Rong-zom-pa’s Ontological Abyss : Where the Positivistic Ontology of the Tathāgatagarbha School and the Negativistic Ontology of the Sarvadharmāpratiṣṭhānavāda School Meet

Dorji Wangchuk 금강대학교 불교문화연구소 2017 불교학 리뷰 Vol.21 No.-

몇 년 전, 나는 닝마파(rNying-ma school) 중진 학자들의 여래장 이론에 대한 다양한 해석을 발표하며, 사캬파(Sa-skya school), 겔룩파(dGe-lugs school), 그리고 조낭파(Jo-nang school)와 같은 주류학파 학자들의 여래장 해석과 비교・대조를 시도했다(Wangchuk 2004). 그 발표에서 나는 11세기 닝마파였던 롱솜빠(Rong-zom-pa)가 여래장 경전들로 인해 여래장 이론을 인식하고는 있었지만, 그 이론에 대해서 거의 침묵한 듯한 면모도 지적했었다. 될포파(Dol- po-pa)는 여래장의 입장에서 자기-발생적 인식(svayaṃbhūjñāna)을 해석했지만, 롬솜파는 오히려 자기-발생적인 식의 입장에서 여래장을 해석한 것으로 보인다. 이 논문에서 나는 어떻게 롱솜빠가 여래장 이론을 해석했는지 좀 더 들여다 보고자 한다. 논문은 네 부분으로 나눠진다. 첫번째 부분은 여래장 이론에 대한 롱솜빠 해석의 간략한 교의적-해석적 배경을 제시하고자 한다. 두 번째 부분은 일체법부주론파(一切法不住論派, Sarvadharmāpratiṣṭhānavāda) 존재론에 대한 롱솜빠의 이해를 다루고자 한다. 여기에서 존재론이라는 단어는 현상의 진정한 실제에 대한 이론이라는 의미로 사용되며, 일체법부주론파는 그 자체적으로 진정한 실제에 대한 이론을 가졌는데, 그 것은 롱솜빠에 따르면 “두 가지 실제(이제二諦)의 불가분성”이다. 세 번째 부분은 어떻게 롱솜빠가 여래장 존재론을 다뤘는지 간략히 탐구한다. 마지막으로, 네 번째 부분에서는 긍정적 존재론과 부정적 존재론이 롱솜빠에게서 조화될 수 있는지 없는지에 대한 질문에 답하고자 한다. 여래장 학파와 일체법부주론파의 전반적인 철학 교리는 다르지만, 공통적으로 한 핵심 지점이 있는듯 보인다. 즉 보성론 (Ratnagotravibhāga) 1장 55-57게송에도 드러나 있는 ‘무기반성(substratum- less-ness)’에 대한 아이디어이다. 따라서 ‘(형이상학적) 무기반성(groundless- ness)과 무근거성(rootless-ness)’이라는 아이디어는 긍정적 존재론과 부정적 존재론을 조화시키는데 큰 역할을 할 것이다. Several years ago, I have made an attempt to present the various interpretations of the Tathāgatagarbha theory by leading scholars of the rNying- ma school, and by comparing and contrasting them with the interpretations of it offered by those scholars from the main-stream Sa-skya, dGe-lugs, and Jo-nang schools (Wangchuk 2004). There I also pointed out that although Rong-zom-pa, an eleventh-century rNying-ma scholar, was aware of the Tathāgagarbha theory from the Tathāgagarbha Sūtric scriptures, seems to be quite reticent about the theory. He does not interpret svayaṃbhūjñāna in the light of tathāgagarbha (as Dol-po-pa is wont to do) but seems to interpret the latter in the light of the former. In this paper, I wish to take a closer look at how Rong-zom-pa interprets the Tathāgatagarbha theory. My paper is divided into four sections. Section one attempts to provide a brief doctrinal-historical background to Rong- zom-pa’s interpretation of the Tathāgatagarbha theory. Section two deals with his understanding of the Sarvadharmāpratiṣṭhānavāda ontology. The word ontology is used here in the sense of the theory about the true reality of phenomena, and the Sarvadharmāpratiṣṭhānavāda, too, has its own theory of true reality, which, according to Rong-zom-pa, is the “indivisibility of the two modes of reality.” Section three examines briefly how Rong-zom- pa deals with the Tathāgatagarbha ontology. Finally, section four is devoted to answering the question as to whether the positivistic and negativistic ontologies can be reconcilable for Rong-zom-pa. I contend that although the overall philosophical doctrines of the Tathāgatagarbha school and Sarvadharmāpratiṣṭhānavāda school are different, there seems to be one crucial point of commonality, namely, the idea of “substratum-less-ness,” also expressed by Ratnagotravibhāga 1.55-57. It thus appears that the idea of “(metaphysical) groundless-ness and root-less-ness” would play pivotal role in reconciling the positivistic and negativistic ontologies.

