By Tenzin Choephel
Phayul Correspondent
Kathmandu, October 12: In yet another example of eternal Tibetan spirituality, an elderly Tibetan man from Thangkor Township of Dzoge County in Amdo Region of Tibet came prostrating to Kathmandu on October 2 and is now on his way to Bodh Gaya, India. Karton, 55, is the second person this year prostrating from Tibet to India. He is supported by his equally pious wife Sangye Dolma, 60, who pulls their metal cart of food supplies and bedding and she also prostrates at a position while waiting for her husband to catch up and doing so she has completed over 500,000 holy prostrations and is counting.
The couple started their prostration journey in the beginning of 2005 from their native place and reached Lhasa a year later. Due to old age they could not continue their prostration and had to take break of about three months before coming back to Lhasa to carry on with their prostration to India. Their journey to Kathmandu took three months. They are on their way to Bodh Gaya in India where they would most probably end their prostration journey. Buddha Shaykyamuni attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya some 2600 years ago. From there, they intend to continue their journey to Dharamsala walking and are hoping to seek an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama there.
Their objective of this classic Tibetan devotion is for long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness the Panchen Lama and all other Tibetan lamas, pilgrimage, flourishing of Buddhism in this world and for the well being of all sentient beings. “Since this year is kag (obstacle) year of His Holiness (the Dalai Lama), I wish to complete this mission particularly for Him,” says Karton. On hearing his decision to undertake holy mission, his wife happily decided to join and support him. Karton is a happy man to have a wife who is equally spiritual and a devout Buddhist. The couple is thankful to Tibetans they met on the way who have all been generously helpful.
Zodpa Namgyal, a lanky 33 years old monk from Amchok Tsenyi Monastery in Ngaba, Amdo, Tibet who arrived in Kathmandu prostrating few months ago, is continuing his spiritual mission to Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama’s hometown in exile. According to latest information, Zodpa was last seen prostrating near Lucknow city in India.
If there were a Guinness Book of World Record for prostrating, then these unrelenting holy Tibetan protractors are worth an attention. But getting recognition may not be their priority and I doubt if they are aware of such a record either.
