A Living Bodhisattva

 The Fourth Druk Gyalpo-The Bodhisattva and the Selfless King

Bodhisattva

•       In Mahayana Buddhism, a Bodhisattva is a compassionate being who is training on the path to Buddhahood and aspires to eliminate the suffering of all beings and take all sentient beings to the state of enlightenment.

•       A person who seeks enlightenment for the sake of others.

Gross National Happiness

ü  His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, “Development with values ……fundamental values of kindness, equality and humanity and the necessary pursuit of economic growth”

ü  It is a new framework for Bhutan’s development program that takes into account not only the factors influencing human well-being but also economic growth.

The Great Fourth as Selfless Leader out of GNH-

Under Fourth King’s leadership;

•       Economic prosperity is done without compromising the contentment and happiness of people which includes political stability, social harmony and Bhutanese culture and way of life.

•       The Druk Gyalpo embedded and promoted humans’ harmonious co-existence with nature since the importance of environmental preservation is also inherited from Buddhist values.

•       The home-grown diverse cultural values were protected & promoted with changing times

•       His Majesty preached the importance of balancing materialistic and spiritual way of life

•       His Majesty’s vision to have balanced approach- the ‘middle path’ in all policies without compromising  elements of our uniqueness and identity, beliefs and values

•       His Majesty has emphasized the need to take into account the spiritual well-being of people while formulating national goals and policies

Decentralization

Decentralization is the political paradigm of involving the people at the grass roots level in the planning and implementation of the development activities.

•       To involve peoples participation in socio-economic process

•       To articulate local needs and grievances

•       To develop the political consciousness among the people

Political initiatives/ Decentralized initiatives

•       2002-2007-  The GYT is empowered to plan and implement the development programs

•       2002-the GYT Chathirm was consolidated further empowering the local authorities

•       September-December 2002-Nation wide selection of Gups to elect a good and capable leader

The Fourth King as Selfless Leader through Decentralization Process

• Believed in power of majority than singularity
• Ensured a platform to raise their voices for their betterment 
• Involved people to plan and execute socio-economic development projects
• Freedom of expression was granted 
• Ensured harmony in the community
• Empowered people for check and balance 

Drafting of the constitution

Bodhisattva through constitution gift

·         His Majesty’s proclamation to draft the constitution was neither domestic demand nor external pressure

·         The drafting committee was established representing various sectors and regions of the country even including clergy members

·         Intensive consultations were done inviting all Bhutanese from all regions regardless of caste, creed, religion and socio-economic status

·         The Constitution has incorporated the UN Covenant of Civil and Political Rights

·         His Majesty even commanded to have a provision for the monarchical institution

Article 2, section 3, 6 and 20 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan states that upon reaching the age of sixty-five years, the Druk Gyalpo shall step down and hand over the Throne to the Crown Prince or Crown Princess, provided the Royal Heir has come of age

·         People have timeless faith in the rule of King. So, King has the choice to be on the throne

Selfless Leadership of 2003: A Bodhisattva in War  

 

•       People and Country’s security is given more importance than His Majesty’s life threatening situation

•       The dangerous and risky mission of negotiations was done by visiting each and every camp and talking to their leaders was led by His majesty. 

•       His Majesty himself led the troops to battle to remove the militants from our country which was the ultimate self-sacrifice

•       His Majesty the King commanded that there would be no celebrations, instead we must pray for the lives lost from both sides in the battlefield.

•       The goal was not glory or defeat of enemies, but national security, and at every instance, the thought of lives being lost weighed heavily on the King, a living Bodhisattva

•       HM personally attended the funeral rites of the deceased and granted cash compensation and comforted the bereaved family members thus signifying the noble and touching gestures of compassion and kindness

•       Bhutan expressed the sentiments in prayers and with butter lamps

•      The endless peaceful negotiations for years by even offering the cash incentives to avoid violence and inhuman act 

•      The minimal casualties from both sides proves a heavenly planning and execution 

•      The national mourning for casualties in war by offering butter lamps and prayers for both sides commanded by King 

Those were noble and touching gestures of compassion and kindness which will be only inherited by Bodhisattvas 

Abdication Decree-The Beginning of New History-9^th December 20006

ü  A living God that the history can ever remember who sacrifices for new king with new hope without any internal and external pressure.

ü  Far-sighted visionary, a benefactor of his people who has abdicate the throne the throne while having the highest fame, glory and power with outmost rust by people.

ü  Abdicated for interest of the nation and people

ü  His Majesty has gifted a safe, secure and happy future

Institution of Democracy - Buddhist Democracy/Democratization by decree

ü  Democracy in Bhutan is the gift to his people

ü  There was no demand for democracy from the citizenry

ü  The country was stable and prospering, facing no immediate political threat both from the domestic and the international realm.

ü  The reversal of power offered in 1907