I have originally planned to go into a strict retreat for one year, but I have not been able to do so because of some unexpected circumstances, especially I want to be around my parents, as they are getting old and their general health is not stable. I am having a good time with my parents and I try my best to take care of them, but I am sure I am not doing even ten percent of what they have done for me. To me, my mother is not an ordinary mother, she is always encouraging me to engage myself in genuine spirituality and forget about the eight worldly dharmas. She herself is constantly reciting mantra and taking care of my father. As you all know, my father is suffering from some sort of back pain. For all his life, he has been such an active and lively person, this kind of health problems really discourages him a lot. So as a son, I have the duty to take care of my parents' health and make sure that they are always happy. As they are such loving parents for me, I am having a great time with them and I really value every moment I have with them.

I wasn't thinking of blogging these days because I found out that many of my friends and students are very attached to punching on the keyboard. Well, as this is one of the means to communicate and I have also been receiving hundreds of emails, directly and indirectly, from everyone who cares about me, they want to know what I am doing, whether I am okay, that sort of things. Since I have a bit of free time, I just put here whatever comes to my mind.

The nuns here are doing very well, behaving so nicely and fulfilling the wishes of everybody, by doing the practice and by doing perfect deeds. We all are very fine. All of you, who are readers of my blog, I think I will be able to see you soon either here on Druk Amitabha Mountain or somewhere else in this samsara. Definitely I am looking forward to arranging a few meetings up here in the mountain. I hope you all will be able to spare a bit of time with my nuns and monks here, join in the pooja and keep yourself free and happy. You all must have good memories from previous time. I think we should all not have a long gap to meet each other.

I have been teaching Ngondro very precisely to a few Rinpoches, nuns and monks. After the teaching of Ngondro, I will be giving higher tantric teachings to nuns from different nunneries and monks from different monasteries. Now there is a short gap for me, I can call this "a time to rest". Resting is actually very much up to my own mind, I believe in that. Since I have that kind of belief, I don’t really grab that kind of gap, I think I am always resting. Do pray for me to have that kind of rest.

I also want to congratulate those who have been participating in "Live to Love" activities every 3rd Sunday or whenever the opportunities arise. I have been reading about your activities and I am touched by your efforts. I know, "Live to Love" is easier said than done, but you never know your own potentials and ability until you try. I am sure that helping others bring much joy and happiness.

I read in the news that there are problems everywhere right now in this world. Shortages in food, water, good and fresh air, etc. I think whatever we have invented to make our lives better have actually ended up being the causes of our miseries. Lord Buddha and our great masters are so wise to tell us that we have to be mindful of all our activities, our speech, our thoughts, etc. We may not be able to be the heroes to bring peace to this world, but we can try to bring some peace, love, kindness and joy to those around us. Try not to make people angry, try not to say harsh words and try to mind our own business. Many of the problems and conflicts are result of nosiness and created out of self-concerns. There is no point practising in a temple, a monastery or a centre and there is no point meditating, if that doesn't change and improve your attitude towards others and your relationship with them. I find it sometimes very annoying when people tell me, "I am always behaving nicely in front of you." But most people only get to see me not more than 10 minutes in a year or in years, does this mean that only in these short moments when you see me that you are kind and nice, otherwise you are not. I find it difficult to understand this kind of logic or illogic.

I know some of you really want to be informed of all my movements. But this is not the reason why I am writing here. I do appreciate many of you who feel that whatever I say here means something to you, that is to say that it would perhaps give you some sort of encouragement in your life, in your busy and stressful life. I am happy that I am able to share these little things with you all, my friends and students, because a common being like me cannot do much to change this world and cannot even help our lineage a lot. Someone wrote to one of my organisations saying that "Your lineage is dying, even the Gyalwang Drukpa says so" and he said many other things that made so many of my people very upset. But I agree with him. We can ask ourselves, "Who is going to live forever in this world?" Not only our lineage is dying, the entire spirituality is dying, that's why there is so much suffering. That's why I said in my previous messages that those of us who are still alive, we should try our best to keep the lineage alive, not for our own sake. I have never in one moment of my life think about protecting and guarding the lineage for my own sake or for myself. Selfishly speaking, I could have lived a far better life without having to carry this 800-plus-year-old responsibility. But as I mentioned again and again, without lineage, there is no blessing and I really feel very sorry for our great forefathers who have worked so hard to keep this legacy for us. Yet, we don't appreciate and some people even feel that I am being political. Isn't it amazing to see how our perceptions trick ourselves to believe that illusions are the ultimate truth?

Well, I have no photos to show you this time, and I apologise for my broken English.

I want to thank Jigme Kunsang Senge and Jigme Tobden for working hard for our websites and everyone else who is working so hard for the Annual Drukpa Council, especially Khamtrul Rinpoche Jigme Pema Nyinjadh and his team in Bhutan. Of course, we should all thank Gavin in UK for helping us to put the news on "Live to Love" website and for starting the Wiki for Drukpa. For those of you who want to help to build our own information base, you are welcome to help.

When I have a short break next time, I will write again.