The Place Where the Sun Rises First
The legend about a hidden Tibetan paradise travelers have supposedly brought to Europe in the 16th century. The story has originated in ancient buddhist manuscripts and talks about a place in Tibet where man lives in total harmony with nature and where all the wisdom of mankind is kept. In the book “Lost Horizon” from 1933, British writer James Hilton named that magical kingdom “Shangri-La” (which means “the Sun and Moon in one’s heart” in Tibetan), and the word has become a synonym for Paradise on Earth and has encouraged explorers to start searching for utopia…
The local people of Zhongdian county, in the Chinese province of Yunnan, have decided to provide one.
In fact, in 2002 Zhongdian changed its name to Shangri-La. At 3,000 metres (1.86 miles) above sea level, near the border with Tibet, surrounded by fantastic nature, local people live according to buddhist teachings, but they are ready to share their tradition with all tourists who (manage to) arrive at “the place where the Sun rises first” and assist them in moving the big golden cylinder in front of the Golden Temple, while reiterating that synergy is the key to achieving almost anything.
And yes, it is not necessary to mention that the name they have chosen has given them a reputation of a tourist attraction from the very beginning.
Anyhow, that does not mean that you cannot find a piece of your own “spiritual heaven” here. On this journey you cannot ignore the big buddhist monastery Songzanlin, the center for spiritual life in this corner of the world. Built in 1681, it is considered a true copy of Potala Palace in Lhasa. And it is equally impressive. But, you need to get there first.
The first step is actually easy, you take a bus in the city centre and transfer to another bus (where you buy your tickets for the monastery). Even on foot you will need just over an hour.
Songzanlin is uphill, on the outskirts of Shangri-La. There are no walls around it. In front of it there is a holy lake named Lamuyangcuo, which translates to “the soul of the fairy of heaven”. According to legend, the spirit of Goddess Bandanlamu, the guardian of the universe, lives in the lake and she has to be respected in every important buddhist ritual and consulted when important decisions need to be made.
Behind the lake, at the main entrance of the monastery, which rises before your eyes while shining and reflecting sunlight, you will feel smaller than ever. From the ostentatious main gate to the actual monastery there are exactly 146 steps. While conquering the steps one at a time, followed by prayers written on fluorescent flags, you will gradually blend into the uniquely quiet surroundings. Once you arrive at the destination self-fulfilled, you will probably realize that you are not going to be able to enter the main hall because a meditation session will be in progress.
There are a few hundred monks living at the Songzanlin monastery. However, you will only see them when they take a break from meditation (which is approximately every couple of hours), when they walk by. You must be patient and quiet while listening to their song. But first, you probably have to learn how to be patient and quiet, and the hours you spend at this holy place stretched between the sky and Earth will give you the opportunity to learn it.
You will see monks. You will get to know the life of Songzanlin. Most likely you will buy consecrated prayer beads so that you can bring a small piece of that magical kingdom with you. And when you begin walking away from the monastery – wow, then you will realize what the legend of the Shangri-La kingdom is all about.
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Copyright: triptease.me
author: Ana Kalaba
photo: Marko Rupena
text.en: Dragan Dobožanović
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