Monastery in Bupsa

Overview

When Moving Mountains first visited Bupsa, the monastery, 350 years old, was in a derelict state. The Maoist troubles had resulted in this part of the Solukhumbu region being bypassed by the popular Everest Base Camp Trail and the turmoil inflicted on village life resulting from the troubles saw the monastery largely abandoned.

Until recently (when Moving Mountains became involved) the village had no tourist income and villagers were struggling to make a living; most were almost entirely subsistent and many men, in particular, had left for Kathmandu, leaving women and children to struggle for survival in the village.

The structure was entirely renovated during several stages, re-plastered and re-painted by a specially trained painter who was able to depict scenes from Buddha’s life on every square inch of walls inside the building, creating a truly spectacular interior. The dry stone wall surrounding the monastery was in danger of collapse, so in 2009 a team of local villagers and Moving Mountains volunteers completed the full repair, with funding that the volunteers raised before traveling to Nepal.

The ‘School for Monks’ at the monastery is very popular in the community and children begin their studies there aged 6 or 7. The first four years is spent memorising all the words of the teachings of Buddha. This is followed by 5 years of ‘dharma’, understanding these teachings, and after this many different options are available to lama students. According to tradition, a family may promote one of their children to become a lama which bestows great honour upon that family.

At the start of 2010, several older lama students from Bupsa traveled to India to visit the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala and received an unprecedented 5-day personal sitting with his holiness, an incredible experience for everyone involved. (Tibetan Buddhism is the form of Buddhism generally followed and practiced in Nepal).