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A Step Away From Paradise
What begins as a chance remark by a thangka painter in Darjeeling is the beginning of a fascinating tale that takes on a life of its own. It spurs a journey that weaves in and out of Tibet, Nepal and Sikkim, taking the author to numerous towns and remote places up and down the Himalayas into a world of rich spiritual heritage. This book is the chronicle of a journey which is not merely a physical one to Beyul but also a journey of faith and belief. It takes a chosen man to lead people to the promised land, a place free of suffering, sickness and death. That man, the subject of this book and the centre of every story is Tulshuk Lingpa. And Beyul Demoshong, "according to Tibetan tradition is another dimension of existence beyond death, disease or suffering". The author pieces together the compelling tale of this real-life adventure by recording the numerous experiences shared by family and followers of this charismatic leader who still inspires awe and reverence. The thread that binds all the expert and eyewitness accounts is the narrative of Kunsang; the son of Tulshuk Lingpa. The major portions of the story come from his son who is a family man and a businessman but devoted to prayer. Soon, Tulshuk Lingpa becomes a real person, not just someone from the pages of a history book. His life is not summed up in events, dates and achievements but the impact that he had on the lives of his followers. And these followers tell their stories. There is Dorje Wangmo who sold all her worldly possessions and tried to catch up with the expedition. Chokshi credits Tulshuk Lingpa with the eradication of leprosy from his village Simoling. A senior researcher at Namgyal Institute of Tibetology, Rigzin Dokhampa witnessed Tulshuk Lingpa performing a miracle to stave off royal persecution. Also part of this expedition was Geshipa once rainmaker for the king of Bhutan; he had long waited for the man who would open the way. The author’s genuine interest and curiosity is palpable; it is a story he wants to tell and a truth he is determined to find. Shor’s skill in photography is demonstrated through numerous pictures included in the book which provide a glimpse of both the people and the places. His words too paint a beautiful and realistic picture, so much so that the book has its own unique atmosphere; like moments frozen in time. What’s interesting while reading the book is that even when people are narrating their experiences, it’s hard to draw the line between fact and fiction. The author often plays devil’s advocate and asks awkward questions trying to establish a timeline and geographical locations at the risk of offending elderly people who clearly cherish being part of this remarkable journey and wouldn’t have it any other way. The book faces the inevitable pitfalls of a story based on second-hand accounts as bias is inevitable. There is also divergence between eyewitness accounts and research done by expert scholars. What begins as reading about a different culture and lifestyle soon becomes familiar to such an extent that reincarnations, revelations and miracles cease to seem farfetched. The initial willing suspension of disbelief soon transforms into camaraderie with the relatable hopes and dreams of the people freely sharing their life experiences. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how much of this account you believe, it makes for a fascinating read.
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Living
happily ever after in a land of peace and plenty has been the shared
dream of humanity since time immemorial, transcending national
boundaries and cultural differences. Prophets leading people from a land
of turmoil and suffering to the promised land is the staple of many
religious texts. However, these journeys all happened a long time ago,
thousands of years even. A Step Away From Paradise is the story
of Tulshuk Lingpa, a modern-day lama who led hundreds to seek the
promised land of Beyul Demoshong (the hidden valley) in 1962. The writer
seamlessly blends the accounts of those who went on this journey to
weave a fascinating tale which leaves the reader wanting answers and
makes them ask at every turn "what happened next?"