Bodhisattva King

Tinley Nangai

At the Bhutan Echoes Festival in Thimphu yesterday, French Ambassador to India Dr. (PhD) Thierry Mathou attributed the qualities of His Majesty the Fourth King to that of a Bodhisattva while sharing insights on the book “Bodhisattva King: His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck of Bhutan” which he co-authored with Bhutanese author Tshering Tashi.

This book is a collection of tributes from various people celebrating the legacy of the fourth King of Bhutan, whom Dr. Masu considers a bodhisattva.

Thierry Mathou is a career diplomat and academic specializing in Asian studies.

In a conversation with Dawa Phunjyo, Secretary General of the Bhutan India Friendship Association, Thierry Mathoo said that His Majesty the Fourth King of Bhutan possesses the noble qualities of a Bodhisattva, such as compassion, love, equanimity and empathy.

The word “Bodhisattva” comes from the Sanskrit word “Bodhi”, which means “awakening” or “enlightenment”, and “sattva”, which means “existence”.

Traditionally, bodhisattvas are understood to be enlightened beings who choose to delay entering nirvana in order to help other beings on the path to enlightenment.

Thierry Mathou, in his first appearance at the Echo Bhutan event, reflects on some of the incredible initiatives taken during the reign of His Majesty the Fourth King.

He highlighted several key moments, including the integration of the Losangpa into the mainstream population, the 2003 military operation against insurgents, border negotiations with China, decentralization efforts through the establishment of Dzongkhag Yalgay Tshogdu and Gewog Yalgay Tshogchhung, the formation of the Planning Commission, and the formulation of the Constitution.

Thierry Matou said His Majesty the King’s long-standing care and compassion for the rebels demonstrated the true qualities of a bodhisattva.

He also praised the fourth king’s early abdication as an unprecedented move that shocked the world and highlighted the king’s selfless dedication to Bhutan, saying it was unlikely to happen anywhere else in the world.

He praised the Bhutanese monarchy as reformist and noted that each king made unique contributions to the country’s history during his reign. He said the first king unified the country, the second protected Bhutan from the independence movements sweeping Southeast Asia, and the third king started the country’s modernization process.

Thierry Matou attributes Bhutan’s enduring independence to the wisdom and leadership of its monarchs, a legacy that continues to shape the country’s destiny today.

Dawa Penjol humorously described Thierry Mathou as the “Bhutanese reincarnation of the French” and praised the French ambassador’s more than four decades of ties with Bhutan.