Watch Documentry on Bhutan.....comment share & follow my channel
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00The last Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas.
00:07Bhutan is best known as the small, happy country at the top of the world.
00:15Lesser known is the unexplored south of the country,
00:19with its subtropical climate, dense jungle, and unique biodiversity.
00:25Amidst the pristine nature, a strong sense of community has been preserved as well.
00:34To discover the essence of life in Bhutan,
00:37we journey to places where no camera crew has ever been,
00:41where communities are intact, and people help each other in times of need.
00:47From the extended family to the neighborhood,
00:50people work together here, especially when it comes to saving animals.
00:56Bhutan thrives on people supporting each other.
01:00In subtropical southern Bhutan, 35-year-old Sonam Noorzen practices Buddhism through his work.
01:23I have been working for the Jangsa Animal Rescue Association for over 18 years.
01:38We rely on donations.
01:42It's established to preserve our precious spiritual heritage
01:47by promoting the culture of bodhichitta through saving animals' lives,
01:52so as a living tradition of our Buddhist kingdom, Dharma kingdom.
02:03Let's give it a good clean.
02:05So everything's ready when the new fish arrive.
02:07Do you have the oxygen bottle?
02:12Yes. How many fish are coming today?
02:14About 100 kilograms.
02:17From the fish farm.
02:27I see so much suffering in my line of work.
02:30Animals feel pain, but they can't tell us because they don't speak our language.
02:35We have to understand that.
02:37Only then can we empathize with all living beings.
02:40That's our responsibility.
02:42But when Sonam and his volunteers arrive at the farm, they are in for a nasty surprise.
03:03All that's left of the fish pond is a large puddle.
03:08It normally doesn't matter if the fish are alive when they're sold, so the farmers drained the water as usual.
03:28Here is the water, as usual.
03:32Let's go, buddy.
03:33Why don't you help us?
03:34Why don't you help us?
03:35Let's go, let's go.
03:37It's a good thing.
03:38Let's go.
03:39Please come.
03:40Please come.
03:41Please come.
03:43Here you help us.
03:44Today is the water.
03:47Let's go!
03:48How are you doing?
03:50What are you doing?
03:51Good.
03:52I'm doing this.
03:53Be careful.
04:04We have to catch them quickly and give them oxygen.
04:08If we don't hurry, they'll die.
04:10We don't have time to weigh the fish now, so we made a deal with the fish farmer.
04:27380 euros for about 2,000 fish.
04:40Sonam and his team painstakingly carry the 15-kilo sacks up the mountain.
04:50Instead of being slaughtered, the fish will now live in the monastery pond.
05:01Almost all the animals we look after have been tortured by humans.
05:06That's incredibly emotionally draining.
05:07I often wonder how people can be so brutal.
05:11It stirs anger and even hatred in me.
05:14Not giving in to these feelings is an important test of my faith.
05:32National parks cover more than half the country.
05:36And virgin forests are protected by law.
05:40Most people live as small farmers in the midst of this nature and share their habitat with wild animals.
05:48Hunting is prohibited.
05:49This little black bear lives near one of the few villages that still doesn't have electricity.
06:08Our village, Ridigong, is very remote.
06:12I run a small shop here.
06:14Living without electricity isn't easy.
06:26We've been promised electricity for so long, but it hasn't materialized yet.
06:31I have a small family with two children and a third on the way.
06:44I have a small family with two children and a third on the way.
06:45Often, we can't even make an emergency phone call because our phone batteries are empty.
06:58Charging with solar panels takes a long time and doesn't always work.
07:02Wild animals like bears and wild boar often come at night and eat our crops.
07:19And someone from the grid operator is supposed to come tomorrow.
07:35The electricity pylon has been here for so long.
07:38But it hasn't worked yet.
07:45I don't know when we'll get electricity, but when it happens, everything will be better.
07:49I'm praying for that.
07:50We're burning paraffin with this oil lamp.
08:04It's expensive, the light is weak, and we can't see well.
08:08The kids struggle to do their homework in the dark.
08:22The kids struggle to do their homework in the dark.
08:24Here you go.
08:35With electricity, we could buy a rice cooker.
08:41Or a fridge to make ice cream for the kids.
08:49Providing for the rural population is also important to 34-year-old dentist Tenzin,
08:55who has been on the road for two days.
