Feeding the Pheasants

The area around Chimpuk Gompa has been de facto sanctuary for centuries.  One meritorious tradition of long standing is to provide food for wild creatures, and here at Chimpuk, located above Samye, the monks feed wild pheasants.  This valley, pockmarked with small caves, was where the sage Padmasambhava trained and ordained the first Tibetan Buddhist monks; the region has been sacred for more than 1,200 years.