Reforms
In Ladakhi Buddhism
By Stanzin Dawa
26 September, 2006
Countercurrents.org
I
am happy to see that most of the Muslims in Leh go to the Jama Masjid
three times a day for "Nimaz". Couple of times I have also
been to the Masjid with my Muslim friends. They all assembled and collectively
pray under the spiritual leadership and instruction of the Maulvi. I
have noticed that going to the Masjid and assembled there for Nimaz
seems to be little gender biased. As I have hardly seen any women going
to the Masjid; I am sure there must be some mythological reservation
as per the Quran, or may be self imposed reservation prevalent in Ladakhi
Muslim culture.
While appreciating their
culture of three times a day Nimaz this question comes in my mind. Although
in Buddhism there is no compulsory prayer like in Muslims I am sure
many Buddhists must be interested to go for frequent prayer to the Gompas.
Do you think is it practical for a Buddhist in Ladakh to go the Gompa
for frequent prayers (not even three but once) in a day? I don't see
practically it's possible for a Buddhist more precisely in Ladakh, as
the Gompas are alienated from the village and located on the hills.
The old people and small children cannot reach there; the youth don't
have time as they are no more living in the villages. They are busy
with their livelihood or in search of a livelihood in the cities. As
they have lost faith and confidence on the village way of life and culture.
Many villages in Ladakh may
not be having the basic minimum infrastructure for the school and medical
aid centre but you will be amazed too see that in the same village you
will find magnificent Gompa, treasured with Golden statues and precious
Thankas of different deities and Buddhas covered with glittering silk
clothes. Although my knowledge is very limited but I have never come
across any Buddhist literature mentioning that Buddha was eating and
drinking in silver and golden plates and bowls, wears precious silk
clothes. Buddha has detached himself from all these worldly desires
than why we are deconstructing the real identity of the Buddha? Is it
the right way to show our love and respect for Buddha's teachings? I
don't think so. Are we not fabricating the truth of simplicity, the
truth of impermanence, the truth of suffering, the truth of the real
path of Nirvana?
I am not glorifying the Muslim
culture in Ladakh, we may deny the truth but we cannot avoid it. The
truth is that charity and solidarity among Muslims in Ladakh is much
stronger and healthier than the Buddhists. They uplift the poor and
deprived in their own community with adequate financial, emotional and
social support. We can and must learn from each other by removing all
the prejudices and narrow thinking. Does Ladakhi Buddhist have such
culture? Where as Buddhist are more liberal rather more competitive
in giving donation during the major prayer ceremony "Smonlan Chenmo".
The amount you donate determines your status quo symbol. What a poor
Buddhist can offer? Except the prayer; which is everything in itself?
Why we have made Buddha and other Buddhist deities such a hungry God?
Please let Buddha and Buddhism; be simple and natural for everyone.
A poor family cannot afford
a simple ritual in Ladakh, its so demanding and taxing. Religion is
a way of life to liberate ourselves from all the sufferings. I have
observed and experienced the unhealthy practice of religion; can make
you suffer more instead of liberation. With every death a Buddhist family
in Ladakh becomes financial and of course emotionally poorer. The untimely
death of my parents and brother has shattered our family's economy,
happiness and integrity. The death was like a Tsunami that washed away
everything we have planted and nurtured for ages. We have almost given
or offered everything in the "Bulwa" (an unhealthy rituals
of offering clothes, furniture, animals, money, carpets, wool almost
everything expect another person's) traditionally Ladakhi Buddhist believes
it helps in the dead person's liberation. It means the richer you are
better the chances you have for the liberation. If this is true; than
why Siddhartha Gautama left his kingdom in search of salvation.
My mother was a very simple
and spiritually inclined woman. I have never seen her conditioned to
luxuries in fact we were poor enough to afford any luxurious but with
her death we have offered precious carpets, silver cups, silk clothes,
number of Gonchas, nambu etc. I know she was a very caring and loving
mother, even if it helps her after the death she can never be happy
because she was always concerned for others than herself. How a mother
can be happy? With her death all her things were blown away from our
house by the cruel "Bulwa". It's difficult to control the
tears rolling down from my eyes. The Bulwa scene is so vivid in my mind,
I was a small child but big enough to see and feel the ugliness of such
practices. I don't believe in such practice. I must make a request to
my family and friends not to offer even a single hanky when I'll die;
let me go to hell... We must abandon such unhealthy, inhumane and sick
rituals in the name of religion. With time we need to transform our
rituals in order to make it more compassionate, humane and peaceful.
The causes for the evolution
and practice of such rituals can be many but one of the significant
reasons I believe is the inaccessibility of the Gompas in Ladakh. I
think the Gompa must be located in the heart of the village not on the
hills. Like Masjid if the Gompas are there in the heart of the village,
old people can easily go there and pray, children can go there and pray
and youth can go there and pray. People can discuss with the monk, know
about the religion and practice with deeper understanding. The monk
who wants to practice meditation can go to the hills and practice there
without any disturbances. The Gompa can be the heart of the village
excellence which will connects everyone with compassion, truth and nonviolence.
I have seen such thing happening in other places where religious places
are located in the heart of the community. Health is not mere absence
of diseases. According to WHO health is defines as physical, mental,
social and spiritual well being of the person. Keeping this into consideration
we must build the Gompas in the heart of the village in order to build
a healthier, happier, compassionate and peaceful Ladakh.
To practice Buddhism in Buddha's
way
[email protected]
|