Our trip to Bhutan was a wonderful gift from the Universe, full of possibility. One of our first sights was this old timber bridge in Thimphu the capital city of Bhutan.
While visiting holy places in the mountainous Himalayan country of Bhutan in 2008 we climbed narrow precipitous paths with our guides, never sure how far away the precious caves and monasteries were. Taktsang Palphug Monastery (known as Tiger’s Nest) is 900m above the floor of the Paro valley, and even from the half-way point it looked impossibly far away. One ancient story tells how Second Buddha Padmasambhava (The Lotus Born) flew to “Tiger’s Nest” from Tibet on the back of Yeshe Tsogyal, whom he transformed into a flying tigress for the purpose of the trip. Since these exotic events in the 8th century a series of buildings around his meditation cave have made up the monastery. It seemed fanciful that we could climb up there!
Tiger's Nest Monastery from the halfway rest stop
However our guide encouraged us, we moved slowly onwards, and were then offered a very short side trip to another special place. Tempted by the possibility of feeling a connection to a great spiritual woman, we agreed. Now we were climbing even higher than Tiger’s Nest, and sitting to rest we could gaze down upon it’s many roofs.
looking down on Tiger's Nest
A tiny cave awaited us at the top of our climb, a great woman teacher Machig Labdron had supposedly lived and meditated there for many years. As with all these important spiritual sites a small temple now surrounded the cave.
doorway to Machig Labdron temple
We sat in these amazing precious places, imbued with the spiritual practice of so many over the centuries, and added our small offering to the vision of awakening peace, love, joy, cooperation and understanding between all beings. What a possibility!
Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum
dadirridreaming 
Wow, wonderful photos! There’s tons of possibilities in those shots. It’s difficult to pick my favorite photo.
Oh my goodness – great photos – but I wouldn’t be able to look down. Too scary!
Oh good grief – I feel the vertigo from New Zealand – but what a wonderful story
How fantastic, actually to go to Bhutan.
I was probably always too old — and too subject to vertigo — to go, but I always longed to. Thanks for sharing the experience!
I won a trip, and it seemed the only place I longed to be was Bhutan … the winding roads were a bit sickening but we had a wonderful and wise guide who coaxed us along …and everything just happened 🙂 Glad you liked the photos!
Beautiful!
The second one is breathtaking!
Beautiful photos! Omg I’d love to go there! Though the climbing looks creepy… 😛
Incredible – what a fantastic experience that must have been. Wonderful images, too!
Stunning. I’m so glad you got to take this trip, and thanks for sharing with us. It looks like this was an incredible trip.
wow, many someones risked apparent safety to build such an architectural gift. what an inspiration to view and practice in.
Gorgeous photos! Did you feel any connection to Machig Labdron when you visited her temple? What an adventure! An adventure full of great spiritual possibilities.
Yes I did, I was practising the chod, (her teaching) at the time and after, but not now …I feel a great feminine freedom that has come from teachers like Machig Labdron and I realise how wonderfully privileged I am to have these opportunities … now I try to teach others through yoga, retreats and so on 🙂 In a few weeks we have a Divine Feminine retreat here to help awaken the feminine in the world.
So fragile, precarious and beautiful!