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The
key turned in the rusty lock and the wooden doors swung open to reveal
an oasis of unexpected green and the sacred lake that for centuries has
given life to the monastery and village of Gangchen. Completely enclosed
by a high stone wall, this lake - which is the only water supply for the
local population - is also shrouded by local myths and legends. In
this particularly arid area of Tibet, legend tells that it was the
miracle powers of Panchen Zangpo Tashi (a previous incarnation of Lama
Gangchen) who, by simply touching a rock, made the scarce element of
water flow. In time, the water from this spring formed the small lake in
what is now the «secret garden» of Gangchen. Since its formation 500
years ago, it is said that fortunate people have been permitted to see
visions of the future in the surface of the lake. The monks tell one
recent story of a monk who upon his return to Gangchen, saw the face of
his mother in the waters of the lake. Believing in the «future
revealing» powers of the lake he rushed to his mother’s home - in
time to be by her side as she passed from this life. By
the side of the lake, the monks also explain the tradition of throwing
white ceremonial scarves (khatags) into the lake: if the person has
committed negative actions the scarf will float to the surface, whereas
those thrown by people who have collected positive merits sink to the
bottom. The monks believe that it is impossible to cheat the powers of
the lake; people have tried by tying stones into their scarves - but
some of these have also mysteriously floated to the surface! Other
strange phenomena have also been observed in connection to this lake:
regardless of the season - even during the driest and hottest periods of
the year, or during particularly heavy rainfall - the level of water
always remains the same, never increasing or decreasing; defying yet
another law of nature, at one point it actually appears that the water
is flowing upwards! Inside
the lake compound, it is possible to forget that it is situated in one
of the driest and most barren areas of Tibet, the fruit trees
transported from the Yarlung Valley and replanted here in the Spring of
1999 are now in full bloom. Colourful butterflies flit from one tree to
the next creating an atmosphere of complete peace and tranquility. Sharon Dawson |
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