The Gyalwang Drukpa

It was almost like ages ago that I last visited Taiwan. I want to thank Jigme Namdag and his friend for taking me around for a short holiday so that I could familiarise myself again with Taiwan and its people before showing myself in the public. I didn't have any sort of pleasant or unpleasant expectation, but I knew that Jean or Jigme Pema Dekyid, a new refuge name that I have given her this time and that I hope she will be using all the time, and Evelyn Lee, my very old friend, have been working very hard to make sure that this visit to Taiwan would be successful.

Lama Sonam of course was working like nobody's business to get the new temple for our lineage in Chia Yi ready for me to inaugurate. So because of their hard work and efforts everything went smoothly. In fact, I was very happy and surprised to see many new faces at the welcoming dinner and 2-day retreat, there were only a handful of old friends and students who went for the retreat but instead most went to Chia Yi temple opening. Maybe my new style is not too appealing to the old followers, but more attractive to the few hundred new people. Any how I thought they could have done better.

Because the hard work and sincerity of this handful of people and as I definitely had a much more encouraging feeling about the prospect of our lineage in Taiwan, I have promised to visit Taiwan again next year in September, when the 800 years of legacy will be celebrated in a big way. I think I should give them one more chance and I believe this time they will be able to do very well, not only a few thousand people like this recent visit, but tens of thousands of people will join together.