HOLY MOUNT KAILASH

Kailash – The Heart and Soul of Tibet Beyond the Himalayan mountain range, in one of the highest and loneliest spots on the planet, the extraordinary rocky pyramid rises, named Kailash by the ancient inhabitants of Asia. There are few places on Earth comparable to the mysterious, stunningly beautiful and completely isolated Mt Kailash, which lies well hidden in a remote and deserted region of western Tibet. In order to understand the importance of holy Mt Kailash it is necessary to know that it is considered the legendary abode of the gods. The top of its massive pyramid is the home of the highest deities of four great religions which traditionally worship the mountain. That is why believers come to its foot to pay their respect, each in their own way. One circle around the mountain (54 km) is symbolically one revolution of the wheel of life or the cycle from birth to death. This, simultaneously, brings about the purification and forgiveness of all sins committed in this lifetime. The Valley of the Gods This was the land of the Sun. In this spot I started to understand the difference between the world that I was coming from and the one that was standing before me. I stood on the plateau from which Kailash can be seen, the tall lord of all the mountains, and I prostrated myself before the primordial, raw beauty which shone in the extraordinarily silent midday sun with all the hues of perfectly pure colours. This is without doubt the most beautiful spot on Earth, the spot where the sky and the land meet in the most sublime way. This is Shambala! For me, Shambala is no longer an unknown land, but the place where I felt a strong impulse to start a new life. I slowly realised that this was perhaps that secret earthly paradise I had read about in the myths and legends of ancient peoples. Lake Rakas Tal West of Lake Manasarovar lies another lake, called Rakas Tal...People avoid going there... However, standing at the frozen shore, I was silenced by the lake’s formidable beauty. Never had I seen anything so magnificent in my whole life. Could sadness be so glorious? All of a sudden I felt perfectly at peace. Under a cloudless sky, I was surrounded by absolute silence... My mind drifted to a life that is now behind me. Everything seemed so inconsequential. It is so easy to be deluded by honours, glory, wealth, pride. The temptation of power and fame can deform a man and destroy his inner peace. What is it that the recognition of others has that so many around me crave it? Does not man’s only reward come from his own conscience? For some reason, in that spot and on that very day I became a true pilgrim – on the shores of the Lake of Sadness I unexpectedly and with eyes wide open set foot on my true path – a path of unimaginable possibilities. This was the world on the first day of creation and, for a moment, I was a part of that cosmic consciousness. Gone from me were the past and the future... The Kailash Kora The kora begins at a place called Tarboche, The Great Flag. In May, during the full moon, it is where the Saga Dawa, the grand celebration of the Buddha’s birthday and enlightenment takes place. ...The climb was steeper than the one we had covered the previous day. We were to apply all our strength to cross the Drolma La mountain pass. After every few steps I had to pause to get my breath back. What helped me a lot was mastering to rhythmically repeat the prayer Om mani padme hum. It corresponded to a deep inhalation with which I would try to fill my lungs with air. We were already at over 5500 metres and I was feeling fatigue and pain in my legs... ...We reached Drolma La pass at midday. My guides joyfully started singing, their voices echoing through the mountains and returning somehow amplified. These were moments of great happiness, when all the struggles of travelling are forgotten and replaced by sheer joy. This was the physical and spiritual climax of the pilgrimage because the Drolma La pass is considered the most holy spot on the trail and arrival there marks the beginning of a completely new life. It is also considered a great honour bestowed on the pilgrim... Potala – The Palace of Wisdom The Potala Palace is the mirror and essence of Tibetan civilization, culture, architecture and represents the symbol of the great wisdom and power of Tibet. Of all the buildings that I have seen, the size, location, form, composition and spirit of Potala left the deepest impact on me. None awoke in me such a strong and deep feeling of beauty and sublime existence. The palace expresses a superhumanly spiritual, purely metaphysical idea of its genius builders. No one is indifferent before Potala. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world and bears witness to the resplendent artistry of times gone by... ...The large staircases, accentuated with red friezes, emphasise the ascent towards the heavens. They look like natural pathways that lead upwards. Countless neatly arranged windows, like notes in a powerful musical composition, set a perfect rhythm. This frozen music, heard only by those who believe in it, leads the gaze of the visitor up to the heavens. The Monasteries ...The visitor is captivated by the particular atmosphere of Tibetan monasteries. Entering the monastery complex is like being pulled into a picture of deep cosmic symbolism, impossible to fully comprehend. Discovering the beauty and harmony of the architecture of the temples, the sculptures and the decorations, seems to serve the purpose of preparing the human mind for concentration, leading to the increase of conscious attention. In all the temples and monasteries one should always move in the direction that the planets move around the Sun – clockwise...