Flex Mentallo

Bodhisattva Prayer for Humanity May I be a guard for those who need protection A guide for those on the path A boat, a raft, a bridge for those who wish to cross the flood May I be a lamp in the darkness A resting place for the weary A healing medicine for all who are sick A vase of plenty, a tree of miracles And for the boundless multitudes of living beings May I bring sustenance and awakening Enduring like the earth and sky Until all beings are freed from sorrow And all are awakened. - Shantideva, Indian Buddhist sage 700 A.D. Prayer performed each morning by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Merry Christmas, everyone!

May all beings be peaceful. May all beings be happy. May all beings be safe. May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature. May all beings be free.

Of course, the reason Bhutan is so sparsely populated is because it is full of mountains. Gangkhar Puensum ("White Peak of the Three Spiritual Brothers"), on the northern border with Tibet, is reckoned the highest unclimbed mountain in the world. Until recent years, maps of the region were not at all accurate and the mountain was shown in different locations and with markedly different heights. Indeed, because of inadequate mapping, the first team to attempt the summit was unable to find the mountain at all!

In 2011, The UN General Assembly passed a Resolution "Happiness: towards a holistic approach to development" urging member nations to follow the example of Bhutan and measure happiness and well-being and calling happiness a "fundamental human goal". Of course, the UN is now fast running out of money, so thank goodness happiness cant be bought.

During an interview by a British journalist for the Financial Times at Bombay airport in 1972 the then king of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, said "Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product."

The flags do not carry prayers to gods, which is a common misconception; rather, the Tibetans believe the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread the good will and compassion into all pervading space.

Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom.

The surrounding slopes are covered in prayer flags.

By a long-standing agreement, Indian and Bhutanese citizens may travel to each other's countries without the need for a passport or visa but only their national identity cards. Because of this, border checkpoints are sufficiently lax to allow foreigners access without an entry permit up to the first inland checkpoint a few miles beyond the border town which is called Jaigaon/ Phuentsholing depending on which side of the wall that divides it you are standing. The contrast between the crowded Jaigaon and the sedate Phuentsholing could not be more stark. So we piled into a car, crossed the border, and had lunch some way beyond Phuentsholing at a Buddhist Temple!

Dooars is so-named because it literally means 'doors' - the doors to Bhutan. In contrast to its southern neighbour, Bhutan is one of the least populated countries in South Asia.

Gross national happiness

Murderer!

Reminds me that #37 and #38 were the first two Planets I ever got.

This is another issue not represented in the Church run. Beautiful reptile cover.

It helps to be flexible