Tashilhunpo Monastery｜The Heart of Tsang｜Hot, Quiet, Majestic

At the end of October, there were hardly any tourists in Shigatse, and the temperament of the city itself became more prominent. My mother said that Shigatse was closer to the Tibetan city she knew than Lhasa. We all liked this city of sunshine.
Because I still had symptoms of altitude sickness, I only arranged one day in Shigatse, mainly to visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug sect and the residence of successive Panchen Lamas.
Built in 1447, Zha Monastery has witnessed the rise and fall of the Gelugpa sect and played an extremely important role in the history of Tibet, where politics and religion are combined. It is known as the heart of western Tibet. The 10th Panchen Lama made tremendous contributions to promoting the reunification of the motherland. Although his life was short, he is remembered by thousands of Tibetans. I did some research on the documentary before going there. I admired the wisdom and character of this living Buddha. He truly deserves to be remembered in history.
When I walked into Zha Temple, although I had no religious faith, I could feel the grandeur and solemnity of this place, which was different from other Yellow Sect temples. Under the sunlight, the red and white walls create a duality of heat and coldness. The branches of the century-old trees are thick and strong, revealing a vitality that transcends time. The most impressive thing is the 30-meter-high Qamba Buddha, which is the highest bronze Qamba Buddha statue in the world. It is said that it took 110 craftsmen four years to complete and used a large amount of gold and treasures. The Jampa Buddha in Tibetan Buddhism is the Maitreya we are familiar with. Although their appearances are different, they are both future Buddhas who are in charge of human wisdom, well-being, and compassion. At this moment, the golden Buddha shows the majesty of God in the silent Buddhist temple. But if I could really have a conversation with Buddha, I would like to ask him what he thinks of this statue, whether it is pride or a burden, or an irreconcilable obsession of human beings that cannot be transcended. I have never been able to understand why we use worldly treasures to build a concrete statue of a transcendental god or Buddha, and to pray for an unknown future.
Although religion always confuses me, Tashilhunpo Monastery is definitely worth a visit. Its name means "Auspicious Mount Sumeru" in Tibetan, and there are so many Buddhist artistic achievements and unique architectural styles worth a closer look. Be sure to do some research before going. I recommend the CCTV documentary "Tashlumpo Monastery" to give you a general idea.
Tips: You can take the bus tourist line or take a taxi directly from the train station. No reservation required, buy tickets on site. Tickets are 85 during peak season.

Post by TastyTemptations | Nov 27, 2023