Puja at Naropa’s Cave, Kathmandu, Nepal
These are pictures of myself in Nepal in 2008, the place is by a river and right next to the river near me is the cave of the Great Mahasiddha Naropa and his Guru Tilopa. I had taken about sixty over people there on a pilgrimage with me, and we all visited that cave and then everybody returned to their respective countries, but I stayed on in Nepal to do more pilgrimage. It is a very beautiful, wonderful and very holy site, because this was where Naropa received trainings and teachings from his Guru Tilopa, and he had visions of Vajrayogini here. They have built the wonderful statues of Naropa and Tilopa in both the caves, so nearby I decided to set up with my assistants to do a wonderful puja to absorb the energy of the area, and that was what I was doing here, some prayers and pujas, it was very peaceful and beautiful, the flow of the water, the atmosphere, the weather, the whole feeling, and the caretakers here were very interested also and they had come to join me in the puja and asked me a lot of questions, so I had the pleasure of giving them a lot of pictures of various Buddhas such as Vajrayogini, and they liked that very much. It was a wonderful visit, and I thought I would share this on my blog with everyone, for you to enjoy and rejoice, and I hope one day, all of you will visit this holy spot of Naropa and Tilopa in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Good luck,
Tsem Rinpoche
This is the beautiful statue of Saint Naropa inside his cave. The cave of course right next to the river I am sitting at to do pujas. Remember, the statue commemorates the very spot where Naropa did his meditations on Vajra Yogini. Where he gained attainments through Her practice. Very holy indeed. A must visit pilgrimage spot for everyone especially those who are captivated by Vajra Yogini…
Click here to read The Life and Teaching of Naropa, a biography of the Indian Mahasiddha Naropa by Herbert Guenther. Naropa’s lineage of Vajrayogini practice was transmitted to Tibet and has become the most widespread within Tibetan Buddhism.
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I have been to this sacred place once. I like this place as very peace and calm. I wish can visit this place once again and spend more time over there.
How wonderful it is to be doing puja at a holysite like Naropa’s Cave in Kathamndu,Nepal.
Very blessed and peaceful place to be. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this beautiful place of Naropa’s cave while doing puja. ?
Thank you for great info about Naropa and Tilopa. With the help of this artical i was able to find this cave near Pashupatinath.
The journey to a holy site is to connect our devotions and commitments to the Buddha’s teachings. It connects us with blessed energy where great masters, Mahasiddhas and holy beings practiced sincerely, gained realizations and selflessly spreading the dharma for the sake of countless sentient beings. With a good motivation together with prayers at the holy site, we create the cause to attain the same virtuous qualities of these holy beings.
Wow ….wonderful doing puja and prayers at where the cave of Great Mahasiddha Naropa and his Guru Tilopa did medidation. A peaceful quiet place where the flow of water can be heard and the atmosphere surrounding it so beautiful,greenery and rocky rocks mountain.Beautiful statues of Naropa and Tilopa found in both of the Holy caves.Thats where Naropa did his meditations on Vajra Yogini. I am blessed too just seeing those pictures shared by Rinpoche.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing us about the Holy caves of Naropa.Do hope i got a chance to visit these beautiful place.
Thank you, Rinpoche, for sharing with us pictures of Naropa’s Cave and the puja done next to the cave. Naropa’s Six Yogas is the complete instruction for higher tantric practice on VajraYogini. Therefore, it is very beneficial for us to make a connection with Naropa and make the aspiration to receive VajraYogini’s initiation. I pray that I can visit Naropa’s Cave one day.
This is a picture of me in the Naropa caves during a pilgrimage trip to Nepal in June 2011. It was my first time being in a such a holy cave where direct visions of Vajrayogini was seen and Mahamudra Enlightenment was achieved. The feeling was surreal.
I remembered the stories told to us of Naropa unwavering guru devotion in this holy pilgrimage site itself. When Naropa finally met Tilopa, not once did he receive a kind word but was instead being ignored and received numerous beatings. Yet, Naropa persevered and remained by Tilopa’s side for 12 years, begging food and serving him in all things.
