They seemed to be the most unlikely group that could have
assembled at the remote Gyangdrak Gompa, thought Master Ang Tsering. Tibetans,
Chinese and Indians, of course, were regular visitors and pilgrims to the
valley of the sacred Kang Renpoche, but, to have assembled for a common
purpose, that seemed quite improbable. Brother Sonam Sangye was from Tibet, but
had been settled at Nalanda for some time. He accompanied Sardar Amarpal Singh,
a devout Sikh from Punjab, India. Their companion, Shenshe, the Han Chinese,
policeman from Shiquanhe, was the only one looking very uncomfortable.
The senior monk from the Chiu Gompa, Loga of the Kla-Chu,
seemed to understand the thoughts of Master Ang Tsering. They smiled in
understanding at each other. The younger monks, Brother Shedrub Repa and the
two brother monks from the Choku Gompa sat patiently, awaiting orders or
instructions. They knew their place. It was not theirs to question, but to
accept, as events happened, and to be thankful for any change or developments.
Brother Tameng of the Choku Gompa was leading the discussion as he had seen the
herd of wild yaks and the wolves accompanying them. He had also explained about
the twelve pilgrims who had sat within the circle of stones below the sacred Kang
Renpoche.
The puzzling Hariram Maharaj, the young and courageous
Norbu, and the curious Vijay Kulkarni were seated around the monks. The senior
monk of the Chiu Gompa, Loga of the Kla-Chu, and Brother Shedrub Repa from the
Gyangdrak Gompa went to one of the other rooms and brought back document boxes
covered with coloured clothes. They opened them up in silence and distributed
the parchments containing the maps, sketches and paintings to the monks who
could read them. Some documents, in ancient parchments, and protected within
circular tubes, were taken by Master Ang Tsering and Loga of the Kla-Chu. They
read the notes and writings in the ancient parchments in silence.
Hariram Maharaj went about helping everyone, refilling
their bowls of tea and soup, for he could not read this form of ancient Tibetan
script. Vijay Kulkarni kept taking photographs in his DSLR for he thought that
it would be necessary to examine these documents later, or have them perused by
experts in these issues. It was Brother Tameng who spoke, “This document
mentions the same questions. It specifically mentions that pilgrims are not
allowed to climb the sacred Kang Renpoche, and this is as instructed
within the Bonpo, Buddhist and Hindu religions. There is also mention that one
must not stay the night on the path of the kora unless there is a
snowstorm or a severe avalanche or landslide.”
Brother Shedrub Repa of the Gyangdrak Gompa looked up
from the parchment that he was studying, and pointed to the sketches, and said,
“See, there are the locations of the various Gompas and the kora. Both,
the outer kora and the inner kora are located on this sketch. It
is made in a very artistic manner, and that’s why it does not seem to be
accurate. They have also placed sketches of the Most Enlightened One, in
different postures at each of the Gompas. It is most remarkable to see that
these ancient sketches are so accurate. The Dirapuk Gompa is shown, but there
is no sketch of a path leading to its North West.”
Sardar Amarpal Singh looked quite disappointed at the
mention that there were specific instructions that one should not be allowed to
climb the sacred Mount Kailash. He looked at the parchment that Brother Shedrub
Repa had with him. There were no trails marked out within the inner kora.
The Han Chinese policeman, Shenshe, was watching Sardar Amarpal Singh with
great interest. He could guess his thoughts, and he smiled. Just you try, he
thought, just try, and I will have arrested you. I am not going to leave you,
he thought to himself. Sardar Amarpal Singh looked back at Shenshe, and smiled and
waved his prayer beads in blessing at the policeman.
Master Ang Tsering read quietly. He knew of the other
documents, for he had studied many similar parchments before he had come to the
valley of the sacred Kang Renpoche. This was similar to other sacred
mountains and valleys. But, the information was strictly implemented in this
valley. At least, until now, he thought. Where could the twelve pilgrims have
gone to, in that stormy night? What were the wild yaks doing in the valley?
What was their significance? The document that he had been reading seemed to
provide detailed information about the kora and the pilgrimage to Kang
Renpoche from the eyes of devotees from the west of the sacred valley.
There were many references in the languages of the ancient Pharsees.
He decided to share the information with the assembled
group. He said, “Listen, I speak with due respect to the senior monk, Loga of
the Kla-Chu. This document does identify the sacred Kang Renpoche but
does not mention the name as we know it. It identifies the sacred mountain as
the home of the most ancient gods. But, it also mentions of another sacred
mountain to the North West. The journey from the other mountain to the Kang
Renpoche is mentioned as the most important journey of some of these
peoples in their lifetimes. This document mentions that their journey would be
the last journey that they would undertake in their lives.”
Hariram Maharaj spoke, “Yes. The two pilgrims that I had
met, they did speak a very strange form of Pharsee. It is not the
language that I know from Gujarat among the Parsis. This was a very
different one, almost sounding more ancient. They spoke of their journey to
this sacred valley as a very important pilgrimage among their peoples. In spite
of many questions, they did not inform us about the fate of the pilgrims that
they had accompanied. It is very strange.”
Master Ang Tsering nodded in agreement, and continued,
“It is indeed strange to notice such an activity when one sees it on the first
occasion. But, this document mentions something similar. It mentions that the
mountains around the Kang Renpoche are alive, and are sacred dwellings
of the ancient gods, and the animals and plants in these sacred valleys are
manifestations of the ancient gods. This document says that everything that
happens in these valleys is with a reason and nothing happens without a
purpose. The ancient people who travel on their last pilgrimage are supposed to
be coming here for a very specific purpose. But, this document does not
describe or explain the purpose.”
The senior monk, Loga of the Kla-Chu, of the Chiu Gompa
spoke, “I am reading a document of similar age, but it speaks of different
aspects. There is no mention here about the ancient people or their last
pilgrimage. This document mentions that there are different energy forms here
in this sacred valley and in the adjacent ones. These energies are manifest in
the locations of hidden springs of waters that come out of the regions below
our lands. It speaks of huge underground reservoirs, large caves and springs of
different minerals. It also explains springs of hot water in the region that
come to greet the springs and rivers on our lands.”
“There is however one mention that is indeed disturbing,”
said Loga of the Kla-Chu, and continued, “This mention is about the birth of
rivers. This ancient document mentions that the ancient people are sworn to
serve the sacred mountains and protect the deities of these mountains. They are
known to work within themselves, not trusting anyone. Their sacred
responsibility is to protect the secret locations that are the birthplaces of
the mighty rivers. The document mentions that most people know of several
springs and streams that provide water to the mightiest rivers that emerge from
this high region of Tibet.”
“This document discloses that nobody knows of the actual
spring or stream that is the true birthplace of the river. This is kept secret
for if this location is destroyed then the river is killed. The deities within
the mountains ensure that they keep the source hidden and protected, but it is
the task of the ancient people to prevent others from entering these regions. The
animals and plants in these regions are provided with powers and ‘magical
abilities’ to protect these places.”
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