Kelden Lhamo Gurung: Saldon
Photos
Quotes
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Ugyen Dorji : Do you always sing here? Why?
Saldon : Just to make an offering of a song.
Ugyen Dorji : Hey! Wait! I didn't understand what you said about making an offering.
Saldon : It's a song that I offer to all sentient beings: to the people, animals, gods, and to the local deities.
Ugyen Dorji : What do you mean?
Saldon : When the black-necked cranes sing, they sing without worrying about what people might think. They just offer their songs, and I do the same.
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Ugyen Dorji : Will you ever come to Thimphu?
Saldon : No, I won't. This is my home, and my mother's here. She's getting old now, and the cold hurts her feet. I'll just stay here. Practice Yak Lebi Lhadar and come back. I'll be waiting for you here. Sing like the black-necked cranes.
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Saldon : The bond between a yak herder and his yak is very special, like family. They are very important to us. When we need meat, we gather the yaks and throw a lasso in the air. Whoever it lands on gets slaughtered. It's a heartbreaking moment for us all. Once upon a time, a man from our village went to Tibet on business. While he was away, his beloved yak had bad luck and the lasso landed on it. When he got back, he was heartbroken to see his yak gone, so he composed this song.
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Ugyen Dorji : Hey, Saldon. Why is there a yak in the classroom?
Saldon : This is Norbu. He's our oldest yak. I brought him for you.
Ugyen Dorji : For me? What will I do with him?
Saldon : You struggle climbing up the mountain to pick up dung, so I got him for you. He provides us with the most essential thing, so we named him Norbu, the wish-fullfilling jewel.
Ugyen Dorji : I don't think we can keep him in the classroom. Can I tie him outside?
Saldon : No, you can't. It's too cold outside.
Ugyen Dorji : Do yaks feel the cold?
Saldon : Yes, they do. Please keep him inside. See how much dung you need, and feed him accordingly.