Himalayan dock (Rumex nepalensis): the flip side of obnoxious weed

Wangchuk, Kesang Korean Society of Animal Science and Technology 2015 한국축산학회지 Vol.57 No.11

Himalayan dock (Rumex nepalensis) was evaluated for forage value and antinutrients under three, five and seven weeks cutting intervals in the temperate environment. Dry matter (DM) content was measured for each cutting interval. Forage quality parameters such as Crude Protein (CP), Acid Detergent fiber (ADF), Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P) were analyzed. Plants with seven weeks cutting interval gave higher DM yield. CP and P content were significantly higher for three weeks cutting intervals. Average CP contents were 31.38 %, 30.73 % and 27.32 % and average P content 0.58 %, 0.52 % and 0.51 % for three, five and seven weeks cutting intervals, respectively. Ca content did not differ significantly between cutting intervals. The average Ca content were 0.91 %, 0.90 % and 90 %, for three, five and seven weeks cutting intervals, respectively. Tannin and mimosine contents were not significantly different between cutting intervals. Average tannin contents were 1.32 %, 1.27 % and 1.26 % and mimosine 0.38 %, 0.30 % and 0.28 % for three, five and seven weeks cutting intervals, respectively. The study concluded that R. nepalensis could be a potential source of protein for livestock. The study also suggests seven weeks harvesting interval to provide plants with high dry matter yield, high forage quality and very low levels of anti-nutrients.

Effect of bio-fertilizers and farmyard manure on growth and yield of Okra (Albelmomoschus esculentus L.)

Choeki Wangchuk,Min-Jeong Kim,Chnag-Ki Shim,Jae-Hyeong Lee,Rekha Chhetri,Sang-Gu Park 한국농약과학회 2021 한국농약과학회 학술발표대회 논문집 Vol.2021 No.11

The use of chemical fertilizers are increasing yearly in Bhutan contributing to environmental pollution and human health hazard. The use of bio-fertilizers such as multiplex Annapurna and spic subrabi are not much familiar to the famers due to lack of less information on its effectiveness in crop yield and nutrients contain. A field experiment was carried out to compare the effects of different fertilizers on growth and yield of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.). The randomized complete block design experiment had five treatments with four replications. Besides a control, the experiment included bio-fertilizer Multiplex Annapurna, bio-fertilizer Spic Surabi, farm yard manure (FYM), and chemical fertilizer (NPK) treatments. Bio-fertilizers were applied at the rate of 297kg/ha while FYM and NPK chemical fertilizers were applied at the rate of 4,000 kg/ha and 100:150:50 kg/ha respectively. Plant height, stem diameter, plant canopy, and number of leaves were measured at 42, 54, 66, and 78 days after sowing (DAS). Yield and yield components (number of fruits per plants, fruit length, and fruit weights) were assessed at the time of harvest. Fertilizer treatment had a significant effect on growth and yield of okra (p < .05). Spic Surabi gave the highest yield (11.77 t ha-1) and the lowest (9.63 t ha-1) was from control treatment. The results indicated that the application of bio-fertilizer, mainly Spic Surabi, increases growth and yield of okra.

