The story of a local hero – the Bodhisattva Gomchen

No long ago, in a remote village of Khoyar in eastern Bhutan there lived an old Gomchen (lay Buddhist practitioner) popularly known as “Phajo” because he led all the religious functions and the funeral rites. In particular, no funeral ritual would take place without him presiding over. There were two reasons for this: firstly, no other Gomchens were qualified to execute the job; secondly, the Gomchens refused to take up this specific task as it was believed to burden them in their present lives as well as after death. But Phajo was a brave heart and a compassionate person owing to which he wholeheartedly shouldered multiple responsibilities for the good of the society. He was also the local astrologer (Tsip) and to top it, he was conferred the head teacher (Tshowa Lopen) title by a high lama from Wamrong since he was supposedly the most learned, the most experienced and the senior most in the remote region. As such, the highest seat was always reserved for him during religious and spiritual activities irrespective of whether it was a minor ritual or a major ceremony. He was a very highly respected figure not only in his own society but in the whole region. In fact, he was the most important person in the whole region.

Indeed, time was such that no one person was wanted more than him. He was the most sought after man in this part of the world and that made him the busiest man too. People sought him in good times and bad but mostly during sickness and death. He did not have any time for himself and his family because all his time was dedicated to the local communities. He hardly had any time to eat or sleep or idle away at his home sweet home. Indeed, it was his way of life whether he liked it or not. He had no choice but given his compassionate nature he loved his job. Anytime of the day, anybody could just knock on his door or show up in the field or follow him to the meadows or mountains to get his religious and spiritual services. Sometimes, people woke him up in the middle of the night or before dawn for want of his crucial services. Normally people would visit him at such odd hours with emergency cases like someone is suddenly ill, dying or dead. But there are no sufferings that he has not seen or attended to in his life and there is not a single household wherein he has not serviced. He knew it best and people knew him well. The best thing about him was that these things never bothered or irritated him. Instead, he welcomed his clients at any time and any place without the slightest disregard. He was such a cool person and maintained his coolness throughout. And he hadn’t the concept of thinking or saying “no” to anyone. He would never refuse anyone the help required especially concerning the religious, spiritual and ritualistic matters in which he was a master.

Indeed, he was so kind hearted that he would say “yes” instantly without the slightest hesitation. Normally, he would first check the astrological calendar of the sick person to find the causes and of course the possible remedies or solutions. He would then gather his essential stuffs and take off to the sick person’s place escorted by the client. If he was up to something personal he would leave it then and there and head for the public service. In case he was already engaged with some clients he would finish the task at hand and then attend to the requests later. Sometimes, two or more people from different villages would be there for him at the same time. During such times he would use his experience and skills to work out the best possible ways to answer all their requests and not to disregard any one of it. Basically, he would consider the convenience of the clients and most particularly the seriousness and urgency of the matters. For instance, he would choose to attend to the most critical patient first and then the next in line. Another good thing about him was that he never chose between rich and poor, neither between his own people and people from other villages, nor between good and bad people. In his opinion, everyone who came to him for help was same because all of them were suffering. And he believed that it was his sacred duty to serve them to his best of abilities as his forefathers had done so. Another good thing about him was that he offered his services for almost free. In fact, he would not bother about payment especially from the poor lot. He wouldn’t either take payment from rich except when the hosts force him to take little something on the basis of gaining merit for the giver.

Day and night he would be running from one house to another, one village to another, performing one ritual or more, tirelessly. The services he offered varied from client to client depending on the needs. Sometimes, he would be called to perform annual religious ceremonies for celebrations while at other times it would be for the sicknesses and deaths. He would perform almost all kinds of rituals ranging from brief recitation of tantric mantras to very long rituals and ceremonies with elaborate decorations and offerings. Some rituals would last for many days and many nights. Normally during bigger and longer rituals he would be accompanied by a team of lay monks. Occasionally, he would perform specific rituals exclusively late at night assisted by a few followers or none at all. The late night rituals are normally executed when suggested by the horoscopic readings based on the patient’s birth signs. It involves cooking flour into dough and molding it into shapes of deities or demons and then recitation of specific sutras and making certain offerings. The purpose of these powerful rituals is mainly to drive away the evil spirits or to counter the negative forces that cause the sicknesses or diseases. At times, he would perform two or three such rituals for different clients in different places which left him with no time to sleep or rest. At the end of the ritual, he would just spell out his signature line “Don’t worry, you will be alright. Pray to the triple gem and recite mantra,” as always. Surprisingly, he maintained his reputation of having his clients recovered after the "Bokpi Phansa” or “Binang Phansa” rituals. Of course, some might have survived while some made remarkable recoveries but whatever may be the case, he was all people had as their immediate hopes. For some reason, it was believed that the people’s power of faith and devotion placed on him and his wholesome goodwill and commitment resulted in magical recoveries more than the rituals. 

With the passage of time, he grew older but he still carried on his noble duties as best as he could. At close to 80 years or so he became terribly ill. His family tried to persuade him to be taken to a good hospital but he refused saying that he wanted to die at home. But the village folks wouldn’t leave him at peace even at such a hard time. He still had to continue performing the religious activities especially the funerary rites despite his poor health. People would carry him on their backs and put him on the seat to initiate and conduct the ceremonies and funeral proceedings. He would silently and secretly bear the unbearable pain inside him. He would just close his eyes and doze off for some time only to spring back to full consciousness and be on the same page as others, surprisingly. When the agony of pain gripped him he would curl down on his seat and stay still until the pain subsided. Sometimes, he would just close his eyes and mediate. He was suffering terribly but he made it look like nothing mattered to him. Perhaps, it didn’t matter to him at all. After completion of the funerary services he would be carried back to his home to rest but not for long as others would soon come and pick him up for some other service.    

Eventually, his folks forcefully took him to Samdrup Jongkhar hospital but there was no sign of recovery. Later he was referred to Mongar Referral hospital where he succumbed to death. It was said that he gave up his breath upon the advice of his blood son Daw Penjor and his disciple who was with him. His children and grand children came together from far off places to pay their deepest respects and gave him a much deserved and befitting cremation in Rangjuing. Back in the village, the people still hoped for his return not knowing that he was no more. 

Eventually when the news reached his village the hopes of many people were shattered.  It broke their hearts. What would the people do now that their Phajo was gone? Who do they turn to when in times of trouble? They realized more than ever that their Phajo was everything to them and his loss was irreplaceable. He was not a doctor but more than a doctor. He was not a shaman but more than a shaman. He was not a lama but more than a lama. He was simply a Gomchen – lay practitioner but a symbol of loving kindness, a true Boddhisattva Gomchen. He was their true local hero.