Adventures of the Blue-eyed Bear

The Blue-Eyed Bear has made her way around Mt Kailash completing the circumambulation of the sacred Mountain. She stated between the two sacred Lakes Manasaraowar and Raksas Tal at 14,950 ft in elevation.  From Tarchen chorten (No.1) she proceeded on a clock-wise path on the great Mountain Kora, a 32 mile trek. Tarchen chorten or Buddhist monument sits at 15,100 ft. Next major stop was Dirapuk Gompa (No.6) at 16,200 ft. A Gompa is a Buddhist monastery of which there are three (No 5,6,8) on the main circuit serving as way stations for pilgrims. On to the highest point in the trek the beautiful Dolma La pass (No 7) is at 18,600 ft. This pass is dedicated to Tara, Dolma in Tibetan, the Goddess of Compassion. 

Photo Credit: Dimitry Arkhipov 2014

Just southeast of the Dolma La pass the Bear stopped to drink from the highest fresh water lake Gaurikund, Thugje Chenpo Tso in Tibetan, at 18,264 ft, it is pictured here still iced over.  Upon finishing her trek around sacred Kailash the Blue-eyed Bear left this Bear carved offering on the Mountain. It says Om Mani Padme Hum, Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus. Because the Bear did this trek in the Year of the Horse sacred for pilgrimage to Tibetans (the Tibetan New Year doesn’t start until Feb.21, 2015 it is a wood sheep year) the Bear gains the merit of 12 circumambulations of the Mountain allowing her proceeded on a inner trek or Kora to Mt Nandi (Map No.1, 2, 3). Nandi is Shiva’s riding bull and servant and a deity in his own right. What other adventures await the Bear on the Tibetan plateau? 

The Blue-eyed Bear is on her way to Mt. Kailash in western Tibet. the mountain standing some 22,028 ft is the axis mundi of the center of the world for Tibetan Bonpo, Tibetan Buddhists, Hindus, and Jains.  One does not climb this mountain one circles its base on foot to gain great spiritual merit. 

Along the way the Bear is meeting some of the locals and making new Friends.

The Bear’s new fiend is also a helpful guide on this spiritual quest. Will the Blue-eyed Bear make it al the way around Kailash before the New Year breaks? Stay tuned!