difficult? If anyone has questions, please feel free to ask.”
Looking down from the village, there’s a large river flowing. Since our village is above the river, we lack drinking water. How can we utilize this river? We’re not sure where the water source is or how large it is.
Sonamtang’s biggest problem is drinking water. Would installing a large water tank solve the issue?
About four households don’t have homes. These people need houses.
We need support for water pipes.
Sunim listened to the village’s problems and provided guidance on how to address each one.
“In this project, JTS will only support what you can do and what is absolutely necessary. If we provide materials, can the residents draw water from the river?”
The Geop of Nangla said.
“The residents will do as much as they can, and the Geop plans to support the budget for any shortfall.”
“It’s not right for this project to have JTS provide materials and the Geop support the budget. The residents aren’t doing anything.
For example, if the residents say they can try connecting pipes but absolutely cannot cross the river with their skills, then it’s possible for the Geop to support experts at that time. But the way you’re talking about it now, this is not a JTS project. Do you understand?
In a situation like now where you need to draw river water, that’s when the government should install water and sewage facilities. However, as mentioned earlier, it takes a long time to receive government support. Keep applying to the government continuously, but until then, we can install as much as we can do ourselves. JTS can support materials for that.”
The conversation with the residents had already exceeded an hour and 30 minutes. Sunim concluded the dialogue with the residents of Sonamtang Chyok and moved to Marangdut.
Upon entering the Marangdut temple and paying respects, the residents followed, greeting Sunim with three bows, and the conversation began immediately.
Among those seated in the temple, there were not only local residents but also some lay practitioners.
After Sunim provided guidance on the JTS project, he took questions.
The population of Marangdut Chyok is growing and water usage is increasing, but the water source is gradually drying up. The current water source is insufficient, and we want to construct a new water source.
A house was poorly built and had to be demolished. The homeowner is ill and unable to rebuild, so we want to build a house for them.
Sunim checked if the residents could participate in the situation and reviewed the project to provide guidance.
As the hour-long conversation with the Marangdut residents was concluding, Sunim asked an elderly woman. She had been participating attentively in the conversation for about an hour.
“Lady, can you see?”
“Not very well.”
“How about your teeth?”
“I don’t have any.”
“The final goal of JTS projects is for you to improve your lives and increase your happiness through your own efforts. For the eldery who can’t see well and have no teeth, we can help later with medical improvement projects. Eyes can quickly improve with surgery, and teeth can be fixed quickly with dentures.”
“I’m old now, what’s the point of surgery? I only have a few days left to live, what’s the use of being able to see and having teeth?”
“(Laughing) Lady, even if you only live for a day or two more, you should be able to see, chew your food well, and enjoy life before you go.”
“If I don’t die, I’ll see you again, Sunim. But I think I’ll die soon. I’m afraid of dying.”
“Why are you afraid of dying? Death should be peaceful and without fear. How can a practitioner be afraid of dying?”
“I’m worried because I don’t know when I’ll die.”
Sunim finished the conversation with the residents of Marangdut Chyok and went to the old lady.
As if she had been waiting for Sunim, the lady folded her hands and asked for a blessing.
Sunim smiled gently and placed his hand on the lady’s head to give her a blessing.
Sunim left Marangdut and moved to Ngangla Trong. It was already past lunchtime, approaching 1 PM, so Sunim decided to have lunch first before talking with the residents.
A resident of Ngangla Trong had prepared lunch at their home.
Sunim thanked the homeowner and those who prepared the meal with a half-bow and joined palms.
After lunch, Sunim moved to the village hall of Ngangla Trong.
The residents of Ngangla Trong also talked about water problems. However, the residents didn’t have any special difficulties or requests.
With the governor’s closing remarks, Sunim moved from Nangla Trong to Kaktong.
About 35 residents had gathered at Kaktong Elementary School.
Sunim explained the principles of JTS projects and began a dialogue with the residents.
We lack drinking water and want to replace the water tank with a larger one.
We need a kitchen and toilets.
We have a water source and pipes, but no water tank.
We need a building to revitalize the village’s bamboo crafts.
We built houses, but they lack window glass.
We have wood, but no materials to build houses.
We need shelves inside the houses and fences to prevent crop damage.
We are a family of six with nothing in our house. We want to build a house.
Sunim reviewed the projects requested by the residents and provided guidance on how to address them. In particular, he advised the resident requesting support for bamboo crafts to apply to the Tarayana Foundation.
After the dialogue with Sunim ended, the villagers thoughtfully prepared gifts for him.
They also graciously offered food to the drivers who were waiting outside for the meeting to end.
Sunim gratefully accepted the prepared food and ensured it was shared with everyone. After the meeting, all the villagers and staff members shared the food together, and then Sunim rose from his seat.
Before moving to Zhobkha after completing all scheduled visits in Nangla Gewog, Sunim inspected the area behind the school due to the risk of landslides.
Sunim arrived in Bjoka at 5:30 PM. It was getting dark.