09:01Watch out.
09:02How long does it take to get to Luntze?
09:07Normally around 10 hours.
09:11The roads are very bad because of all the rain.
09:14Yes, let's get going.
09:21Tenzin's journey to the remote east crosses the dense jungle of southern Bhutan.
09:26I founded Mountain Dentistry to help people in rural areas.
09:35Usually they have to travel a long way to the nearest hospital for dental treatment.
09:41So my idea was to bring my practice to the people.
09:43That way I can treat them locally, and also educate them about the need for regular dental hygiene.
09:53Today I'm traveling to a very remote area called Luntze.
09:58The people there usually have to travel for almost a week to get treatment.
10:02In that time nobody can look after the cattle or the fields,
10:08so they often don't go to the dentist at all.
10:10They don't go to the dentist.
10:11Oh dear, we really have to watch out.
10:38On the Road Service's Facebook page, there are warnings about falling rocks and landslides.
11:08It makes me happy to help the people there.
11:10We can't go any further.
11:15We've come to the first roadblock.
11:18There are cars waiting.
11:25It'll take a while.
11:38Rocks keep falling.
11:42Late at night, the road is finally cleared and Dentist Tenzin can continue.
11:49For many, faith plays a decisive role in overcoming the hardships of everyday life.
12:00I follow an ancient tradition of my ancestors.
12:09When our body hurts, we take a bath with hot stones.
12:15I have consulted my astrologer.
12:18Today is a particularly blessed day for this.
12:25I'll help you.
12:2780-year-old Dayma lives according to the alignment of the stars and the local deities.
12:37High in the mountains, we feel the divine everywhere.
12:40Every stone, every river is alive.
12:45We bring offerings to our deities and pray that they will protect us and not harm us.
12:55I put these medicinal herbs in the water and pray for my health.
13:18I hope it's not too hot.
13:26Careful.
13:48The stars are telling me to save the soul of an animal for my karma.
14:01I own nothing, but my children and grandchildren have some savings.
14:05Soon I will be able to put my plan into practice and practice tsetar,
14:11that is, save an animal from being slaughtered.
14:16Buddhists believe that animals could have been our parents in a previous life.
14:25I wish all people were vegetarian.
14:27Eating meat is wrong because we kill for it.
14:31We need to protect the animals around us and not harm them.
14:46In the Hindu villages of southern Bhutan, the connection with the afterlife is extremely important.
14:58People who are chosen ones are mainly responsible for this.
15:02It all started when I was 12 years old.
15:07I suddenly became very ill.
15:09It was so bad that I couldn't even go to school.
15:22Then I saw a man in my dreams who taught me different mantras.
15:26One night he called me to the jungle.
15:28I got up from my bed to follow him.
15:31When I woke up, I was actually in the jungle.
15:36My whole body was shaking and I performed my first ritual right there.
15:40I am probably the youngest shaman in the country, and one day I might be the last.
15:54Parents no longer want their children to become shamans.
15:57They want them to get an education.
15:59When I am not performing rituals, I am helping my parents in the fields or looking after the cattle.
16:09I am proud to be a shaman, even if many people today see it as a waste of time.
16:20It feels good to be able to help people.
16:23This is my calling.
16:29People usually come to me with joint pains, fever or nausea.
16:44I can tell which deities are afflicting them by counting the rice grains.
16:49But my rituals can only help with spiritual problems.
16:51And sometimes that's not the cause.
16:54Then I advise people to see a doctor at the hospital.
16:58If I talk, I'll throw up.
17:03If I talk, I'll throw up.
17:05I once fell victim to black magic and was possessed by a disease.
17:16Some shamans use black magic because they don't want others to become more powerful and therefore more in demand.
17:23There's money in the big rituals, so there's competition.
17:27At dinner with the family, Suresh learns that an important task awaits him.
17:34Did you know the person who died?
17:35Yes.
17:36Yes, she was a distant relative.
17:37Her family is from our village.
17:38What did she die of?
17:39What did she die of?
17:40Yes, she was a distant relative.
17:41Old age.
17:42Old age.
17:43Hmm.
17:44Hmm.
17:45Hmm.
17:46Hmm.
17:47Hmm.
17:48Hmm.