Since then, this story has always served as a reminder to me to never give up when a training of eliminating the ego gets difficult.
It would definitely be nice to visit this site again to recharge.
Very nice place. Am very fortunate to able to do offerings in the cave. 🙂
Dear Rinpoche,
It was an honour for me to be able to visit the various VajraYogini temples and sites in Nepal. The ones that stood out most were the VY temples at Pharping and Bijaswari. The recent pilgrimage I had the humbling opportunity to embark on led me to ‘feel’ and further believe that VY is real. I could somehow feel Her presence and energy at these 2 places, and also at Naropa’s cave. Although still far from her practice, it has made me believe that she is authentic and achievable. I see that everywhere in Nepal, there’s either a statue of VY or thangka being sold.
Naropa’s cave where he mediated on Vajrayogini was especially nice as I can imagine the environment there, like in the Nepal Ladrang (in Naranthan), being so conducive to his practice/meditations during his time. If not for Naropa’s vision, we wouldn’t have the sacred images, statues and thangkas of Vajrayogini today at Kechara House, and if Naropa didn’t pass on this sacred lineage then, we wouldn’t even have the sight of the Diamond Lady here in Malaysia. How holy to have been able to visit the source and root of Vajrayogini’s practice.
Thank you Rinpoche, for bringing the sacred Diamond Lady to us over here in Malaysia.
Carmen
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing these pictures of you performing a puja in such a tranquil and sacred place near Naropa’s cave.
Yes it brings back wonderful memories of our pilgrimage to Nepal in 2008, with Rinpoche as our Guide and Teacher. We visited Naropa’s cave at night and this visit was one of the innumerable gems of experiences that we were so privileged to enjoy with Rinpoche explaining, teaching, performing prayers and giving us his blessings at each sacred site.I could visualize (in the darkness) how Tilopa caught fish from the river and cooked them and ate them much to the consternation of Naropa. My mind was (and is even now)still like the mind of Naropa at that point of his meeting with his teacher. – narrow, concept-bound and close.
Nevertheless, this trip, I think ,opened my mind to the limitless possibilities of borderless compassion of great saints and mahasiddhas like Naropa and his teacher,Tilopa. IN the cave that night, when Rinpoche held my sister, Su Ming and me together in a ‘hold of great compassion and love’, I thought I caught a glimpse of how the wondrous and glorious Vajrayogini could come and free our minds via the compassion without boundaries that she shares with my Lama and all Holy Beings.
Rinpoche, I am awed to be with you in this still and sacred place. Funny how cyber-space cuts through place and time, so that the essence of your puja in a place far away geographically from where I sit, and from years ago, can still touch my heart. Thank you, I am honored; it is a great privilege to join a great Teacher such as yourself in an intimate puja.
I do not know a lot about Naropa, and did not know of his relationship with Vajra Yogini. But I have read and am inspired by the story of the trials he endured based on devotion to his Teacher. I have read and re-read and contemplated that many times since living at Dakini Valley! Years ago Jetsunma suggested that instead of reading glossy magazines about movie stars etc, we read about the lives of great Buddhist Saints. Naropa was my choice! It is funny how we have super-hero characters that we watch movies about…yet Saints like Naropa are true super-heroes who awaken to the amazing, miraculous, ordinary-mind-bending capacity of Bodhicitta. If only we could ‘get’ that the seed of being a super-hero beyond comprehension exist with in us all. May the blessings of Naropa continue to flourish until time has ceased. Thank you.
In the year 2008 Rinpoche took a group of Malaysian Pilgrims to Nepal to visit holy places. Then he decided to stay back and do meditations on his own at Naropa and Tilopa’s cave. Before the visit to Nepal and to Naropa’s cave, Rinpoche has also gone to a cave on the Thailand border near a Monastery to do meditation. This cave has a lot of bats. I visited Rinpoche
at the Monastery. He showed us where he go and meditate. It was at this Monastery that he met fat monk. Fat monk was a monk at the Monastery and they became friends. When Rinpoche returned to Malaysia fat monk followed and joined Kechara House. Today Rinpoche has a Cave in Malaysia. He don’t need to go anywhere else.
