Amazing Tibet!!
The beginning of the kora at Gandan monastery, Tibet
We spent a couple of days this week hunting down local buses that would take us to a few monasteries outside of Lhasa. One was Sera monastery, where we saw some monks in heated philosophical debate, and the other was Gandan monastery, which was simply AMAZING!! It was without a doubt one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been and we were lucky enough to walk the kora around the monastery with mostly Tibetan people on pilgrimages from all over Tibet.
As usual, the pictures tell the story much better than I can:
These are Tibetan prayer flags. These flags each contain a prayer that is carried out to all beings as a blessing of loving-kindness when they flap in the wind. These flags are always present at holy places and each color represents one of the elements: Space, Water, Fire, Air & Wind, and Earth.
Hina and Ingrid…This was the scenery around most of the circuit! Simply amazing!
I’m honestly not sure what this was all about, but everyone was walking through this narrow space between the rocks, so we did it, too. We were guessing that it may be some kind of purifying ritual… or for good luck?
A ceremony inside the Assembly Hall. I sat down and watched this for about 40 minutes. First, they drank Yak butter tea, then they chanted, then they ate what looked like potatoes dripping with Yak butter, then they chanted some more, put on their hats and walked outside to begin the debate in the courtyard.
The monastery kitchen. Very medieval. To the left are HUGE pots where they cook food for all of the monks.
The monks debate from 3pm to 5pm. The debate involves lots of animated stomping and clapping. Generally, one monk is seated and defending a certain position and the other monk is standing, staring down the seated monk and stomping and clapping in his face, attempting to make the seated monk contradict himself. I was especially impressed with this ritual becasue after teaching in Asia for 4 years I know that rote learning is generally the norm. I read that there is a Tibetan saying: “Is your learning in your books or in your head?” which is in stark contrast to the educational philosophy I’ve come across throughout Asia.
Throwing the Smack Down! Making his point in a very animated way.
Colorful doorways at the Monastery
Inside the Monastery
A family we had a little impromptu picnic with at the monastery
Three friendly ladies on pilgrimage
The monks must remove their shoes before entering the monastery
Solar heat at the monastery! These are actually all over, Tibet. The kettle gets so hot it actually boils. Clever, no?
Three shy monks who were as interested in us as we were in them
The Tibetan prayer wheel. Inside of the wheel there is a paper containing a mantra. Each revolution of the prayer wheel counts as one oral recitation. You see people spinning these all over Tibet.
Hina, Myself, and Ingrid at Sera Monastery
Tags: Amanda Formoso, China, Tibet, Travel
Amanda
Kudos for your wonderful pictures. Again.
You rock. So totally, you rock.
Those monks don’t look shy. They look like they are mugging for the camera. They are thinking to themselves, “Hey, three beautiful women! Who needs this arguing all afternoon with guys wearing sheets! Let’s get our groove on with these mamacitas!”
Ugggh! Why do I always want to run out of this place screaming when I read your blog..?? No more! I want to be there so bad…instead I am doing headstands on the concrete! 🙂
just showed off the photos to a few people here in the office, lots of oohs and ahs… I imagine a lot walking through the clouds in a barely touching the ground kinda way.
Getting caught up again. Very cool.
Speechless and jealous…
Wonderful Tibetan monks and women’s pictures you have. I like your site especial love your Tibetan pictures. Here is Tibetan private guide site i found http://www.tibetanwildyakadventures.com it’s beautiful set also more information about Tibet, I think it is interest site. Any suggestion?
Thank you for publishing your experiences. I am going to share them with my World Studies class. I think it will open many minds.