The Ascent
The path to Tango Monastery winds upward through pine forests, prayer flags fluttering in the mountain breeze. At 2,800 meters, the air is thin but sweet with the scent of juniper. Today, I’m not here as a guide – I’m here as a pilgrim.
First Light
I arrive at 5 AM, just as the first light touches the Himalayan peaks. The monastery is silent, save for the deep resonant sound of monks chanting their morning prayers. The door is open, and I’m welcomed in by a young monk named Tshewang.
Meditation Session
“Sit,” he says simply, gesturing to a cushion beside the central Buddha statue. For two hours, we meditate together in silence. The experience is profound – the stillness here is different from any I’ve known. It’s as if the mountains themselves are breathing.
Tea and Wisdom
After meditation, the monks invite me for butter tea. We talk about life, about the meaning of happiness, about why travelers come to Bhutan seeking something they’ve lost in the modern world.
“You don’t find happiness by seeking it,” the head monk tells me. “You find it by letting go of the seeking.”
The Descent
As I descend back to Thimphu, I carry something of that stillness with me. This is the magic of Bhutan – it doesn’t just show you beautiful places; it shows you a different way of being.
This article was first published in our travel journal. Join us on a journey to discover your own moments of stillness in the Last Shangri-La.