I like the pictures of Rinpoche performing puja by the river. I’ve never been to Nepal and after reading all the posts above, I would like to go there one day. But if I don’t get to go, it’s all right too. I’ve never been on a real pilgrimage before. Although I’ve visited many holy places, it was more as a tourist. One thing I’d really like to do is to go on retreats, like Rinpoche. I hope to go to Gaden too because it’s the mother monastery. It’d be great if KWPC becomes a famous retreat centre and I can do retreats there. It is nearby and very convenient.
I had the privilege to be in this pilgrimage with Rinpoche in 2008. It is one of the most memorable spiritual journeys if not the best that I have ever had.
We would have been mere tourists knowing nothing much about these sacred tourist attractions. But Rinpoche had tirelessly given us teachings and explanations at every holy site that we had visited in Nepal. Rinpoche helped us to appreciate and understand the spiritual significance of each holy site.
Rinpoche helped and guided us in our prayers and even personalized our prayers at these places.
Rinpoche prepared us well even before the trip began by giving us a teaching about the benefits of pilgrimage. That ensured we have had a meaningful spiritual journey.
The best and most unforgettable experience of the entire trip is the opportunity to be with Rinpoche in the Naropa’s Cave while Rinpoche was performing a puja. So many blessings for me!
In this trip we have visited many sacred Vajrayogini temples or chapels. I have studied about Vajrayogini, Naropa, Tilopa, Pamtingpa Brothers without much appreciation of these holy beings. But now I have greater appreciation and stronger affinities with them after the pilgrimage.
It was a very fast-paced, informative, educational, fun, exciting and sacred pilgrimage.
Thank You Rinpoche.
The surroundings of Naropa and Tilopa caves are breathtaking and surreal. I was there when Rinpoche took all 60 of us on a pilgrimage. I felt like I had travelled back in time a few centuries ago. I could just sit by the river all day, taking in the serenity and crisp air. The energies around these holy caves would calm anyone who’s in a bad mood.
I highly recommend everyone who’s going to Kathmandu to visit these caves. For more exciting holy places to visit, please enquire with Kechara Discovery. They’ll take you to holy sites that are not even open to tourists.
Dearest Joey,
Of course you are able to serve with such devotion. At the end of the day it’s our choice. You are indeed very lucky to have the merits for the guru to give you advices and teachings. Not many have the merits like you have.
The guru will never give you task or instructions which you cannot accomplish. At the beginning, you might think that it is impossible but if we push ourselves, whatever task given or assigned is possible. Look at Margaret, she never knew she could paint when Rinpoche told her about her hidden talent. Instead of not believing the guru, she chose to believe, thus look at all the art pieces she has produced. Look at what Rinpoche has posted on Margaret at
http://blog.tsemtulku.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/2010/07/margarets-fantastic-paintings.html
As and when you attain the opportunity to serve Rinpoche, it is important for you to always trust your Guru instead of cheating yourself out of the opportunity.
Naropa and Tilopa were very important figures of Tibetan Buddhism and it is very significant of Rinpoche to visit the site of 2 Mahasiddhas who started our Vajrayogini lineage. It was also them that demonstrated what Guru Devotion is really all about. In fact, their stories do make me shiver as it was incredibly strong to the point that there was no wrong perception left in Naropa’s mind. And it was because of that he got instant results when he did the practices that Tilopa prescribed. The results were there because Naropa was very clear of what Tilopa wanted and he did it without putting his projections on Tilopa’s instructions.
I hope that one day I may be able to serve Rinpoche with such devotion or at least make my mind less resistant to Rinpoche’s advice and teachings.
