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TRAVEL BLOG ENTRY
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CHOBHAR BUDDHIST MONASTERY
Located atop Chobhar Hill Village, the Monastery is headed by Mingyur Rinpoche, a highly venerated teacher and master of the Karma Kakyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The VIIth Mingyur Dorje Rinpoche is President of the Yongey Foundation. In March of 2007, Yongey Mingyur Dorje Rinpoche released his first book “The Joy of Living” His father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche is one of the greatest meditation masters of our time. At 20, Mingyur Rinpoche was already a retreat master. Currently, there are 12 monks in residence at Chobhar, and periodically, the Monastery organises Nyung Ne retreats and other teachings. Mingyur Rinpoche teaches actively in the West and is connected to the Tergar Institute project in Bodhgaya, India.
15th CENTURY TEMPLE IN CHOBHAR
History relates that an Indian nun, Gelongma Palmo, who lived in the 8th century, actually practiced the original Nyung Ne ritual in CHOBHAR VILLAGE. Many centuries later, the Adinath Temple of Chobhar was dedicated to her. Today the Adinath Temple is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. Each year, up to 50,000 local people come to pray or worship at this famous Temple in the center of Chobhar Village. To the rear of what is essentially a Hindu site, one can note the presence of remarkably beautiful statues of Lord Buddha. In the main courtyard of the Temple, one can’t help but notice a very large sacred Dorje in brass and dozens of Buddhist prayer wheels. Legend has it that directly underneath the stone fount on which that Dorje rests lays the secret entrance to a cave or tunnel that goes all the way to the world famous Chobhar Gorge (created by legendary Goddess Manjushree, worshipped by the Buddhists) Interestingly, popular legend has it that this Goddess is an incarnate of Lord Buddha After all, was not Manjushree responsible for carving out all of Kathmandu Valley with one thrust of her sword? Chobhar Gorge is a ten minute cross-country walk from Chobhar Village Resort-Hotel. For directions, inquire from this one Hotel in the area 4 333 555. If you need a guide, the hotel Manager will arrange for you to hire a youth from the village, for the day or half day, A good way for you to help the local people, while at the same time providing the unemployed youth with pocket money!
ITINERARY ON THE WAY FROM CHOBHAR TO PHARPING (road to Dakshinkali)
FIRST STOP – Discover CHOBHAR GORGE – 1 km from Chobhar.
Stop to visit legendary Chobhar Gorge created by Goddess Manjushree
SECOND STOP - Stop to admire and take 20 minutes to admire this site of natural beauty – 3 kms from Chobhar.
If you travel by car, you can’t help to see it. Ask the driver to stop off and take the time to walk around this sacred lake, the only lake of it kind in this area. The lake harbours many wild birds, and is an integral part of the Bagmati/Pharping/Taudaha bird watching programme which can be arranged (details from Chobhar Resort Hotel, or phone 2191010, in Kathmandu) For more information, visit www.nepalvillageresort .com
THIRD STOP - SHESH NARAYAN - 5 kms from Chobhar on the same
While better known for its Temple, where there is a beautiful shrine richly endowed with history and art (lovely pond and fountains), visitors also have the possibility to visit a small monastery built on the hillock, a short walk up from the main road. If you arrive at the right time either early in the morning or mid-afternoon, you can hear the monks chanting and prayers, an enriching experience. The monks are always very welcoming.
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