Click to view panel from the Sacred Land Exhibition
on Buddhism and Ecology at Tengboche Monastery

Hidden Valleys.
Guru Rinpoche, who is revered in the Himalayas as the second Buddha, stayed for three days in a cave above Khumjung. At this time the area was almost uninhabited, deeply forested and the glaciers from the Snow Mountains came much further down into the valleys. In ancient Tibetan texts, Guru Rinpoche described these valleys as hidden refuges that would become sanctuaries in future times of war and famine. In fact, it is only in the last 50 years that Tengboche has 
become exposed to the outside world.

Protecting Khumbu.
Khumbu'i Yulha, meaning " The god of the country Khumbu" was 
commanded by Guru Rinpoche to protect this hidden valley. His sacred abode is the 19,294-foot jagged Rock Mountain behind Tengboche, which is named Khumbila. Although Sherpas will climb Everest, it is forbidden by local custom to climb Kumbila as it would disturb the protective forces and jeopardize the safety and prosperity of the country.

Guardian of Everest.
The 8,848m mountain, now known as Everest, actually represents the 
sacred abode of one of the Five Tseringma Sisters of Long Life. The 
Tibetan name for Everest, Chomolungma, is a reference to 
Miyo-Langsangma, the Sister Goddess of the Earth who gives food. She rides a tiger and is very beautiful. In her right hand is a bowl with 
food and by her left side is a mongoose spitting jewels. Before 
climbing Everest Sherpas will make offerings of sweet smelling 
incense and hang prayer flags to ask for blessings and a safe return.

An Icy Graveyard.
However, these days the climbers do not come to honor the mountain 
but to fulfill personal ambition, sometimes regardless of the 
consequences. Over 1000 people will try to summit Mount Everest every year. Base camp is polluted and over crowded. Despite recent clean up efforts, trash and even corpses remain abandoned on the mountain. Most people who die on Everest are Sherpas. It is a silent and common death. By the year 2000, out of over 150 deaths, over one third were Sherpas.

Many think these tragedies and unusually bad weather on the 
mountain are a direct consequences of a lack of respect for the 
sanctity of the mountain.

"Tomorrow or the next life, you never know which will come first."
--High altitude porter commenting on his job.

Climbing accidents are now one of the major causes of death and 
injury amongst young Sherpas.