I feel extremely envious that Kechara did organise a pilgrimage trip to Kathmandu, Nepal. So wish that moment I was there to join for such a holy place. Maybe I like such a buddhism country, I have arranged to visit there in this coming September with friend. A few purposes visiting there, main one is for trekking. Also, to make a simple pilgrimage trip for myself and my friend. We have planned our trip with reference to one of the Kechara publications, i.e. “Vajayogini” and certainly the first destination to visit in Kathmandu is Kechara Lounge (expecting to get more resources there, maybe???) and the rest of the holy places, Naropa’s Cave would be one of them too! Also, we manage to get connected with Jonang Buddhist Monastery in Kathmandu through its website of “littlelama”. Our conscience prompt us that we should do something to them. Well, we are now accummulating cash donation from friends and relatives and will convert it to goods and gift to the little lama, hope this would somehow give them some “fun”. To-date, we got USD1K now!!! During the trek, we are ready with our mala bead, to chant for 108x of mantra, both day and night, and dedicate to the natural force. Working hard to memorise the Sanskrit and Chinese heart sutra now! Wonder the surrounding spirits would just sit beside us to enjoy our chanting???!!!
Rinpoche’s pilgrimage with his student to Nepal has reminded of my personal visits to Tsem Rinpoche’s house in Gaden. I had taken small groups of Rinpoche’s students and friends to Gaden to visit Rinpoche when Rinpoche went back to Gaden to stay. And this trips went on every year untill 1996 when Rinpoche came back to Malaysia again and made his last trip back to Gaden Monastery in 1998 and stayed for a while in Gaden. I was there with him. I steyed for 8 months in his house. And had the opportunity to do lots of retreats with Tsem Rinpoche’s Guru H.E. Kensur Jampa Yeshe Rinpoche, under Tsem Rinpoche Guidance. I will never forget the times I spent with Tsem Rinpoche’s monks and household. I really do want to go Gaden again. And I do miss all the sanghas there. If not for me visiting Tsem Rinpoche during the time when Rinpoche was in Gaden Monastery I would not be able to visit Bodhgaya now. Rinpoche has practically pushed me to go to Bodhgaya asit is very important for a Buddhist to visit Bodhgaya at least once life time. Thank you Rinpoche for giving and arranging me to go to this Holy place. And I shall always remember the times we spent in Gaden Monastery. Those years has benefitted me a lot.
Naropa shows true and infinite guru devotion towards one of the great saints, Tilopa. Tilopa did not really bothered about Naropa until after a while. Tilopa gave very nice teachings to the fortunate Naropa, so Naropa became a mahasiddha! That is what I think of the story.
I would like to visit the two special caves one day for pilgrimage, these two caves are going to be in the top twenty of the places I want to visit on pilgrimage when I get the fortunate chance. I want to feel the great vibes of the spiritual energy in the caves, I never really been into a real cave other than the local Batu Caves of Malaysia.
I have been to Nepal twice in year 2004, Octorber with Rinpoche, datin Ng, Henry, Ruby and Chia 6 of us. My second trip to Nepal early year 2005, of couse led by Rinpoche and with a group of 50 plus people.Nepal’s Holy sites and Pilgrimage trip was one of my 1st trip in my life that I have visited.
Unfortunely, due the schedule and my karma, I didn’t have chance to follow again in year 2008, to visit Naropa’s Cave.
I heard from Henry Naropa’s cave is very special, especially the atmosphere and the feelings are very nice and wonderful.
I like the people there! The Nepalese are friendly and especially the taxi driver are sincere and honest. The holy sites that I have visited so far, A few of Varjayogini shrines, Self Arising Tara, Guru Rinpoche’s Meditation Cave, Swayumbunath ( Temple of Monkeys ), Tara shrine and of course the Stupa of Boudanath, which I like very much there. I am able to circumabulate around the stupa and shopping there!
Surronding Boudanath Stupa there are shops selling Buddha’s images, books, cards, clothers, silver ware and etc and etc…
May Kechara Discovery arrange this trip again soon, hopefully it’ll be my family’s 1st pilgrimage trip and lead my Rinpoche. Thank You.
angel
This Nepal trip in 2008 led by Rinpoche is one of the few that I had the privilege to be in the entourage.