17:49The death ritual will be in a couple of weeks.
17:50She'll be cremated.
17:51Hmm.
17:52Hmm.
17:53Hmm.
17:54The death ritual will be in the time.
17:55Yes.
17:56Oh, a knife.
17:57Yep.
17:58I think I may bite.
17:59Oh, no.
18:00Hmm.
18:01Women need to have blood done.
18:02Evenwatching the men.
18:03Long time not to pray.
18:04Did you know the person who died?
18:05Yes.
18:06Oh, no.
18:07Hmm.
18:08It'll be toohold.
18:09All the latter thing.
18:10Have you mentioned theenchments to these pires?
18:11Well, I never did enough.
18:12Ah man, where is that, you've been interviewed?
18:13Well good my true people are all well.
18:14You've been looped inagen 귀여 pals.
18:15At the house, even though you're connected to this clinic, you haven't beenhh.
18:18Val NSK 125 question С when nuevo 사건 is gotten past,
18:19Although I already perform my own rituals as a shaman, I've never done the most important
18:32one, the death ritual. So it's also a test for me and shows my guru how far I've come.
18:48In the village without electricity, there's lots of excitement this morning.
19:18It looks like we might finally get electricity. I can see them working on the pylon now. This
19:27time it has to work.
19:29How do we spell electricity?
19:36When we have electricity, we can finally teach our kids how to use computers and work online.
19:51We've been trained in it, but it's all been in vain so far.
19:58I only went to school for a very short time, but I want my children to have good education.
20:06I want them to become doctors or engineers.
20:13Sometimes I get to be told to others in the village where they are trying to hire, I've
20:16got some procedures for my children.
20:18They've got supplies for people with special education.
20:21They've got a lot of problems in about the variety of different methods.
20:24My parents are now trying to train a lot.
20:26They're even in school with the pueden.
20:29They're getting distracted in the will.
20:31People will always try to get water to help.
20:33They're getting water to help them with a lot of freshness.
20:35You've been at it already for so long, don't tell us it won't work again.
20:56Done.
20:57Really?
20:58The light's working now?
20:59In theory, yes.
21:00First we should pray.
21:03Put your heart into it.
21:08Yes, okay.
21:10He's so happy.
21:21Where's the charger?
21:26We can charge our phone so quickly.
21:29Look.
21:30Are you happy?
21:33We are very happy to finally have electricity.
21:47Our kids' faces are radiant in the light.
21:53After an arduous journey, dentist Tenzin has finally arrived at his first destination.
22:02In Bhutan, every large village has an infirmary.
22:08A paramedic works there, who knows the medical history of all the residents and can assist me as I treat them.
22:20Education is very important to me.
22:23When we go to remote villages, we usually go to the school first.
22:33Say hello to my good friend Dorji.
22:35Ready?
22:36One, two, three.
22:37Say hi.
22:38Yes.
22:39My friend Dorji and I are here to look at your teeth.
22:44When do you brush your teeth?
22:46In the morning.
22:47Only in the morning?
22:48Sometimes also at night.
22:50Only sometimes?
22:55Who has a toothache?
22:59My tooth hurts.
23:00When you eat?
23:02Yes.
23:03Even when I sleep.
23:05Even then?
23:06I'll show you how to brush our teeth.
23:09From very large circles to very small ones.
23:12And the front teeth like this.
23:15The others say the dentist will give us an injection.
23:28I'm scared.
23:30When our kids misbehave, we threaten to take them to the doctor.
23:37That's certainly one reason why children here are afraid of doctors and hospitals.
23:46When I see they're scared, I try to explain everything in detail.
23:51I'll clean your teeth with this water.
24:00Here, I'll show you.
24:02Give me your hand.
24:04Can you feel that?
24:06Can you feel that?
24:07Yes.
24:24Kids get their permanent teeth between the ages of six and nine.
24:27If we don't treat decay in the primary teeth, it can linger.
24:34If I manage to educate this generation about dental hygiene, they will educate their parents
24:40at home and then the entire local community.
24:43I see children as my strongest ambassadors.
24:45I see children as my strongest ambassadors.
24:50I see children as well.
24:51I see children as well.
24:52I see children as well.
24:53Good job.
24:54Sonam returns to the monastery late at night with the rescued fish.
