21+ days solitude at Tibet monastery - short Yogi stories

A few weeks of solitude at a monastery in Tibet with short Yogi stories

I spent a few weeks in solitude at a Tibet monastery. After spending several weeks there, I am eager to share some short stories with you. Managing my untrained mind was very, very challenging. In this article, I will share a few short stories about Tibetan Yogis and a few insights I gained during my few weeks of solitary time at a mountain monastery in Tibet. Let’s dive in!

During the off-season, I often have leisure time, which I dedicate to exploring picturesque locations. Additionally, I have traveled with my mother and authored an article about our experiences together.

1. Inspiration to Tibet Monastery

As I am new to this journey of self-exploration, I do not claim any blessings for my readers. The inspiration for this article comes from Yogis, and I want to share several short stories about them. These stories are the main core of this piece, and I hope they will be seen as a special gift to the readers.

Sometimes I am grateful to be able to read biographies of Yogis like Milarepa, whose beautiful songs seem romantic. “No one to ask me if I'm sick, no one to mourn me when I die. To die here alone in this hermitage is everything a yogi could wish for.

On one occasion, while Tibetan Yogi Milarepa was engaged in meditation, a group of female devotees approached him and kindly requested, 'Could you please come out? We wish to see your appearance and receive blessings.' He responded, 'You can observe from outside, as I am not someone you would find pleasing to look at.' At that time, he had been without food for a prolonged period and appeared as emaciated as a skeleton.

Another Yogi, Gotsangpa, known as the emanation of Milarepa, stated: 'Remain grounded while elevating all beings above your head.' Gotsangpa: 'Go' signifies 'Vulture,' and 'Tsang' denotes 'Nest.' He meditated near the cave of vultures, which inhabit the high mountains. This reflects his spiritual achievement, as the higher a Yogi meditates, the more his inner capabilities are elevated, and the less food is required as one ascends.

One day, Yogi Yang Gonpa heard chanting echoing from the mountains. Curious and inspired, he decided to visit the site. Upon seeing Gotsangpa, who showed disregard for his own body and wore simple, worn-out clothes like a beggar, Yang Gonpa was deeply moved, shed tears, and chanted Oh my Lama, my Lama." This moment marked the start of a special bond, and Yang Gonpa became Gotsangpa's main disciple.

These inspiring stories motivate me to visit the Solitude Mountains and spend a few weeks there to experience them firsthand. After several attempts, I finally reached the valley where a monastery is nestled among the mountains.

Photo: View of Mount Everest, Mount Lhotse, and Mount Cho Oyu from Pangla Gawula Pass, 5200 meters high. My hometown is just below that plain, namely Tashizom!

2. After 10 days of solitude

The initial days proceeded without incident; however, approximately ten days into my solitude, I began to experience a pronounced sense of anxiety, as I perceived myself to be neglected by the world.

What truly stood out to me was how boring it seemed. Back in my city days, I loved staying busy and keeping myself entertained all the time, rarely setting my phone aside. But when I finally paused, sat with myself, and just watched my thoughts, I found it surprisingly challenging.

I recall a beautiful word from Osho: human intelligence stems from boredom. I’ve realized that boredom was actually the first visitor on my path of inner growth. If I can learn to be at peace with boredom, then I believe I can handle anything that comes my way!

Photo: The Rutok Monastery on the south side of Yamdrok Lake. We offer a 10-day Tibet tour for Shambhala-style travelers.

3. Attachment to this Life

It must be quite upsetting to my attention-seeking side, which dislikes being ignored by the world. I crave attention, and once I close myself off from entertainment and the outside world, I begin to feel anxious. Perhaps this is why I struggle to sit quietly, relax, meditate, and truly observe my thoughts. At that moment, I realized that my spiritual journey was still fragile and that my Ego was BIG!

I have been feeding my ego for a long time, and it became difficult when I suddenly said no. I recall a story about a Kadam master named Bhen, who was once a bandit and later a spiritual seeker. One day, upon seeing money in someone's pocket, he was about to steal it with his left hand, but his right hand restrained him.