Not only did we go to Naropa’s cave but we visited many other holy historical sites: a few Vajrayogini shrines, Self Arising Tara shrine, Guru Rinpoche’s meditational cave, Swayumbunath (Temple of the Monkeys), Tara Shrine, to name a few. Of course, Boudanath Stupa is a must.
The dharma teachings Rinpoche expounded on the history of all these holy places were very informative to first timers who visited and to those who have been before.
It was a sight to behold for the local Nepalese to witness a group of people being led around by Rinpoche in his flowing maroon robes. Some fortunate locals and tourist had the merit to receive blessing from Rinpoche too.
Again, more new Kecharians are asking when will be the next pilgrimage, of course to be led by Rinpoche. When, Paul, of Kechara Discovery?
Wow! what wonderful peaceful pictures, they make me think of childhood summer holidays when i hadn’t a care in the world, when everything was right just as it was. Oh to feel that way again 🙂
Reading this blog brings back good memories. In fact, every trip with Rinpoche anywhere is memorable. This place is Naropa and Tilopa’s cave in Pashupatinah. We arrived there very late in the evening and it turned dark very soon (it was October when we were there and was autumn). And soon enough it became very very dark with only light from our torch lights, handphones and of course from butterlamps. A river flowed besides this cave (where Tilopa caught his fishes??) and across this river is a local temple having a festival. The whole temple was illuminated as they lighted torches all over the temple grounds. What a magnificent sight. It was almost like the settings of Indiana Jones. Wow! I wish i could capture that moment to share with everyone!
Rinpoche looks really at home in these 2 photos, like a simple monk with nothing really attached to, so peaceful and serene. I hope one day many of us will be able to do pujas with Rinpoche in the outdoors, with trees around, candles, and a stream flowing by.
This brings back fond memories of our pilgrimage trip to Nepal in 2008. I remember we had to walk for a long time in order to get up to Naropa’s cave. It was very dark and we all have to light a candle and do our prayer. Very beautiful. Rinpoche was so kind to have everyone of us to take a photo with him inside the cave. I kept this photo dear in my heart, a photo with my guru in Naropa’s cave where Vajrayogini was the main meditational yidam! Yes, I did make a aspirational prayer there that I would accumulate enough merits and be the suitable receptor to receive this empowerments from you. Do check out more beautiful photos on this link
http://www.kechara.com/publications/publications/vajra-series/vajrayogini-and-other-sacred-power-places-in-nepal/
Look out for Kechara Discovery http://www.kechara.com/travel/ who is an arm of Kechara that organise pilgrimages to the holy sites.
I too was one of the fortunate ones who were on this pilgrimage trip with Rinpoche. It was really a blessing being able to visit so many holy places and chapels with Rinpoche.
Rinpoche had patiently explained to us the history and the significant of each and every one of the holy sites interspersing dharma talks in between. What more can one asks for during a pilgrimage trip!
Naropa’s Cave was one of my favourite places as well. We first went there during the night, hiking down to the river side under the shine of our torch lights. The sound of water flowing down the river and the leaves of the trees rustling above us was so soothing and calming.
Rinpoche did puja in the Naropa’s Cave and every one of us was blessed by Rinpoche in the cave after the puja.
A group of us went back to the cave the very next day during the day time. Down the stream not far from the cave, there is the famous Hindu holy site of Pashupatinath where cremation happens by the river side everyday.
Death is the ‘grand finale’ of lives where no one can escape, be it you are rich or poor. One came without material wealth and go empty handed, bringing along the black and white karma we created during our life time.
This is a lesson for us to contemplate, the meaning of our life. Whether we choose to chase after material wealth which brings us no where or like Naropa who had gone through ‘the toughest’ training with His Guru Tilopa and in the end gained enlightenment within one life time!!!! YOU CHOOSE!!!!!!
