Tengboche Rinpoche has always encouraged conservation of culture and 
the environment. Recently, these ideas have become more widely 
shared, and are promoted by many people, including H.H. The Dalai 
Lama. It is due to Tengboche Rinpoche's blessing and encouragement 
that this Sacred Land Eco Center has been established. It is hoped 
that visitors will find it interesting and enjoyable and that the 
income from it will help strengthen the monastery and support further 
environmental work.

A long time ago there was a prophesy made by Guru Rinpoche that when 
the iron bird flew over the Potala Palace in Tibet, then the 
teachings of the Buddha would move to the west. Tengboche Rinpoche 
believes that this means they will flourish in Nepal, in the hidden 
valleys like Khumbu, mentioned by Guru Rinpoche as being sanctuaries 
in the difficult times of this age.

Alternatives to tourism.
Rinpoche has often said that the Sherpas need some alternatives to 
tourism for their economic survival. This is one of the many reasons 
why he is encouraging the medicinal herb plantation.

He has also often mentioned the importance of education and 
would like to see a good boarding school established in Khumbu. This 
would mean that Sherpa children, whose parents are working in the 
trekking industry, would not have to be sent to Kathmandu, where the 
climate and culture are so different.

Rinpoche often says that it is extremely important to help 
strengthen the Buddhist institutions now. Many monks go to Kathmandu 
or India where there are many distractions, but it is quieter in the 
Himalayas, more conducive to meditation. However it is not good 
enough for monasteries to look perfect from the outside, if inside 
they are not alive anymore.

Rinpoche hopes to make at Tengboche a center for learning. It would 
mean a unique opportunity for a tradition of study in a Himalayan 
environment similar to old Tibet. Monks would then be more prepared 
to go to other remote places to teach and help. Previously, head 
lamas always came from very far away, isolated places. They did not 
care for nice clothing, but only for meditation. Rich monks very 
rarely reached accomplishment. In general, rich people do not study 
and meditate much.

Tourists come from very far away and it costs them a lot of money. 
Many are very intelligent and they wonder why they are happy here. 
They think that Nepalese are happy minded people. They see poor, but 
happy people here. They are not happy at home because they cannot get enough, even though they are rich.

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