"During the 17-year period 1625-42, three governments were formed in Tibetan cultural regions of the Himalayas that endured into the 20th century, each with a distinctive religion-state basis. We refer to the Ganden Phodrang (dGa’-ldan Pho brang) government of the 5th Dalai Lama (1642), the state of Sikkim or Drejong (’Bras-ljongs) (1642), and the state… Continue reading ‘PURE’, ‘INDEPENDENT’ AND ‘HAPPY’ BHUTAN? A BRIEF CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL REVIEW OF THE “LAST SURVIVING VAJRAYANA COUNTRY”. The founding history of Bhutan and 1st Zhabdrung Rinpoche,freedom from Gelug domination, independence from Tibet, India and China and 21st Century issues, such as freedom of speech, gender equality, LGBT rights, multi-culturalism, religious tolerance and civil liberties