These pictures of Rinpoche is my favourite of all photos taken of Him. I have seen plenty of really nicely taken photos but none can come close to these take in Nepal while Rinpoche is meditating and conducting a puja. The first time i laid my eyes on it i taught to myself Rinpoche is about to attain enlightenment : ). Something is very auspicious about it and i think it brings out the very best of Rinpoche in such environment.
I really wish one fine day i could get the opportunity to go on a pilgrimage and retrace back the footsteps of Lord Tsongkhapa or Lord Sakyamuni. It will be such a blessings.
How fortunate for all of us who could make it to the holy pilgrimage led by Rinpoche in 2008.It was the first time I understood how to create the causes for things to happen as the trip was on off on off. If we truly value something its amazing that no matter how and what the circumstances , we will be able to achieve it. I am sure all those who made the trip will agree with me on this.
So even before the actual trip we already received blessings!
Rinpoche was the ultimate tour guide and protector, not only pointing out interesting places and making sure we absorb knowledge in the power places of Buddhism but also looking after everybody like a mother.
I will never miss any pilgrimage with Rinpoche in the future. Anyone wanting to connect with sacredness should not miss such opportunities ever.
I was there too! I love Naropa’s and Tilopa’s caves because of their spiritual significance and the devotion that Naropa had for his master Tilopa. I just can’t believe that all this devotion happened here by the river. The times Tilopa blessed Naropa with beatings, shoutings and then pure Dharma talks.
All this happened here and th fact Naropa persevered through all the rigourous spiritual training. It shows with Naropa speedy awakening when he was initiated into Vajravarahi’s practice (Vajrayogini’s predecessor). Then Naropa was able to perceive Vajrayogini directly and receive Vajrayogini’s practice with an initiation from the diamond yogini herself.
All this is also reflective of Tilopa’s pure attainments to be able to this and I love that these stories are real and there is a real place where all that happened. It is very inspirational for many of us because all of us would like to receive Vajrayogini and earn the same attainments as Naropa. This place truly inspires us and with some heartfelt prayers, we hoped that we had created this cause.
I had collaborated with Paul Yap on a coffee table book chronicling and telling the story of the various sacred power places that Rinpoche brought us on this trip to Nepal. Check it out on… http://www.kechara.com/publications/publications/vajra-series/vajrayogini-and-other-sacred-power-places-in-nepal/
The 2008 Kathmandu pilgrimage is a very memorable experience for me. The itenary was fully packed with visits to different temples and monasteries. We would not have been able to visit many of these sacred places if not for Rinpoche.
At each holy place of worship Rinpoche patiently gave us detailed historical information, chanted prayer with us and guided us on how to pay homage to the deities at these powerful locations.
I can remember vividly the many candle offerings we made around Naropa’s cave. Small groups of not more than three took turn to receive Rinpoche ‘s blessing inside the holy cave so as to plant the seed of enlightenment in our mind streams.
Thank you, Rinpoche.
It is a privilege to be able to go with Tsem Rinpoche on any of his pilgrimage trips to Gaden Monastery in India or Nepal to visit the stupas, caves and holy shrines as his students. It is my wish to be able to join at least one of these trips later.
Performing puja, doing meditation and contemplating in caves used by holy Mahasiddhas or tantric saints is a rare opportunity. What is even rarer is to perform a puja together with your own guru in Naropa’s cave who achieved enlightenment in one lifetime. In Wikipedia, Naropa was an expert in the six yogas, also known as six exercises of Naropa.
I had the merit to join the pilgrimage trip to kathmandu in 2008 OCT. This trip considered the most precious trip i ever had, not so much the sightseeing, not so much the culture, not so much the food..etc. Every single chapel, temple, statues, prayers we went through together with Rinpoche amazed me a lot. My mind was like a sponge , wanted to absorb teachings Rinpoche gave us during the entire pilgrimage trip.
I remebered there was a talk about TOLERANCE, without tolerance we always give up on ppl, give up works etc.We have to tolerate even our enemy in order to have real happiness.
