A tripless trip

30 August 2008

The agriculture ministry is tripping down the green lane every Tuesday with the ‘No Vehicle Day’ initiative. It is already doing them a world of good. The whole nation flushed at the sight of their smiling faces and therapeutic gaits. Somehow, this wholesome sight lighted up some soggy streets down memory lane. In school, our hostel food was fit for the dogs. After much protest en masse, our principal decided to eat with us in our refectory. It was an inspiring moment in our school history. Till it lasted, at least. Two weeks later, he suddenly ‘defected’. Apparently, his leadership had written cheques that his stomach just could not cash.

As a boy, I loved camping. During which, my youthful enthusiasm made me volunteer for any camp chores. On one such trip, my uncle left an indelible impression when he said – “Doing anything for the first few times is always like camping. It is only when you enjoy the chores for years on end, will you have cracked one of life’s key code to happiness” In college, I was a transcendental ape. I started blindly imitating western dharma students in meditation sessions. A teacher who saw this once remarked – “Do you feel like a Buddha while you meditate?” I twiddled my toes in mock humility. He continued – “Well, I hope you can feel the same when you are washing your socks or eating breakfast?” I was cornered. Sensing the openness of my deflated ego, he then rubbed it in – “Beware that your practice doesn’t descend into the ‘trip’ of spiritual materialism.”

For all enlightenment’s sake, a very thin line separates the escapism of fantasy and simple reality. Down the years, my teachers imparted many precious instructions – “Practice mostly when you are happy. Not taking pleasure in active practice inevitably leads to an impending calamity. The eleventh hour is not exactly the best time to spring to action.”

Another enduring advice was – “Consistency is the vanguard of realization. If little droplets leak through a roof continually for a long time, it can bring down the house of suffering one day.” The MoA’s ‘leap of faith’ is a departure from our tendency for superficial exhibitionism for the occasions. By getting down in the trenches in this fight for nature, it is a real ascent above the applause of moralistic approbation. Or is it? Well, as they say – “history is not a philanthropist”. Time will tell when the bells toll.
The issue at hand is environmental consciousness and pro-activity. Understanding our role as members of nature and our interconnectedness requires us to take care of this place that we live in, and which lives in us. It tells us what “sustainable” means and that we must again become members of the organic world.

The “Dratshang” is leading by example with the banning of meat and monetary offerings during ceremonies. Another right step in the ecology direction would be to ban inorganic food as traditional “tsok” offerings. The powerful symbolism of this simple act will not be lost in our deeply spiritual land.

Environmental conversation is a major pillar of GNH. While our rich folks save money by buying the latest energy-efficient gadgets, our poor folks are forced to buy expensive firewood. Talk about equity with depleting forest covers. The key word is affordability but is the government listening? As many moons pass us by, Mother Earth shall bear witness. Will she still see the same smiling faces every Tuesday, going on a “tripless trip?”

By Phuntsok Rabten

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