Photo Journey of Asura Cave Retreat Center

The lovely stairs leading to the monastery! I think we counted 211 or so 1-way. Very nice exercise in the mornings!

View from one of the monastery balconies. Every morning, I drank tea on this balcony (0530-0600) watching the clouds mystically move into the valley. I also ended every evening on this balcony watching as the night enveloped the inhabitants below.

Stairs and prayer wheels leading to Asura Cave, birth place of Vajrayana Buddhism (Tibetan). I walked this path multiples times a day going to class.

Top of the stairs and around the corner. Notice the monastery is built right into the rock face. This narrow passage leads to the cave and more of the monastery beyond.

The legendary Asura Cave. From this cave, Padmasambhava (aka Guru Rinpoche) emerged in the 8th century claiming to be "awakened" or "enlightened" after years of disciplined meditation. His writings and teachings serve as the foundational basis for Vajrayana Buddhism. Many believe the rock face still holds the Guru Rinpoche's mystical powers. To this day, lay and monk alike, meditate within and without. Butter lamps are continually lit during waking hours.

 Across from the cave sits a Hindu shrine. Amazing!! Seated under the stupa are Vishnu's feet. They were originally found within the cave and later removed when the monastery arose around it. So, this site is significant to both Hindu and Buddhist. Just another day in Nepal!

Still on my way to class. Lovely view in the distance!

Look! A giant prayer wheel!

A chorten. Daily incense is offered and burned at numerous sites around the monastery.

A small gompa on the way to class. Monks and nuns chant in meditation within this room of shrines.

A few more steps. Almost to class!

Row of prayer wheels outside the classroom door.

Finally! This is the shrine room, our classroom. You can see some of the scattered cushions that served to soften the hard ground. In this room, we sat for a few hours of instruction with a Tibetan teacher, but spent most of our time in meditation and/or discussion of meditation and Buddhism.