It was too late to start a conversation with the residents. Sunim just briefly greeted the residents at the Geop Center. He planned to stay at the Jopka guesthouse tonight. After eating dinner prepared by Jopka Geop, Sunim thanked Nolbu, the planning officer of Jemgang, for organizing the daily survey schedule so well, and moved to the accommodation.
Since there was no Dharma talk today, we’ll introduce the content of the Q&A dialogue that Sunim had with a questioner during the lecture invited by Yeongju City on the 4th.
Why Am I Living a Difficult Life Even Though I Haven’t Harmed Others? Is It Because I did Something Wrong in My Past Life?
“What do you think?”
“I’m living a difficult life even though I haven’t harmed others. Did I do something wrong in my past life to live such a difficult life now?”
“Let’s say there’s a small bug on a leaf. Is your life harder, or is the bug’s life harder?”
“My life is harder.”
“Then you’re worse off than a bug. If your life is worse than a bug’s, does that mean the bug had a better past life than you when considering past lives?”
“I suppose that could be the case.”
“Did you really do worse than a bug in your past life? If so, does that mean you have to do bad things in this life to be reborn as a human instead of a bug in the next life?”
“I don’t want to do bad things.”
“I’m saying this because you said you’re worse off than a bug. If a bug is better off than you, doesn’t that mean being born as a human is worse than being born as a bug? If there are past lives and we receive their consequences, according to your logic, ‘if you do good things in your past life, you’re reborn as a bug, and if you do bad things, you become a human.’ Is that how it works?”
“That doesn’t seem right.”
“Then let me ask you again. When you go to the mountains, do you sometimes see squirrels?”
“Yes.”
“Is a squirrel’s life harder, or is a human’s life harder?”
“A squirrel’s life is harder.”
“If even squirrels can live, why can’t you, as a human, live?”
“I can live, but it’s so hard even though I’m not doing anything bad and living diligently…”
“What’s hard? Let’s talk specifically. Don’t suddenly bring up past lives. How hard must life be for you to talk about past lives?”
“But I’m really curious if past lives really exist. Do past lives really exist?”
“When someone comes to a monk and asks, ‘Sunim, what was our relationship in our past life?’ Is this person likely to have a good or bad relationship with their spouse now?”
“A bad relationship.”
“How do you know that?” (laughs)
“They probably came to ask because their relationship isn’t good.”
“If I tell that person, ‘You two had a bad relationship in your past life!’ they would say, ‘That’s right! It must have been like that.’ Because we can intuitively understand that the reason they came to ask the monk is that their relationship isn’t good. Similarly, when you ask me about past lives, it means you’re having a hard time living now.”
“When others do the same work, people say, ‘You must have had a hard time, you did well,’ but when I do it, they say, ‘Anyone can do that much.'”
“Who says that? Does your husband say that?”
“It’s like that when I go to events, and my husband is like that too.”
“Let’s look at that case. As you said, when person A does 10 units of work, people say, ‘Oh, you’re great. Well done,’ but when you do the same 10 units of work, they say, ‘What, is that all you can do?’ and you feel bad about it. But what if you were the person evaluating? If you say ‘You did well’ to A for doing the same 10 units of work, does that mean you had high or low expectations for A?”
“……”
“You seem confused and can’t understand well. Let’s say someone here brought a tumbler to me. Then I would say, ‘Thank you for bringing this.’ But if someone else brought this tumbler, I might scold them, saying, ‘Why are you bringing this now? You should have brought it earlier!’ Then, is the first person close to me or not?”
“Not close to you.”
“What about the second person?”
“Close to you.”
“Then which is better, being close or not close?”
“Being close is better.”
“Yes, being close is better. So, are the people who say ‘Is this all you can do?’ to you saying that because they’re close to you? Or because they’re not close to you?”
“They’re saying it because they’re close to me.”
“Didn’t you say being close is better? Do you understand now?”
“I understand.”
“Good. People who constantly scold you every time they meet you have high expectations for you. Because their expectations are high, they keep scolding you. You might be doing well, but because their expectations for you are so high, you’re meeting their expectations. Because you’re not meeting their expectations, they keep scolding you. But for the same person, they keep praising others. From your perspective, it might feel bad, but they have low expectations for that person. They think, ‘What can that person do?’ Nevertheless, when that person does something, they praise them.
Similarly, if your husband praises other women but criticizes you a lot, it’s not because he likes those women and dislikes you. From a psychological perspective, he has little expectation for those women, so he says ‘Thank you’ even for small things they do. He has high expectations for you, so even though you’ve done your best, he criticizes you because you haven’t met his expectations. So, does this mean you accumulated a lot of merit in your past life? Or little merit?”
“It means I accumulated a lot of merit.”
“That’s right. You’ve already accumulated a lot of merit, so why do you want to hear from me that you accumulated little merit?”
“I understand well now. Thank you!”
Thank you, Sunim.