He then declared, 'There is a thief.' When locals asked where the thief was, he pointed to his left hand and said, 'Right here, I am holding him.' I share this story to illustrate how masters handle such situations, and I aspire to inspire similar conduct in the future.

It shows that my attachment to this life was extremely strong. Maybe that's why many masters emphasize letting go of attachments to this life at the first stage to enhance the spiritual path. As a Sakya master says, if you are attached to this life, you are not a practitioner!

Practicing the authentic dharma inevitably brings obstacles, as Master Tsongkhapa said: "If you are not a seeker, obstacles won't encounter you."

Once, great master Atisha's main disciple, Dromtonpa, kindly advised a devotee to practice the true Dharma. The devotee thought that meditating was the key and practiced it daily. One day, Dromtonpa saw him and gently mentioned, "You should practice the real Dharma." Believing that chanting was the true Dharma, he spent his days chanting mantras rather than meditating.

Again, Dromtonpa kindly reminded him to practice the real Dharma. The devotee then prostrated around the stupa, yet Dromtonpa gently urged him to understand the real Dharma. When he asked for clarification, the wise Dromtonpa explained, "The real Dharma is letting go of attachment to this life."

Photo: Adorable Blue Sheep called Na in Tibetan, taken at Toling Monastery during our Tibet tour adventure in May.

4. Loving Kindness is Seed

I tried a 20-minute meditation, emphasizing quantity over quality. But how can I discuss quality when I haven't even achieved sufficient quantity? This was overwhelming for my inexperienced mind, which hasn't been trained for a very, very long time.

It was too hard and too fast for me. I recalled a wise lesson from Buddha regarding meditation. He told the musician to avoid excessively tightening or loosening the strings, emphasizing the importance of maintaining balance.

A wise master once shared a heartfelt reflection on his biggest regret—losing compassion for those who had wronged him. Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal beautifully highlighted that helping others begins with caring for ourselves first. These meaningful words remind us how wonderful kindness can be, not only for others but also for ourselves, even when times are tough.

I shouldn't be too hard on myself. Even though the ego is a negative companion, I should have approached it with kindness and gradually transformed it into a positive influence, without expecting instant blessings or changes.

Compassion and loving-kindness are the most effective remedies in the practice of Dharma, as Bodhisattvas regard bodhicitta as the seed of Dharma. Many Yogis encounter obstacles on their spiritual journey, and only bodhicitta has safeguarded them from these challenges.

Great Yogi Vasubandhu meditated for twelve years to perceive the future Buddha. However, he saw no signs until, in a moment when he showed compassion to both the wounded dog and the worms on his body, he finally perceived the future Buddha.

Bodhicitta possesses such profound power that the great master Atisha would request his disciple Dromtonpa to place his hand on his head when experiencing a headache. When questioned by disciples about this request, Atisha explained that it was because Dromtonpa possessed a compassionate heart capable of alleviating all suffering.

5. Guardians of the Mind

The Sakyapa Yogi Drakpa Gyantsen wisely remarks: "As your mind controls you and is not under your control, true happiness is unattainable until you master your mind." It's a gentle nudge to understand the importance of mastering our minds to find true happiness.

During meditation, I see myself as a naive messenger of thoughts. My thoughts are like ocean waves, constantly coming and going, making it very hard to avoid following them as if I were a slave to these thoughts.

For Milarepa, who states, "A dog will repeatedly chase after a stick thrown at them. Still, a lion will only tolerate a thrown stick once before turning toward the person who tossed it."

Now I realize that all I needed to do was observe my thoughts, but I was too sensitive and my mind too weak.

I remember a story of a Kadam master who tracked his thoughts by placing a white stone for positive thoughts and a black stone for negative ones. Initially, all his stones were black, and he would skip a meal, telling himself, "You have many negative thoughts today, so no food for you." After years of consistent practice, more white stones appeared, and he celebrated his progress. These methods are effective for becoming guardians of the mind.

Buddha teaches us that without meditation, Mara can lurk in many forms, even within our thoughts. That's why it's so important to guard our minds through regular meditation, which helps us stay peaceful and protected.

Photo: The ultimate Tibet travel experience is trekking to Mount Kailash.

