Drawing My Family Tree

I decided to sacrifice a few Sundays to sit face-to-face with my father to discuss and list down on our family tree. It came into my mind a long time ago. But every time I have the mood, either my father is away, or I have some other work. This time I had the perfect coincidence –I had my father by my side and I was free. 

It was a tough battle to track down and put them into the correct order and sequence. Despite grueling hours of sitting with my father, unlearning and relearning past history, it was quite challenging to recall some names of some past generations who were lost long ago. Simply, few names couldn't be traced at all. We left it for some other occasions. I want to discuss the missing names and lineage with one of my cousins who has some ideas and background on one fine day. I also expect some other family members would definitely help us add and trace down a few missing names in future, as I would keep adding to the list.

 

Total Family Lineage of Dilumpa Rai [https://www.familyecho.com]

I felt sorry for my unschooled father to whom I had to quiz him like a criminal. I briefed him about my small work to sort out the relationship and draw some images of my great great grandfather. So that his grandchild and other future generations won’t have to suffer in identifying their past and bloodline, which is obviously going to become more complex and forgotten.

 

With all the information carefully arranged and drafted, I am sure this family timeline that I have drawn would someday be useful for all of us. Through this work of mine, I am sure that they would know the relation and order –who is who? And more importantly, when I grow old, I shall proudly recall and look back that I have done some outstanding work to plot a family tree. 

 

Embarking on a family tree assignment is exciting but equally tasking which requires good oral information and documents. Throughout the process, my father, whom I always consider a man rich in oral history, is the backbone in shaping this present form. 

I was sensitive and careful throughout the sitting with my father. If I wasn’t sure, I had redirected the questions and asked him again and again. I made sure the family tree is correct and precise. For missing names and sequence, I shall give more depth and color during some other time.

 

Concentrating on my great great grandfather line

Through this work, I could connect to many of my unknown cousins who live in different parts of the country –Gelephu and Daifarm. Dhansiri and Manaytar. Maley and Moaugang. I could find new ways to reconnect with them. It wasn't a waste of time and resources. My time and effort has created an indelible impression on my family members and perched an open link in the blood relation about the past, present and future generations.

As the discussion progressed, I knew which generation of my great-grandfather had exactly set foot in this land, the first ancestral lands and settlements. One point of our discussion was massively interesting but so critical, why my great-grandfather entered Bhutan and directly went to settle in the extreme corner of Tsirang, into the valley of Dodomchen. My great grandfather has settled into a virgin forest on the Burichu River bank. The place is rich in wild animals, fruits, vegetables and berries, fish and water. 

Why didn't they settle around Thimphu Valley, Paro Valley, Phuntsholing Valley and Gelephu valley? [Story in some other fine mood]

It could be probably, he was a crazy non-veg guy and into hunting. One thing was clear that most of my great-grandparents have never been to schooling. That was so sad. Although few had their non-formal education, they didn’t reach far in school. Most of them remain behind for farm work, herding animals and contributing labors. It was interesting to learn that most of the family members seem active and progressive since each line has at least five, or six children. It was evident even from the present generation that each branch has a minimum of five grandchildren. It was as high as eleven children. But, coming to the present generation, the clock has reversed and I am worried someday some line will become extinct. 

 

Link to my grandfather line

I was crystal clear on three critical branches in our family lineage. First the link between Hasta Dal Rai, Jantaray link [missing proper name] and Chakra Dhoj Rai. I came to know how we are different now. Second, I came to know the real father of my great-grandfather "Deekpal Rai" and his brother "Prethi Dhoj Rai" and his bloodline. Third, I came to know how "Bhopal Rai" and "Purna Bdr Rai" are related as first cousins. They all are the surviving first cousins whom we considered as very close.  

This family tree will serve as the soft tool to remind us and pave the way forward. I couldn’t include all the names of the grandchildren and others as it was overly populated and more. Someday, I would make a point to detail it out and share with some important family members.

 

This will remain and occupy a special place in my heart and hopefully to other family members and my kids. I want to frame it and put it on the wall. My kids must know their roots and bloodline.

 

The Future of Ronald Koeman

Seven continents apart, one year ago, on this day I predicted the future of Ronald Koeman. 

After Suarez's departure, Messi ruined the club. This is the power of how important Suarez was to the club and Messi. The club he worked for the past 21 years is now in ruins. 

