Tsum Valley is one of Himalayan Buddhism’s sacred valleys. Rooted in esoteric Tantric teachings from the 8th century, these valleys (called beyuls) are where Buddhists will seek refuge when massive strife comes to the world. It is believed that all life on earth will start again from these sacred protected valleys. They are also places of spiritual power. Needless to say, it’s a good place to meditate or establish a monastery. Tsum Valley is home to centuries-old monasteries, a nunnery, and a cave where the Buddhist saint Milarepa meditated. The upcoming trip to Tsum Valley in November promises to be a fascinating journey, and I wanted someone with expert knowledge about Buddhism in the area to come along with us.
When I started looking for a dharma teacher to join us, I had no idea whether I could find what I wanted: someone who knew the finer points of not only Buddhist tenets but also the detailed iconography and symbols painted on monastery walls, someone who could explain it clearly without going overboard on the details, someone who actually wanted to walk for two weeks (because that is not what Nepalis do on vacation), and someone who’d be willing to do all this with a group that wasn’t from a Western monastery or Buddhist community.
Genchoedar, the dharma teacher
Luck was with me. Genchoedar is all that and more–he was born in Tsum Valley, he is looking forward to walking that trail again (in the last 7 years, he’s only helicoptered in to the high monastery to check on funded projects), he’s never traveled with a group of foreigners before and seems happy about the opportunity, and he is a wealth of knowledge.
Genchoedar has been living in a monastery since he was 6 years old. At 38, he is now the Assistant Headmaster for Kopan Monastery, one of Kathmandu’s most prestigious monasteries, and is responsible for the education of all the young monks. Humble, friendly, and extremely knowledgable, he has agreed to join my group to Tsum Valley this fall as our dharma teacher–and I am absolutely elated!