RESEARCH : Open Access ; Himalayan dock (Rumex nepalensis): the flip side of obnoxious weed

( Kesang Wangchuk ) 한국동물자원과학회(구 한국축산학회) 2015 한국축산학회지 Vol.57 No.34

Himalayan dock (Rumex nepalensis) was evaluated for forage value and antinutrients under three, five and seven weeks cutting intervals in the temperate environment. Dry matter (DM) content was measured for each cutting interval. Forage quality parameters such as Crude Protein (CP), Acid Detergent fiber (ADF), Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Calcium (Ca) and Phosphorus (P) were analyzed. Plants with seven weeks cutting interval gave higher DM yield. CP and P content were significantly higher for three weeks cutting intervals. Average CP contents were 31.38 %, 30.73 % and 27.32 % and average P content 0.58 %, 0.52 % and 0.51 % for three, five and seven weeks cutting intervals, respectively. Ca content did not differ significantly between cutting intervals. The average Ca content were 0.91 %, 0.90 % and 90 %, for three, five and seven weeks cutting intervals, respectively. Tannin and mimosine contents were not significantly different between cutting intervals. Average tannin contents were 1.32 %, 1.27 % and 1.26 % and mimosine 0.38 %, 0.30 % and 0.28 % for three, five and seven weeks cutting intervals, respectively. The study concluded that R. nepalensis could be a potential source of protein for livestock. The study also suggests seven weeks harvesting interval to provide plants with high dry matter yield, high forage quality and very low levels of anti-nutrients.

Pharmacological, ethnopharmacological, and botanical evaluation of subtropical medicinal plants of Lower Kheng region in Bhutan

Phurpa Wangchuk,Karma Yeshi,Kinga Jamphel 한국한의학연구원 2017 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.6 No.4

Background: The Bhutanese Sowa Rigpa medicine (BSM) uses medicinal plants as the bulk ingredients. Our study was to botanically identify subtropical medicinal plants from the Lower Kheng region in Bhutan, transcribe ethnopharmacological uses, and highlight reported pharmacological activities of each plant. Methods: We freely listed the medicinal plants used in the BSM literature, current formulations, and the medicinal plants inventory documents. This was followed by a survey and the identification of medicinal plants in the Lower Kheng region. The botanical identification of each medicinal plant was confirmed using The Plant List, eFloras, and TROPICOS. Data mining for reported pharmacological activities was performed using Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and SciFinder Scholar. Results: We identified 61 subtropical plants as the medicinal plants used in BSM. Of these, 17 plants were cultivated as edible plant species, 30 species grow abundantly, 24 species grow in moderate numbers, and only seven species were scarce to find. All these species grow within the altitude range of 100–1800 m above sea level. A total of 19 species were trees, and 13 of them were shrubs. Seeds ranked first in the parts usage category. Goshing Gewog (Block) hosted maximum number of medicinal plants. About 52 species have been pharmacologically studied and only nine species remain unstudied. Conclusion: Lower Kheng region is rich in subtropical medicinal plants and 30 species present immediate economic potential that could benefit BSM, Lower Kheng communities and other Sowa Rigpa practicing organizations.

Real-Time Bhutanese Sign Language Digits Recognition System Using Convolutional Neural Network

Karma Wangchuk,Panomkhawn Riyamongkol,Rattapoom Waranusast 한국통신학회 2021 ICT Express Vol.7 No.2

The communication gap between the deaf and public is the concern for both parents and the government of Bhutan. The deaf school urges people to learn Bhutanese Sign Language (BSL) but learning Sign Language (SL) is difficult. This paper presents the BSL digits recognition system using the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and a first-ever BSL dataset which has 20,000 sign images of 10 static digits collected from different volunteers. Different SL models were evaluated and compared with the proposed CNN model. The proposed system has achieved 97.62% training accuracy. The system was also evaluated with precision, recall, and F1-score.

