In 1973, an Indian Christian evangelist - I don’t know what else to call him – a shop owner based in the border town of Jaigaon, attempted to convert me into the Christian faith. The poor blighter had no idea that he had taken on the original dyed-in-the-wool atheist!!! 😛
At the end of close to an hour of futile attempt, he was ready to give up – but not before delivering the following totally un-Christian exit line:
“Either you are a very rich young man and you have no need for God in your life or, you are so bloody poor that you have lost faith in Him.”
What a bigoted view – so darn typical of an uneducated religious fanatic!
More than half a century later, an evolved and learned friend from USA made an observation about me – on the morning of 7th February, 2026 - quoted verbatim as follows:
“I think you are the most religious-minded person in Bhutan — and you hate religion!”
Kuche wai, please, I do not hate religion --- I actually love it for all the good things it teaches us. Here I make no distinction …. I am speaking of every single religion practiced by every human society around the world. My sin – I have been reminded umpteen times that I am a sinful fellow - is that I choose to interpret and practice religion in vastly different ways from those of the do-gooders.
And, because I believe that the “Path” I walk is the right path, I am adamant that I have no need to take refuge in any Gods or Godesses … because only those who accept that they have taken the wrong path, has the need to seek refuge. It is for the same reason that I believe that I have no need to perform any acts of atonement ---- such as burning a thousand butter lamps, reading numerous volumes of scriptures or visiting a hundred holy sites in far-flung locations. My act of veneration to honor the enlightened beings who propagated many versions of the same brand of religion, is not by prostrating before them – but by walking the virtuous path advocated by them.
Sadly, it is my experience that not all those who practice religion are evolved beings – a large number of them are of the conviction that they can do no wrong in the practice of their religion. They forget that some of what was relevant centuries back are no longer so in the present times. They forget that a meaningful religion or culture is one that evolves with time – that which remains relevant in the times in which we live.
Religion is a powerful thing – but some have tended to harness its power for all the wrong reasons. To compound the problem even further, our religious protagonists – including our community leaders and government administrators – have proven to be equally ill-informed and irresponsible. They have failed to perform their duties and responsibilities – they have failed to provide much needed leadership and guidance. The consequence has been that our living spaces and the natural world has come under increasing abuse. To a large extent, the unmindful practice of religion has been responsible for some of the environmental degradation that we are seeing all around us.
And we in Bhutan pride ourselves as a nation at the forefront of environmental conservation - a carbon negative nation - a GNH country proudly proclaiming to be steeped in a culture of mindful behavior and healthy living.
It is in this context that my accidental visit to the VAST Bhutan, Thimphu few days back was heartwarming. I am hugely encouraged by their ongoing “Lungta Art Festival 2026” ….. and the powerful message that they are attempting to convey to the Bhutanese people. It is my hope that it will provide an awakening that we so sorely need - to the perils associated with unmindful and inappropriate materials used in the production and unfurling of the much touted Loongtah - prayer flags printed and hoisted in the holiest of holy places and pristine locations.
VAST Bhutan's aspirations and message to the Bhutanese people.
The world community looks at Bhutan with unabashed admiration at our unrelenting stewardship of the environment. Let us keep it that way – let us be responsible in the practice of our religion.
