Shingkhar: The Tale of the Wish-Fulfilling Buddha Statue

This is a Wish-fulfilling Buddha
Statue at Shingkhar. 
Photo credit: Lekden Wangchuk.
Since this is a sacred statue, please treat
it with respect. 

Our discipline master (Kudrung) said, “Please tell us about the upper floor of this monastery.” The monastic guide or caretaker, who was about to conclude, replied, “Oh! Actually, the upper floor has a wish-fulfilling statue of Buddha Shakyamuni; there is nothing else of significant importance. Trulku Chogdhen Gonpo sculpted three statues of the same size, representing the dharmakaya, Sambhogakaya, and nirmanakaya: Buddha, Vajrasattva, and Guru Padmasambhava. He gave the other two to Sumthrang and Gadhen, respectively. Since the food is served by housewives, it is said that they were taught some lines to offer food and tea to receive blessings.

Wish-fulfilling Guru
Statue of Gadhen
Source: Druk Gi Nye,
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“Although this statue has gained fame everywhere, the other two have not received as much attention. This is a statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, and I have no doubt about the blessings it will bestow upon every being. I doubt if there is another way to accumulate merits than offering to Buddha. But this is a special statue.

“You are devotees of a highly revered Lama, so I should not be saying these kinds of words. The blessings of a Buddha are definite, and monks are aware of this. I will share one wish-fulfilling story among many:

"There was a man from Paro who came here to collect taxes from the people under the command of Desi. During that time, our local folks told him to make a wish in front of the wish-fulfilling statue. He said he had a dream of becoming a Paro Poenlop and promised that if his wish were granted, the people of Shingkhar would be waived from paying taxes, and their monastery would receive a Sertog. The villagers became happy and prayed together in front of the statue.     After being appointed as the Poenlop, he called men from Shingkhar and treated them to sumptuous meals. As promised, he sent the Sertog and wrote an order to waive taxes until his resignation. It used to take at least 13 days to reach Paro from here, so the Poenlop kindly sent them back with enough food and drinks for their journey. We still have the old Sertog, though it is worn out now.

"During those days, when people had to go through tough times, our village enjoyed privileges due to this statue. People became more devoted, and it is not surprising that whoever dies from our village is reborn here.

“Since my childhood, I've hardly seen genuine Dharma practitioners in this village. You might see someone wearing a religious outfit, but they did all kinds of household chores, like plowing fields. It was never about achieving enlightenment, but when they die, if a father dies in that house, he is born somewhere here and starts to recollect his past: 'I have this many cattle—such is my mother’s name—such is my father's name,' and so on.

"Isn't it funny that while Rinpoches are often unable to recollect their past lives, here in our village, common people can do so?” he laughed again.

“Our present Tshogpa was a cow herder in his past life. By the time he started speaking, he recollected the number of cattle, recognized each of them, and walked all the old routes on his own. It is like a spontaneous birth.

“I found it hard to believe and had to ask the late Dasho Shingkhar Lama for an explanation. Genuine practitioners find it hard to reach their past places, yet here, even common people can clearly recollect their past lives. Lama told me about the sacredness of the statue and why we must seek refuge in it.

"That’s all. Some of you might have come from far places to Kharchu. Although I'm a layman, we’re Dharma friends. If you count, there will be very few who have not received transmission from Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche. We are vajra brothers!”

After applauding him, we dispersed.

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