This meal could be my last. This walk, too. And when I go to sleep tonight, I might not wake up tomorrow. For many Bhutanese, reminders of their imminent demise are woven into the weft of daily life. Tsa-tsas – palm-sized cones moulded by monks from the ashes of loved ones – are speckled across caves and roadsides in prayers for the departed. White flags hoisted on poles bristle on mountain tops, releasing well-wishes into the wind. In the country’s numerous temples, flesh-devouring demons, skulls and hellish monsters dance across the walls in timeworn Technicolor. All there to remind you: you’re going to die.
这顿饭可能是我的最后一餐，这次散步也是如此。而当我今晚入睡时，明天可能醒不过来。对于许多不丹人来说，对他们即将死亡的提醒被编织进日常生活的经纬中。Tsa-tsas——由僧侣用亲人的骨灰制成的手掌大小的锥体——散布在洞穴和路边，为逝者祈祷。竖立在山顶的白旗在风中飘扬，传递着美好的祝愿。在这个国家的众多寺庙中，食肉恶魔、骷髅和地狱怪物在古老的彩色壁画上舞动。所有这些都是为了提醒你：你终将死去。