Tenchuu Goempa

      A part of me wanted to stay with Tashi at Tenchuu Goempa, though I know I wouldn't have lasted a day there. The monastery lays in partial and unsafe ruin like many in this area - the victim of fires, earthquakes and poverty. Still, Tashi chose this place for it's auspicious setting, tranquility and remoteness.

Tashi

     A story Tashi told us is telling. He chooses not to use the  electricity at the goempa for two reasons, the first is selfish. When the lights are on at night, people in Hatey a thousand feet below in the valley will know he resides there and come to seek his wisdom, stealing precious time from his prayers and studies. The second reason is more poetic. Electric light attracts moths in the evening, he explained. The moths die slowly below the lights, which attracts the ants. Tashi sweeps daily but refuses to bring harm to the sentient beings on the ground below the electric lights. Thus the conundrum.

Hatey from the hillside below Tenchuu Goempa

     You can do the math. Tashi prays three times a day for three hours. That's nine hours of sending good thoughts to the wind and wishing for peace and goodness for all sentient beings. The day we followed the trail uphill to Tenchuu he'd cut his morning prayers to two hours because of a headache. As we wandered the overgrown grass outside, he heard our voices and came out to greet us. Visitors are almost non-existent and though we broke his quiet time, he was quite happy to share morning with us.

Walking home from Tenchuu Goempa, we met this woman with her harvest.

Stone markers on Chele La

 

     The lama at Jametoe Goempa, an hour and a half walk down valley on an overgrown trail, allows Tashi to stay alone at Tenchuu to study. If he leaves, most likely, the dogs and woods will slowly take over. The prayer flags will send their last wishes to the wind and the rusty wheels will no longer turn.

Sending prayers to the wind

     Tashi Delek, Tashi