Religious Life

The Sherpas are Buddhist, and this compassionate religion shapes their whole culture. Traditionally more interested in matters spiritual than secular; every aspect of Sherpa life reflects a deep faith in the Buddhist teachings. Every day starts with offerings and prayers and most houses will have a small shrine and contribute on a regular basis to the village temple to support the prayers and ceremonies. Even the landscape itself is seen as sacred and adorned with Stupas and prayers carved on to rocks. Wind and water turn wheels filled with prayers. On every high pass there are Prayer Flags to carry the mantra of compassion "Om Mani Padma Hung" to the skies for the benefit of all beings. Even mountains themselves are the sacred abode of deities and the protectors of the area.

What lifts this above being mere superstition and little understood tradition is the profound insights of Buddhist philosophy. Communities of ordained and lay practitioners are dedicated to deepening their spiritual understanding of Buddhist doctrines. This has lead to a tradition of extraordinary practitioners and teachers who skillfully guide and help others. This in turn gives rise to deep faith among the ordinary people who try to live their lives according to the principals of Buddhism.

Twice in its history the Monastery has been destroyed and then rebuilt. The Abbot, known as Tengboche Rinpoche was recognized as incarnate Lama according to ancient tradition. There are over 50 Monks at Tengboche following an age-old routine of prayer, study and retreat. Education is considered to be very important and there is a school at the monastery. Great prayer ceremonies following unbroken traditions are still performed at Tengboche. The most famous is the colourful Mani Rimdu Masked Dance preformed in the autumn. The dates of these Festivals change every year according to the lunar calendar, and are given in the chapter Mani Rimdu.

There is also a small Nunnery connected with Tengboche located at Devoche. In the nearby Villages there are also many other small monasteries and hermitages including those at Pangboche, Thame, Lawdo, Khumjung and Kunde.