Conversation with Dr. samduu

Conversation with Dr. samduu

I didn’t know him before 19th March, but he is a director, a teacher, a practitioner, a palm reader, a philosopher and a GNH expert. He is Dr. Samduu chettri, Director General of GNH centre, Thimphu.

DR.Samdu, Principal, V.principal

He visited our school for two days (i.e. 19th and 20th march). He gave a talk on GNH and highlighted some current situation of GNH throughout the world. The talk or the workshop was attended by all the staff and class ten students of Norbuling Central School. Accompanied by his own son, Dr. Samdu graced our school with his presence on The International Happiness Day.

After two days of workshop, we hosted a decent dinner to show our gratitude towards them for coming in our school and passing on some important information. I was sitting with some of my colleague while having a dinner, however my eyes were on him just to make sure if he needs anything. There I noticed something about him. He would take a spoonful of rice and the curry, and then closes his eyes while chewing it. Further, he would grin and continue with another spoon. I thought maybe he is particular about chewing the food more than 32 times for the proper digestion as proved by science. Or else I assumed he is just enjoying the taste, but honestly there was nothing different in the menu, ahem. Okay moving on…

That particular act made me so curious, although I thought I knew the answer but I wanted to ask anyway. After I was done with my dinner, I had some portion of my desert, it was milk cream with mixed fruits. I couldn’t finish it, so I left it on the table to be dumped later. I stood up from my place and got near him and there, I saw him staring at his desert. As I was full, I thought he would do the same thing like I did but it didn’t happen. He looked at it for some time and then carefully took it in his palm as the cup was full to its rim, and took one spoonful of it. Again, he closed his eyes, with a smile on his face he continued until the cup was empty.

I went closer as he was done with his desert. We started our conversation with that normal thing, like how was the dinner, thanking, and little bit of family background and all other stuff. Honestly, I couldn’t really ask him the real question, as I was afraid that I may offend him in some ways. But yea… I also knew one thing that if I don’t clarify my doubts this time, then it would haunt me for a week.  So I gathered all my courage, took a long breath and said, “sir, I was sitting there…” I noticed my voice was little shaky, but I continued, “And… I observed you were having your meal in a different way.” He looked at me with a smile, which ignited my confidence to continue,”… I mean very deliciously …you know like closing your eyes after each every bite, and smiling while chewing. Like... I am just curious la.” He nodded and smiled, even stared at me for a while. I felt little uncomfortable, however I clarified, “since sir won’t be here by tomorrow, I thought I would regret if I didn’t ask you this

“That’s good” he said with a smile, “you observed”. “Well…you see…” he paused for a moment, “when I eat, I think about all the elements, all the things, and all the people involved in bringing the food on my table”.

I didn’t get his point at that moments, but I continued listening.  

“For instance…take the rice on your table. It did not come to your table that easily. Firstly, it is formed through the right combination of four elements, the water, the air, the soil and the sun light. A farmer worked so hard under the heat and storm to grow it. They stayed awake throughout the night to protect the plant from wild animals. They traveled miles to dig the irrigational channel, they have waited patiently for months until it is harvested. Even in harvesting many people are involved, after that it is packed and transported, then somebody brought it and then it is carried to a kitchen. There we have our cook who cooked it for us, and finally someone served it to us… it’s a long process even to smell the rice, it not just one man or woman, thousands are involved until we have delicious rice on our table”

I stood silent. It was totally making sense. I knew something more was coming so I continued listening. After a long breath he spoke, “you see it is only the rice I am talking about at the present moment. What about the vegetables, the fish he had, the cup, the plates, and the desert. These things have involved many people, many procedure just to get to you."

“You know when you think about all these procedure while you are having your meal, you will learn to appreciate it and be grateful” he smiled, “it even taste better”

He wasn’t chewing 32 times, neither he was enjoying the taste, he was doing something more, something different that I could ever think of. After a while, I went to my table, picked up my leftover desert and ate it all. But trust me, this time it really tasted good, because I ate it differently.