A 15th CENTURY MISSILE FROM TIBET

About 700 years ago, even before any scientists made missiles, a lone arrow missile thousand of kilometers from Yamdok to Toebisa, and strangely not for war but to find His destined consort. Simply unbelievable!! Here's a brief story you won't want to go to Chandana without hearing it.

The ladder is enclosed in the glass frame for all to see

Toeb Chan­dana is a vil­lage at the foot of a mountain opposite Thinleygang temple, near the ravine which bears Toebi Rongchhu river. The prophecy of Lama Drukpa Kuen­ley's arrival begins from the ancestral house (in picture) in which the eleven step wooden ladder upon which the arrow hit is enshrined.

A feeder road begins down the highway from near Thinleygang market with a sharp descent, passes by Thinleygang Monastry below the road, and cruises through the Artemesia forest and natural jigsaw jungle. A feeder road to Toeb Chan­dana vil­lage begins in an abrupt de­scent right below the high­way. It's a 3.5 kilometer narrow drive you won't regret.

When Lama Kuenley was in Nangkatse in the province of Yam­drok, Tibet, Palden Lhamo, his principal deity ap­peared in a dream holding a flaming sword and told Lama to shoot an arrow southward at dawn with as aspiration to benefit Buddhadharma and follow it in due course. as a har­bringer.

The arrow had rocketed through the Tibetan skies, over the Himalayas, pierced the sky, and even cut the hilltop over Thinleygang as it dropped towards the house. I am sure the arrow bard must have been burning in a ball of fire and thundered through the skies on that day. The arrow is said to have hit on the destined ladder in the house. It must have rumbled and shaken the house of the wealthy man, Toeb Tshewang, and his wife, Palzang Buthri. Pelzang Buthri is also named Rig­den Norbu Dzomma.

House where the arrow hit

On his arrival to the house in due course of time, Lama Drukpa Kuenley who appeared at the house like a beggar hunter courted Pelzang Buthri which enraged Toeb Tshewang. I am sure the man must have loved his pretty wife so much and was enraged to find the beggar like monk making advances, even proclaiming that the arrow was shot from Tibet by him.

It must be unbelievable!

In a fit of jealousy, Toeb Tshewang at­tacked the Lam Drukpa Kuenley with his sword. The Lama caught the sword and folded it into a knot, demonstrating his magical prowess. Toeb Tshe­wang re­al­ized that the beggar was an extraor­di­nary being and asked for forgiveness for his envy and anger.

The Toeb surrendered Pelzang Buthri to the Lam to fulfil Lama's spir­i­tual prophecy.

Since then the vil­lage was named to Chhan­ Dana – The place where the arrow was shot. This was the beginning of Lam Drukpa Kunleg's legends often referred as 'crazy wisdom' activities.

Lam Ngawang Ten­zin was born to Lam and Khandro Pelzang Buthri. The illustrious Lam Tse­wang Ten­zin and Gyalsey Ten­zin Rab­gye were their descendants.

The folded sword and the arrow are said to be enshrined as the primary relic inside Tango Jowo statue. Some say relics are in the Buddha statue of the modern age. This is a reason why the Jowo statue and the sanctum are said to be wish-fulfilling objects of devotion at Tango.

The ladder is waiting for all of us to see. The mark of the arrow is still vis­i­bly etched as if indicating that as long as it lasts, Buddhism in Bhutan is never going to wane.

The steps remind me that each of us has our own spiritual journey to realize the ten Bhumis, starting off from the one we live in ignorance.

I pray that we shall all shoot our own arrows of will and devotion to find refuge in the ladder of our karma and progress through the steps to eternal freedom. And even as a layperson, may each of us serve to fulfill the visions of our kings, government and people, paces by paces, ensuring that every arrow of our intent and action make the mark to make our own history.

( I Thank Thinleygang Lam for escorting me to the place I dreamt of making my presence. Note that picture of sword and ladder were shared in comments by others.)