6. Impermanence is power

Once again, I find myself trying to boost my ego by convincing myself that my susceptibility stems from a lack of merit, which makes it easy for me to be carried away, like a small piece of paper blown by the wind. Actually, merit isn't really the reason. It was more about my habit, which hadn't been trained to meditate. I found that laziness was the biggest obstacle on the inner journey. If I can get along with Lazy, then I can get along with anything!

I remember a saying from Kadam master Potowa: the best cure for laziness is Impermanence. It first inspires us to practice, then helps us sustain progress, and finally leads us toward enlightenment.

Another story from a Yogi who was meditating in a cave, where grass would often stick to his clothes whenever he went to the bathroom. He would think, 'I'll cut it,' but then consider, 'What if I pass today?' and leave it untouched. One day, the grass grew so tall that he attained enlightenment in the meantime.

If we hold the belief that death could come at any moment, maybe even tomorrow, it reminds us that there's truly no time to waste.

Master Gampopa said that the best first-level practitioner acts as if only one day remains. The intermediate practitioner acts as if a month remains, while the last-level practitioner acts as if a year remains. Thinking that more than a year is available indicates that one is not truly a practitioner. This story illustrates the importance of impermanence as the best remedy for inner growth.

7. Devotion & Blessings

I believe that receiving blessings from these highly skilled masters is possible, and having merit is also important. However, being lazy and claiming no merit is an inappropriate approach on my part. To improve my progress, the first step I must take is to overcome laziness through daily practice and by making it a habit.

A local man once called out, "Atisha, give me a blessing!" to which Atisha softly responded, "Where is your devotion?" He then explained that devotion serves as the foundation for receiving blessings.

As the great master Padmasambhava says, "Those who have faith in me, I am sleeping right at your door."

There is a saying: even a dog's tooth can shine if there is devotion. Once, during Buddha's time, an elderly mother was a devout follower of Buddha but lived far from his place. She asked her son to bring her something belonging to Buddha as a blessing. The son agreed but, on his return, forgot to do so.

Outside their house lay a dead dog, and he took its tooth, claiming it was Buddha's. The mother cried and prayed daily near the tooth, and eventually, the dog’s tooth took on a radiant, Buddha-like appearance.

In Drukpa Kunley's biography, the old man achieved enlightenment within a few weeks by chanting a vulgar mantra through devotion! It represents the quickest route; however, it is also the most challenging one!

A wealthy woman read Milarepa's biography, then generously gave everything to others and went to the mountains to meditate. However, she could not withstand the hardships Milarepa faced, and as a result, she became destitute, lacking both spiritual progress and material possessions. When asked about her transformation later, she attributed it entirely to Milarepa, saying he caused her current state.

Therefore, it represents the most expedient pathway; however, it is also the most challenging, especially in contemporary times.

Photo: Namtso Lake. Hidden beauties at Elephant Gate are among our favorite Tibet travel destinations for Shambhala-inspired travelers.

8. Steps for Aspiring Yogis

The process will include securing the doors and thoroughly cleaning the room, which entails being mindful of thoughts, speech, and actions, while simultaneously purifying the mind, speech, and body.

After reading numerous books by Yogis, I have determined that Yogi Gampopa considers it among the best. There are two methods for practicing the Dharma or purifying the mind.

The first involves accruing extensive merit through practices such as meditation, chanting sutras, circumambulating stupas, prostrating, and engaging in all spiritual deeds.

The second method involves purifying negative karmic debts through similar practices, including meditation, chanting sutras, circumambulating stupas, prostrating, and performing spiritual deeds.

As a master states: Refrain from engaging in any negative karmic actions and instead perform numerous positive karmic deeds; this embodies the essence of the Buddha Dharma.

Gradually practicing the principles of 'Think no evil, say no evil, and do no evil' can really help us stay focused and nurture healthy yogic habits. Once these habits become ingrained, everything will align harmoniously for Vajrayana yogis, especially beginners!

9. Journey to be continued

Once, a revered yogi, Drukpa Kunley, was near a stupa and a woman. Instead of bowing to the stupa, he bowed to the woman. People said he must be crazy for not bowing to the stupa. He warmly proclaimed, "Women are precious!"

