Samye Monastery... main arrival area

Just in front of the Utse is this large open courtyard. All arriving buses pull up here in a cloud of dust, while masses of pilgrims bustle around, coming, going and praying. The tall poles in the center of the courtyard are a part of every monastery we went to, but I do not know what the significance is. They are always layered in prayer flags and topped with yak hide. These poles are joined by a huge incense burner, kept full of smoking juniper boughs all day long.

The Best of Time and Space...

I know I have the best of time and space, and was never
measured and will never be measured

I tramp a perpetual journey, (come listen all!)
My signs are a rain-proof coat, good shoes, and a staff cut
from the woods
No friend of mine takes his ease in my chair
I have no chair, no church, no philosophy
I lead no man to a dinner table, library, exchange
But each man and each woman of you I lead upon a knoll
My left hand hooking you round the waist
My right hand ponting to landscapes of continents and the
public road.

Not I, not anyone else can travel that road for you,
You must travel it for yourself.

It is not far, it is within reach
Perhaps you have been on it since you were born and did not
know,
Perhaps it is everywhere, on water and on land.
~ Walt Whitman~

Samye Monastery...the Utse...

SOME HISTORY
Samye Monastery was Tibet's first monastery and has a long history, spanning over 1200 years! It represents the state's first efforts to allow Buddhism to set down roots in the country. The Bon religion prevailed in Tibet at this time and for a long time prior to Buddhism coming to the fore. Shortly after the founding Tibet's first seven monks were ordained here, and Indian and Chinese scholars were invited to assist in the translation of Buddhist texts into Tibetan. Before long, disputes erupted between followers of Indian and Chinese scholarship. These disputes culminated in the Great Debate of Samye, an event regarded as a crucial point in the course of Tibetan Buddhism. This was a debate over the approach to Buddhism, with the Indian approach being via textual study and scholarship, and the Chinese approach less about scholarly study and more about direct contemplation on the absolute nature of Buddhahood. The debates came out on the side of the Indian scholars, and Tibetan Buddhism, as we know it, was born.
Samye is deeply connected with Guru Rinpoche, who it is said killed the demons of Tibet on a hill overlooking the valley. Destroying these demons paved a safe path for Buddhism to enter Tibet.

Samye Monastery... the Utse... the main temple

The Utse was immense! The central tower had five stories, but we were only able to go up to the fourth level. It is truly an awe inspiring structure, literally honeycombed with small temples and chapels.

Samye Monastery... Moon Temple aka Monkey Temple...

Samye Monastery... Moon Temple... tantric doors

Samye Monastery... Moon Temple... ancient armor

Samye Monastery... Moon Temple... pack of pilgrims

We had just arrived at the Moon temple ourselves...

Samye Monastery... Moon Temple.. Buddha Hall

Samye Monastery... Moon temple... Scary Door!!

Samye Monastery... Moon temple Monkey

Samye Monastery... pilgrim truck

A dusty but frun ride!

Samye Monastery... statues inside the chortens

Samye Monastery... view of the black chorten

Samye Monastery... the green chorten

Samye Monastery... the green chorten

upclose!

Samye Monastery... a goood guy!

Samye Monastery... red chorten

with the black chorten in the background

Samye Monastery... altar

Samye Monastery... small shrine

Samye Monastery... Utse, the main chapel

Samye... dune animals

There were lots of cows grazing this grassy zone. Also the little goat/sheep we kept seeing everywhere. I wish we had a picture of my favorite residence of the dunes, but those jack rabbits moved way too fast!

Samye... journey to the dunes...

Here's where the trees and grass thin out totally, and the dunes take over.

Samye... views from the dunes

These dunes were amazing! We were surprised to find them, and actually had heard nothing about their existence until we noticed them from the top of the mountain the day before. We were so glad we had walked out to find them once we got there! It was an other-wordly spot, surely used by monks over the centuries for powerful meditation. It was, really a very short walk from the Monastery.

Samye... sunset on the dunes

Samye... water? here?

Strange, but true! We found many decent sized ponds in the "valleys" of alot of dunes. The closer in to the trees you got, the bigger the pools of water, until they flowed together into a river-like drainage system. Finding a place to cross the water without getting wet was challenging in that zone. We were doubly surprised to find a few cows down in the waterin holes as we came over the top of a few ridges. They looked a bit surprised but not to impressed by our arrival...

Samye... journey to the dunes...

We walked for about thirty minutes through this grassy area full of trees that you see in the background of our self portrait. The most trees I saw in one place in Tibet. There were alot of cows grazing in this grassy zone. But just beyond this lush zone we found a very large area of pure white, soft sandy dunes. Lots of fun to explore!

Samye... journey to the dunes...

Samye... while on the road around the monastery...

... we were overcome by a tidal wave of sheep and little sheep-goats. They were polite enough, parting way and giving us plenty of room. But they definately had places to be and were in quite a hurry...

Samye... Tashi Guesthouse

A very nice place to stay! We were the only guests and were given the largest, nicest room in the house.

Samye... Tashi restaurant w/ bigscreen TV!

AND NOW, HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS FROM A HILLBILLY-HOLLAR CHRISTMAS... brought to you by angels, and ham

Dad's-side-of-family family photo. Me, Mom, Sister, Niece and Gram and Grandad.
This year, as every year, I spent two weeks in Georgia at my Gram and Grandad's house. Here's a look at our Christmas fun...

Christmas family shot

My sister, Kailee and me, and my Mom, Grama Whoey and Didan... her parents. Their visit was such a treat and much appreciated! It made for an unforgettable holiday!