A pilgrimage from the least livable city on Earth

These young Bhutanese monks, at Thamshing Monastery in Jakar, Bumthang, spent the morning memorizing texts by reciting them aloud. Neither the cold nor a nearby pack of barking dogs seemed to distract them.

Phalluses are a common sight in Bhutan. They’re thought to ward off evil spirits. They are often nailed to trees or posts, or painted onto the outside walls of houses and shops. At Chimey Lhakang, or…

Tricycle Pilgrims are troopers—most of us made the arduous hike to the Tiger’s Nest, or the Taktsang Palphug Monastery, as the Bhutanese call it. Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), who brought Vajrayana Buddhism to Tibet and Bhutan, is…

Tricycle pilgrim receives blessing from Khenpo Khatar Rinpoche at Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery, which the group visited yesterday. A 40km drive from Kathmandu, the monastery sits atop the Himalayan foothills, offering stunning views. It was built…

From today’s teaching at Shedrub Ling: It’s not enough to think you understand impermanence and then to forget about it. The real dharma practitioner is someone who contemplates impermanence many times throughout day. Only then do…