25:02His lama and the monks have been waiting for hours, so they can perform the blessing right
25:09away.
25:10The fish won't survive any longer in the plastic bags.
25:13Finally, the moment has come.
25:16The over 2,000 small carp are released.
25:24The monastery pond is now full.
25:26This will be their new home.
25:31The following morning, another mission awaits.
25:34The time has come to make Dema's wish come true.
25:38I was contacted by a family.
25:42Their grandmother wishes to save a yak from slaughter.
25:45They have collected some money for this and asked me to come to Timpu to help them.
25:52Here's another chance for me to save lives.
26:08Here's another chance for you.
26:09Here's another chance for you.
26:28Rama, may I introduce you to the owner of the yak?
26:32He has come with his animals from the high mountains because they are to be slaughtered here.
26:36Yes.
26:41I have an appointment with the buyer and the butcher to make a deal.
26:48When are they coming?
26:50They should be here soon.
26:52These yaks are like his family.
26:57That's how I see it.
26:59He can't have them slaughtered.
27:00What can I say?
27:01It's our only source of income.
27:04My children and my wife live on this money for a whole year.
27:11There must be another option for you than killing your yaks.
27:17What about farming?
27:18My land is so small we can barely fit our house on it.
27:25And very little grows so high up.
27:28How much do you want for the yaks?
27:31I sell them by weight.
27:33I sell them by weight.
27:36The bigger one costs 1,400 euros.
27:44We can't afford that.
27:46The smaller one costs about 1,000 euros.
27:50You are responsible for these yaks and we have come to save them.
28:00I have collected money from my whole family.
28:03Please give us a chance.
28:07If I lower the price too much, I won't get enough money.
28:10Then I'll just have to come back to slaughter another one.
28:12If the two are too expensive, then choose one.
28:15The other one goes to the butcher.
28:29I would love to save both.
28:32It's incredibly sad, but we can barely afford one.
28:36Two are out of the question.
28:37I just pray that someone somewhere will take heart to save the other one.
28:42And we won't have to separate them.
28:54While the traveling monk begins the ceremony,
28:58Sonam tries to find a last minute buyer for the second yak.
29:02Okay, I'll send you a video of the yaks.
29:38Here's the money.
29:40I'll pray for you.
29:45The day has come for Shaman Suresh to demonstrate his skills in the death ritual.
30:03In our cast, it is customary for shamans to look after the spirit of the deceased.
30:04Without a ritual, the spirit cannot find peace and makes life free.
30:05difficult for the bereaved.
30:06In our cast, it is customary for shamans to look after the spirit of the deceased.
30:07Without a ritual, the spirit cannot find peace and makes life difficult for the bereaved.
30:08The shaman serves as a medium to deal with unresulted death.
30:09The shaman serves as a medium to deal with unresulted death.
30:10The shaman serves as a medium to deal with unresulted
30:11issues and helps the relatives to come to the death of the deceased.
30:12The shaman serves as a medium to deal with unresulted
30:15and helps the relatives to come to terms with the death.
30:16After a long walk, the shaman serves as a medium to deal with unresulted
30:21issues and helps the relatives to come to terms with the death.
30:26After a long walk, Suresh and his guru arrive late at night.
30:33The family of the deceased has gathered.
30:36Namaskar
30:41Namaskar
30:42Namaskar
30:44Namaskar
30:45Namaskar
30:47Namaskar
30:49Namaskar
30:52Namaskar
30:55The departed woman's ring will help capture her soul.
31:10Are you ready?
31:11We should start now.
31:16Getting in touch with the spirits of the deceased can be risky.
31:21I have to communicate with the spirit even if it speaks a local dialect that I don't
31:25understand so well.
31:27And the elders sometimes don't take me seriously.
31:30Because I am so young, they have doubts about my abilities as a shaman.
31:35But I am not worried, because my guru is here to help and protect me.
31:48Now the guru is trying to connect with the dead woman's spirit.
32:07I am so young.
32:14I am so young.
32:17I am so young.
32:22I am so young.
32:26We tried to take your mother's soul to her distant place.
32:45She did not want to leave you and accept that she's dead.
32:48But don't be sad.
32:50Her death on that day was predestined
32:52and everything turned out the way it was supposed to.
