The Mountain
Mt. Kailas is the most sacred mountain in the world for Buddhists, Hindus, Jians, Bonpos and all of the Himalayan religions. Though it is the most worshiped mountain in the world and billions of faithful consider it the ultimate pilgrimage, it is only visited by a small amount of people every year. Located in the Himalayas of North West Tibet at 22,000 feet it is very far away from the reaches of planes, trains and automobiles. Only the sturdiest of Land Cruisers or six ton trucks can make the week long journey across the roof of the world to this remote Himalayan region. Mt. Kailas is a desert oasis that is the source of the four major rivers of the arising out of the holy waters of Lake Manasarova and surrounded by many other sacred Himalayan snow peaked mountains.

The Mystical Mountain
the mystical name of Mt. Kailas is Mt. Meru which is known as the cosmic center of the universe and the mandala of intrinsic awareness. The four divine rivers Indus, Ganges, Yanrlung and Sutlej sprout fourth from Kailas bringing the nectar of life to Tibet, India, China, Burma and the four cardinal and intermeditate dircetions. For Hindus Mt. Kailas rises out of Manasarova lake like a shivalingham arising out of a sixteen petaled lotus. Lord Shiva sits on the peak of Mt. Kailas in continual state of tantric union and samadhi bliss. Jians call it Astapada where their lord Rishabhdev obtained nirvana. Bonpos call it Tise where many of there ancestors reached enlightenment. Tibetans generally call it Kang Rimpoche, the precious Jewel. For Buddhists Mt. Kailas is the mandala of Chakrasamvara and Lake Manasarova is the mandala of his consort Chakrasamvari and like the union of the sun and moon exist in non-dual awareness. It is especially sacred to the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism as the site where their immortal saint Milarepa resides. In a contest with the Bonpo Shaman Naro they decided that who ever could get to the top first would lay claim to the holy mountain. Naro started up first using his drum as a sled. Milarepa waited for the sun to rise and jumping on a sun beam instantly flew to the peak. When the Bonpo Shaman saw Milarepa at the top he fell to the bottom and you can still see the marks in the cliff where his drum scraped the rock. Milarepa took up residence in the inner-sanctum of the Kailas mandala. The three main mountains surrounding Mt. Kailas are sacred sites for Manjushri, Avalokitishvara and Vajrapani. Lake Manasarova is a very special sacred site for Vajrayogini and together represent the non-dual nature of reality. Manasarova literally means, Lake of Consciousness.

The Mt. Kailas pilgrimage
The outer circumambulation of Mt. Kailas takes three days for the average hiker. It begins in a clockwise direction following a meandering stream surrounded by grassy meadows spotted with various rock formations and fields of flowers. By the end of the day we'll reach the North Face and set camp for the evening. The second day we will cross the 19,500 ft. high Drolma pass crossing the awesome North Face and hike down to Milarepa's cave for the evening. The third day is all down hill from there following the main river amongst the many multi-colored rock formations back to the Tibetan bazaar at the Karchen base camp. Then we will continue on to circumambulate the holy lake Manasarova and bathe and purify in the sweet nectar of these divine waters. Circumambulating the outer kora purifies the negative karma of a whole year. Done on holy days multiplies the purification and one hundred and eight circumambulations is said to guarantee enlightenment and liberation from the realm of suffering, samsara!

The Shang Shung Kingdom
The Shang Shung Kingdom was an ancient Bon empire that consisted of eighteen kingdoms in Western Tibet. The capital was called Khyunglung, the "Silver Palace of the Guruda" and it's ruins are still located just southwest of Lake Manasarova and Mt. Kailash. The ancient empire included Ladakh, Mustang, and Jalandhar and its influence extended far and wide. The Shang Shung Kingdom is mentioned many times in the Annals of Lake Manasarova as a reference to Tibet's pre-Buddhist cultural and religion.

The Mt. Kailas culture and religion study tour
As mentioned above Mt. Kailas is a holy mountain for quite a few religions and the largest population of people on the Earth. Therefore, Our journey is a non-denominational Unitarian pilgrimage. However, Tibet is a Buddhist nation with many extremely sacred places filled with highly realized and enlightened masters. As the occasions arise we will participate in local religious ceremonies, celebrations, festivals, empowerments and transmissions whenever possible. We will also be discussing the history, culture and religion of Tibet along the journey so that by the time we get home we will really know something about Tibet from many different levels. There will also be time for personal meditation and contemplation as well as group practice. Regardless of whatever masters we run into we will open our hearts to the great potential of enlightenment for our self and others. All is welcome and encouraged to attend this pilgrimage - study tour - work shop - healing mission. There are no requirements. Participate as much or as little as you like. Just being there is enlightening!

The Mt. Kailas healing mission
As with all of our Sacred Journeys missions we will offer our services to the locals when ever we have the chance. In these remote regions where agrarian life in the desert is tough and access to modern medical health care is impossible all you have to do is treat one or two patients before you have a line of people around the mountain that can last for days. A trip to Mt. Kailas is already powerful enough to reach enlightenment. By participating in the Mt. Kailas healing mission and caring for the faithful pilgrims, monks, yogis and hermits who are also there to reach enlightenment is truly a meritorious activity. By helping them in their goal to achieve the highest human potential of enlightenment and liberation offering our services to them is really a blessing for us.