Nine new records of plants from Bhutan

Jigme WANGCHUK,Tsethup TSHERING,Dorji DORJI,Karma WANGDI 한국식물분류학회 2023 식물 분류학회지 Vol.53 No.2

Discoveries and new records of plants specifically provide a basis for empirical data to enable in-depth studies of the ecology, distribution, conservation, applications, and threats to such plants. However, many unexplored regions of Bhutan exist in which several plants have yet to be described and documented. Several species reported elsewhere in the Himalayan region with similar climatic conditions are likely to occur in Bhutan as well, indicating a need to corroborate their presence. To explore this, an opportunistic survey was employed, and we provide nine new records of plant species for Bhutan. Of the nine species, three belonged to the Lauraceae family, with the rest from the Aristolochiaceae, Asparagaceae, Lamiaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Sapindaceae, and Urticaceae families. This paper adds nine additional species of plants to the flora of Bhutan. We also report here ethnobotanical applications of these species, providing insight into how communities interact with environmental resources and have the potential to integrate traditional knowledge into scientific understanding, ultimately to reinforce sustainable biocultural conservation at the local level.

Implementation of video motion magnification technique for non-contact operational modal analysis of light poles

Jothi S. Thiyagarajan,Dionysius M. Siringoringo,Samten Wangchuk,Yozo Fujino 국제구조공학회 2021 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.27 No.2

Damages on lights and utility poles mounted on the elevated highway or railway bridges were observed in the past several large earthquakes. The damages could have serious consequences to public safety, travelling vehicles or trains, and nearby properties. A previous study shows that the damages were caused by buckling and yielding of the pole due to excessive response amplification during large earthquake. Such amplification occurs when the bridge's natural frequency is close to the light pole's fundamental frequency. An investigation of the seismic performance of existing light pole mounted on elevated highway bridges is needed to avoid the response amplification. This includes the identification of the light pole's natural frequency and damping ratio. Vibration testing of the light pole using conventional contact sensors individually would require enormous effort and is time-consuming. Moreover, such vibration testing on a highway bridge deck would require traffic disruption to provide access. Video camera-based non-contact vision sensing is seen as a promising alternative to the conventional contact sensors for this purpose. The objective of this paper is to explore the use of non-contact vision sensing for operational modal analysis of light pole on highway viaduct. The phase-based video motion magnification method is implemented to obtain the light pole response in an ambient condition. Using this method, small and invisible displacement is magnified for a certain range of frequency of interest. Based on the magnified video frames, structural displacement is extracted using the image processing technique. The natural frequency and damping ratio of the light pole are estimated using the random decrement technique. The method is verified in a laboratory-scale experiment and implemented to practical field measurements of a light pole on a highway viaduct in Kanagawa, Japan. The results are compared with measurement by Laser Doppler Vibrometer. Both experiments suggest that the method could effectively obtain the natural frequency and damping ratio of the structures under the ambient condition where vibration amplitudes are very small and invisible with reasonable accuracy.

Mithun (Bos frontalis): the neglected cattle species and their significance to ethnic communities in the Eastern Himalaya - A review

Dorji, Tashi,Wangdi, Jigme,Shaoliang, Yi,Chettri, Nakul,Wangchuk, Kesang Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2021 Animal Bioscience Vol.34 No.11

Objective: This review consolidates the available information on the socio-economic and ecological significance of Mithun in the lives of ethnic communities in the Eastern Himalaya. Methods: Standard guidelines were followed for the review and data collection was carried out at three stages; literature search, literature screening, and literature review and analysis. Results: Records indicate a long association of Mithun with the ethnic groups. Mithun serves as a symbol of pride and local currency for barter trade in the ethnic society. Its utilities range from being used as a bride price to settling legal disputes. Several cultural festivals and local ceremonies are celebrated around this bovine. Due to its semi-wild nature, this animal also has an ecological role to conserve broad leaf sub-tropical forests. However, it remains neglected and has not received policy attention, leading to a stagnated growth. The institutions for Mithun research and development are also weak. Furthermore, the species is under threat from new diseases and habitat alteration triggered by climate change. Conclusion: Founded on the current state of knowledge, there is a need for institutional development, strengthening institutional linkages, and promoting regional cooperation among Mithun rearing countries for further research and development of this unique cattle.