32:54Now the Guru and I can accompany her soul to a place where she will find peace.
33:14Go on alone now.
33:24You've done a good job.
33:41I'll teach you everything I know until you have enough experience to become a Guru yourself.
33:50My Guru has told me that I'll soon be able to perform the death ritual on my own,
34:02but I still have a lot to learn.
34:05I'll do my best.
34:06With heavy equipment on his back,
34:08dentist Tenzin hikes up to the remote mountain villages.
34:18I worked in a public hospital for six years.
34:24I gave that up because I much prefer traveling to help people.
34:28Friends and family help pay for my equipment.
34:29These places are the real Bhutan for me.
34:30The sense of community is strongest here.
34:33I want to be here will continue to be a good place.
34:34I
34:36worked in a public hospital for six years
34:38I
34:40Gave that up because I much prefer traveling to help people
34:47Friends and family help pay for my equipment
34:49These places are the real Bhutan for me
34:52The sense of community is strongest here
35:04We've just arrived and people are showing up already
35:15I wasn't expecting anyone tonight
35:19But I'm glad they're here
35:22Farmers here are in the middle of the rice harvest
35:25So they don't have time during the day
35:28I'm a bit exhausted from the long journey
35:33But I'll treat everyone who's come in today
35:43This morning I set up my practice outside
35:45The air is good, the light is better than inside
35:48And the view is priceless
35:54Good morning
35:58I can treat most things with this equipment
36:00But I can't operate
36:03If that's needed I refer patients to the nearest hospital
36:07And register them there
36:09But I try to do everything that's possible here
36:13Do you speak Tsongka?
36:18Yes, but her hearing isn't good
36:20Okay, I'll speak louder
36:22Do you understand me?
36:24I went to the hospital with a bad toothache
36:30I should take medication until the next treatment
36:32But I can't make the long journey again
36:36No, this one please
36:39Her molar is infected down to the root
36:45Unfortunately, I have to pull it out
36:49I'll grind off a sharp edge at the bottom
36:54So that the tooth no longer hurts her tongue
36:56I just smoothen out any shoulder
36:58Please close
37:04Please close
37:05Now bite on my finger
37:08And open again
37:09Open up, mum
37:10I'm so thankful
37:22Thank you very much
37:24In the countryside, most people have hardly any teeth left at 40 or 50
37:30And that's considered normal
37:32Nobody educates them or looks after them
37:34They're used to this kind of suffering
37:36I want them to realize that things can be different
37:39And that their health is in their hands
37:42Life for shop owner Rinzin and her family has changed in many ways
38:07How does that work?
38:17You better be careful
38:19Now we can cook food with it
38:28Never touch that
38:32Exactly, that's dangerous
38:36Dinner is ready
38:49After the electricity was connected, we bought a fridge
38:54So we can offer the farmers cold drinks after their work in the heat
38:58And the kids come by after school because we make ice cream now
39:03Our customers stay longer
39:13Sometimes even until 11 or 12 o'clock at night
39:16As a result, we have a higher income
39:19And fewer worries
39:21If a person isn't happy on the inside, even electricity won't make their life better
39:40I found happiness with my family a long time ago
39:43But everything looks a bit nicer with light
39:47While the rescued yak is waiting to travel to a reserve, Dema is still praying for the animal they left behind
40:08I just got a call back from our organization
40:21A couple of members have agreed to pay for the other yak
40:23A couple of members have agreed to pay for the other yak
40:28Oh that's wonderful news
40:31Thank you for saving the soul of this yak
40:34I'll pray that you and your families have a happy and fulfilling life
40:41Even if we can never save all the animals
40:55I am very happy that both yaks can live on
40:58So many people came together at the right time for this to happen
41:02Because everyone came together
41:05Yes
41:06You know
41:07Yes
41:08Yes
41:09Yes
41:10Yes
41:10Well
41:11Yes
41:12Isn't
41:13Yes
41:15Yes
41:16Yes
41:18Yes
41:18It's also a special practice for me, the journey of compassion, you know, the journey to benefit oneself and others.
41:45Dedicate yourself, rest of the life for the animals when you think, when you have this mentality, you know, it's an interesting feeling, you know, even such ordinary mere things like eating, sleeping, it becomes the journey to save animals, so that's like, you know, very beautiful.