Yoeja, the digital prayer platform launched by His Majesty The King a few days ago, is expected to introduce a new feature that will allow users to count their mani prayers through audio recording. The feature is expected to make the practice more convenient during the raising of the 108 Jangchub Chorten in Gelephu on 1 November.
The upcoming feature will allow users to count their prayers by audio, without having to repeatedly touch their phone screens.
Explaining how it will work, Dasho Dr Lotay Tshering, Governor of the Gelephu Mindfulness City Authority (GMCA), compared it to voice messaging on WeChat.
“Just like you don’t have to necessarily know how to write on WeChat because you use audio, when this is implemented, you just have to keep your phone in the pocket. Right now you have to touch the screen to count your mani, but with this new feature, the phone will record your audio and record the number of prayers,” he said.
For those without smartphones, the traditional practice of chanting with prayer beads remains an option. The Governor said arrangements will also be made to collect their prayer records.
“Those who don’t have phones or smartphones cannot use Yoeja.com, but the benefit is the same. We will organise a way to collect the prayer records,” he said.
The Governor also encouraged those who need assistance with registration to seek help from others familiar with the process. He clarified that users can now register using their phone number, without necessarily providing an email address.
Dasho Dr Lotay Tshering recalled that His Majesty The King chanted the first Om Mani Padme Hung prayer on Yoeja.com at Simtokha.
“Through Yoeja.com, year by year, the prayer counts will become indefinite, in billions. Moreover, Yoeja.com will remain for generations to come. Even during the reign of future kings, it will be remembered that His Majesty The Fifth King is the first to tap on it,” he said.
He added that if the internet is disrupted in the middle of the prayers, users can continue chanting, and the prayers will be recorded once the connection is restored.
A fully charged phone, a prayer in the heart, and Yoeja at hand may be all that devotees need to make their prayers count on 1 November, during the raising of the 108 Jangchub Chorten in Gelephu.
Samten Dolkar
Edited by Phub Gyem