The club board has made a wrong decision. It shouldn't have happened that way. Although the idea behind releasing Suarez was to build a new team in the shadow of Messi, their plan had gone wrong. Koeman should have known that Barcelona wasn't only on the shoulder of Messi alone. Although Messi played a critical role for the club, but Suarez was equally important and critical for the Barca fans. He should have relieved him of his will. 

FC Barcelona is undergoing a hard time, but I am sure the club will get back to their toe slowly after the Messi Factor fades over Camp Nau arena. It will take time. But Barcelona and fans have to survive and move on. 

Although I am not a Barcelona fan, I have been an avid fan of Leo Messi for the past many years. One of the greatest players I have ever seen in the modern Football game after Kelvin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva. These are the players I always look up to when I watch the game of Football.

If there is one leg I cherish in my life, which is Leo Messi's Left Leg. The God gift one!

Book Review: What Makes You NOT a Buddhist

Surprised by the facts written in the book, I was thoroughly moved by the analogy, story, reflection and insight. The book for everyone who wishes that life is merely empty –exist, or doesn’t exist.  

This book has far more reaching views of one inner self, peace, vegetarianism, meditation, maroon robes and shaved head. The views written in the book don't mean to differentiate between different religions –people, race and background. It means to say that everyone is exactly the same no matter where one lives, eats, does, and preaches. Everything under the sun is absolutely the same and experiences the same cause and condition, no matter how small, or big are the size. 

 

I liked the concept and logic shared to explain the difference between the beautiful and ugly –the concept of beauty and ugly however is very phenomenal and unique and very significant, but both are all the same in different eyes. The idea of Heaven and Hell is very much similar and resounding to what I have been thinking for long. My logic of these two unknown and overly complex entirety is very same although I do not have any right and expertise, but my idea and thinking to what book laid down was similar –once while spending a time with my students, the topic of Heaven and Hell came out of nowhere and while throwing my views on these, I told them because of certain cause and conditions, if one become happy, that moment is a Heaven state. To make them understand Hell, I gave an example of an Earthworm. As I explained to them, I told them that as long as the Earthworm is inside the earth, or in its nest, it experiences the Heaven state but the time it comes out of its nest and has to experience certain unexpected causes and conditions, it will be in the state of Hell. Simply putting them in the fire, or putting them in the water, it experiences a state different to the nest and that is a seemingly Hell state for it. 

 

However, the law of emptiness stated was very much real but needs a lot of imagination and thinking and reflection. It was also a great lesson to learn on having a satisfactory, peaceful and free lifestyle. Perhaps, the ideas of impermanence were vast but interesting and useful. Similarly the book also has great lessons on ways for a happy and beautiful life. Through the path taken by Siddhartha, there always lies a hope and goodness of life. The positive and negative are absolutely the same in Buddhist philosophy was another pile of ideas I had while reading the book.

 

One of the interesting topics I came across was –Heaven: The Ultimate Vacation, a beautiful Buddhist narration shared on the topic was something extraordinary. As I read through the lines and paragraphs, it gave me a nostalgic feeling about the poem I read a decade ago in English Class. Death: The Leveler –The power, social status, wealth and intellect becomes nothing as one heads to the final state of life. However, the goodness and virtuousness of people will be honored even after death. The bagger is exactly the same as the most decorated and wealthy man when death toll the final breath. Therefore, multiplying good deeds when one has time and energy is a must for everyone. Knowing all these impermanence, why Gautama Buddha abandoned his Royal Fortune and Status had shunned me and kept me glued to the very last lines. However, the Author of the Book doesn't mean to highlight the need to follow the Buddha path nor one has to become Buddhist; it simply means what makes a good human being while one has taken a human form on this Earth.  

 

Reading this book gave me a lot of lessons. It was eye opening for many invisible and untaught lessons at school. Perhaps, bigger and more useful to life than what I have learnt in school. Understanding of life and the concept of impermanence and every compounded thing are bound to die are something to ponder upon seriously.  

 

Overall, the book gave a lot of valuable lessons. So there is no need to be different from others to be a Buddha, or Buddhist. One's good action is a Buddha path. Whether one lives in California, Sahara, Paris, Amsterdam, Beirut, Cape Town, Oymyakon, practicing Buddhism is absolutely free that doesn't require books, or text, or background. Anyone. Anywhere. Anytime can practice Buddhism and lead the way for a peaceful self, community and country.  

 

Let me share you this line –if what makes you NOT a Buddhist is a doubt, what makes you a Buddhist is a far cry.