Monasteries Galore

Today we are continuing our exploration of Tibet with visits to the oldest and largest monasteries, Drepung and Sera Monasteries. Each used to be home to over 10,000 monks; today only about 500 monks plus lay people live there. Drepung is about 5 miles outside of Lhasa, and it felt like another 10,000 feet above our current 14,000 feet, but not really. It was just a LOT of steep stairs. No need for Molly's triathlon training here, we're getting our exercise just breathing in and out, thank you. We wish we could post our pictures to date, but even this new internet connection we've found is slowwww.

Each monastery is a combination of the old and the new. Some construction of original structures date back to the 7th century on through to the 17th century. Today, the Chinese government is making improvements to each site so they are all under construction. Inside, you'll find many chapels, teaching rooms, meditation rooms. The chapels are filled with both old and new statues of all the many Buddha's...there are so many our heads are starting to spin. Molly's favorite is White Tara, the goddess of Wisdom. Although, according to our Mongolian friends, the "god" linked to Molly's birth year is Buddha himself. David's "god" is something we can't pronounce, but we'll show you the beautiful tapestry depicting the god when we return. Not only are the statues of Tibetan Buddha's, but also Tantric (Indian) Buddhas, and former Tibetan kings, as well as the 1st through 13th Dalai Lama's and their respective Buddhas.

There are many pilgrims from all over the countryside paying homage at these monasteries. While David and Molly show their respect by occasionally bowing heads and genuflecting with prayerful hands, these folks are constantly mumbling prayers, prostrating (actually laying on the ground), and fingering prayer beads. We were each given a set of beads in Mongolia and know the chants that go along with them.

Speaking of old and new, the monks are dressed in the traditional crimson robes. They are present in each room, to make sure tourists don't take pictures. Not that pictures take away any of the spiritual significance; but pictures are an extra charge. Add more yuan if you want to take video. So we don't have much film from inside the monasteries. While the monks are chanting in prayer, their cell phones ring deep inside their robes...it's really funny to hear a popular song being played as a ringtone from inside a candle-lit chapel.

More later, and hopefully, some pictures from our last couple of days. We'll pray to the buddha of the internet!