Rinpoche empahasized many times, this trip was not to pray for ourselve but to our enemies, to the people had been hurting us, the opposite way of what we always operating at …SIMPLE YET POWERFUL TEACHING!!
PS: a bit of shameless self promotion: I’ve described Nepal and talked about those precious experiences of being in Nepal those few months with Rinpoche in my book Call Me Paris. Lots more goodies, adventures and revelations there 🙂
hehe I must agree that Rinpoche really looks right at home there among this most spiritual site in Kathmandu. Nepal holds a lot of significance for Rinpoche (and now, Kechara) – he’s related many stories to us about the “Adventures” he had with his Gurus here, and how this was the first place he arrived at in Asia, before going on to the monastery in India.
Now, we return full circle with the setting up of Kechara Lounge. That pilgrimage in 2008 started out as just 5 days, but became an extended stay of 6 months where Kechara, under Rinpoche’s guidance, set up the lounge and Tsem Ladrang Kathmandu, and began creating a strong presence of Tsem Rinpoche and Kechara among Nepal’s most highly visited sites.
Nepal is such an “easy” place to do this – everyone there is spiritually inclined and has much respect and love for any kind of religion. Apart from nightmare power cuts, nightmare roads and general inefficiency of things (!), I would trade it for all our 1st-world conveniences. The pervasive air of spirituality that runs throughout the country and the ease and support with which we can engage in spiritual practice makes it such a beautiful place to be.
Things are shiny and beautiful back home, but there is always something slightly “empty” and lacking. Nepal has nothing but is so “full”. All we can really aspire towards, is to create this same consciousness and love right here where we are – we owe it to the world!
Rinpoche, you really do look ‘at home’ in these two photos. I had to take a double-look and see the full-size photo coz at a glance it almost looks too surreal and unbelievable. I remember listening to you explaining to Thierry and Andrew your dream house and how you didn’t like oceans but lakes and how you didn’t like the interior but the exterior to be the main focus. You said that the feeling of being in the house should be like you’re living outside. I can see why now, this place seems to compliment you, nice trees, by the river and from what I can make out from the photo living areas that are embedded into the mountain (hill?).
It’s breath-taking and reinvigorating! I can only imagine what the energy of the place must’ve felt like. I’m happy that you were able to do a puja there and share with the care-takers of such a beautiful place, photos and impart some knowledge.
I hope to one day be able to do a little retreat in a similar place like Naropa’s Cave, although there could be nothing else like it.
I was one of the pilgrims to this spot, both with the group of 60 then later on again with my wife. I really love this place too. About 100m’s or so away is the hindu temple where cremation happens daily, a great reminder of impermanence to watch the human body burn on the pyre.
You can really cast yourself back in time to feel what it would be like to be in meditational retreat by the side of the river. There is one youtube video that shows Rinpoche doing the puja http://bit.ly/a7Ax27, you see what I mean? I would to do just as Rinpoche did one day. Hopefully I still have my motor skills, and health to do it.
Hi Inna,
Yes the location is just upstream of the famouns Hindu holy site of Pashupatinath. I had the privilege of going on pilgrimage with Rinpoche and was physically there when these photos were taken. I do not know about the growing Buddhist statue, but if you were to walk up the steps cut into the cliff face, there are two little caves, one dedicated to the Mahasiddha Naropa, and the other to his Guru Tilopa. These are the ACTUAL CAVES where these two Indian masters meditated and practiced. Wow!
Within each of these caves are images of the two mahasiddhas, and during the our pilgrimage to Nepal in 2008 (organised by Kechara Discovery http://www.kechara.com/travel/) we lucky pilgrims had the opportunity to join Rinpoche in doing a short puja and meditation at this holy site. I still get goosebumps whenever I think about that moment.
For more info about that particular pilgrimage to Nepal, please click here http://www.kechara.com/travel/travel-with-us/past-pilgrimages/kathmandu-nepal-2008/
Is that near Pashupatinat? If yes, then there
is also one famous Buddhist statue growing every year!