I've dedicated myself to building my Tibet Travel Agency over the past few years, so I haven't gone on another journey lately.

My ongoing journey of inner growth continues to serve as a profound source of inspiration. I frequently read biographies of esteemed masters, feeling a personal connection, and I aspire to meditate and pray for peace and happiness—an endeavor that would be truly wonderful. I plan to put more effort into updating this article when I set out on my next trip to the mountain monastery. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Let's wrap up by sharing my wonderful day trip to the Chakrasamvara Monastery in Sinburi, near Lhasa.

10. Monastery Day Trip

Recently, I visited the Sing Bu Ri monastery near Lhasa. Although the construction date is uncertain, it’s thought to have been built in the 12th century by the Indian scholar Pandit Bibuti, who was invited to Tibet by the Sakyapa scholar Sonam Gyaltsen. The monastery was built for a significant reason.

In 1204, scholar Kache Panchen was invited to Tibet and stayed at Drangsong Singburi. When three masters from different monasteries invited him to receive a blessing, Pandit Bibuti spoke unfavorably of the Kagyu sect and urged Kache Panchen to accept the Kadampa invitation.

Photo: Demchok Chakrasamvara statue from the monastery.

Pandit Kache Panchen advised Bibuti to meet Drigungpa, an emanation of Buddha Nagarjuna, for teachings to purify negative karma. Later, Pandit Bibuti visited Drigung Monastery to learn from Drigung Kyopa Jitgten Gonpo, the founder of Drigung Kagyu.

Kache Panchen consulted his Yidam Dorje Naljorma about purifying Bibuti's negative karma. Vajra Yogini Dorje Naljorma recommended constructing a statue of Buddha Chakrasamvara at Singburi Monastery. Kache Panchen built a cherished statue of Chakrasamvara Buddha in the central shrine. May the statue bestow blessings on all.

11. Tibet Travel Package

Are you a traveler who loves exploring spiritual destinations like Bhutan and Tibet, with spiritual vibes that include breathtaking nature excursions and visits to meditation caves of the Great Yogis? If so, we recommend our 10-day Tibet Spirit Hike Tour or the 10-Day Tibet Shambhala Style Tour. This tour features extensive hiking and stunning natural landscapes with lakes.

Our 2 travelers at Samye Chimpuk Hermitage Hiking. Their 10-day Tibet Shambhala Style tour.  If you're planning a trip to Tibet, contact us via Instagram or Facebook, or message us on WhatsApp at +86 199 3816 8184. You can also reach us on WeChat at travelers2025 or email us at info@tibettravelers.com.

There are so many excellent spots in this Tibet travel itinerary where we can enjoy short meditations by the serene lakes or majestic mountains. The high altitude allows us to breathe in fresh, invigorating air, keeping us attentive and refreshed. The mountains remind us of the beauty of stillness during meditation, while the rivers gently teach us about the uninterrupted flow of this enriching practice.

12. Conclusion

To summarize my experience at the monastery over a few weeks, I first had to confront boredom. I needed to let go of this life, reflect on impermanence, and cultivate self-compassion before gradually extending it to others. If you liked this article, you might also find my brief encounter with a Yogini at a mountain in Tibet interesting.

Most importantly, finding a balance that isn't too intense or too slow for me. As Milarepa says: Stay alone, and you will find a friend; walk slowly, and you will reach sooner; stay at the lowest, and you shall reach the highest! These are the few insights I cherish from my solitude in the Tibetan monastery. I am presently engaged in a journey of learning, acknowledging that there remains a vast amount to explore.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my few weeks at a monastery in Tibet. May happiness be with you! Here at Tibet Travelers, we extend a cordial invitation for you to travel to Tibet with us. Our services have received high ratings on Google Maps from our valued travelers. Our team comprises an English-speaking Tibetan tour guide and a safety-focused tour driver, ensuring accessible communication and an exceptional travel experience in Tibet.

To book a Tibet Tour Package, please feel free to reach out to us via Instagram, Facebook, or WeChat at travelers 2025 for a live chat or email us at info@tibettravelers.com.