Blessing at the Tengboche Monastery

At the Tengboche Monastery, Chip bows as the Rinpoche Lama places a tradional scarf called a khata around around Chip’s neck. The Lama sits cross-legged on a colorful cushion, wearing a dark yellow robe around his head and shoulders. (Learn more)

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On April 3rd the climbers reached Tengboche, a Buddhist monastery in the Khumbu Valley and the region’s spiritual center. The monastery gained the world’s attention in 1953 when Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzin Norgay Sherpa stopped there on their way to their historic ascent of Mount Everest.

The Rinpoche Lama, one of only two reincarnated monks in the Khumbu Valley, lives in his 13th reincarnation at Tengboche. Chip’s group, like many other Everest climbers since Hillary and Norgay, made a stop at the monastery to seek the Lama’s blessing. The climbers each received a blessed red string to carry with them on the expedition.

Learn more about Buddhism, Lama, and Nepal.

Definitions

sherpa n.
When capitalized, refers to an ethnic group living in the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal. Lowercase "sherpa" refers to local people who work as guides to mountain climbers in the Himalayas.
lama n.
In Tibetan Buddhism, a spiritual leader or monk.

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