From now on I’ll need to be a little more careful about altitude.  Altitude sickness can be a serious problem.  So far the adjustment has been easy.  I will see as I gain elevation.

           I just toured the Nunnery compound a short distance from Thyangboche.  We are staying close by and Dawa asked if I wanted to go in.  The place has seen few visitors being in the shadow of the more famous monastery.

           It was built around the same time.  The buildings are ancient and unchanged.  The Nunnery is small compared to the monasteries.  The building is stone and low to the ground.  The roof is slate and matches the old Mani stones leaning against the walls.  The doorway is chest high and is framed by six inch thick timbers, severely bent from the heaviness of the roof, and the tiredness of age.  There is a small stream that flows by, and a pasture where the beasts of burden can graze. Trees shadow it and the mountains of the Himalayans dance in the heavens above.

           There are about fifteen Nuns now and they live here year around. In another month the snow will come, up to five feet.  It will be cold.  The living quarters are placed, horse shoe fashion, around the church and are as bent with age.  They are dark, drafty, frigid.

           It just doesn’t seem possible that one could lead a monastic life on this level of deprivation and hardship.  Talk about dedication to one’s beliefs.  The fat cats in other religious institutions would have much to learn.  But then the monks and certainly the Lamas have it quite good compared to the nuns.  As in other male dominated institutions, it seems, the opulence goes with the power.

           Dawa took me to the doorway of the church for a private audience.  This time the shoes came off.  It was mandatory.  As I entered, the cold from the floor rapidly penetrated my socks. Dawa was barefoot.  Upon entering, Dawa immediately went to the alter to pray.

           It was dark but the colors were vibrate.  It is now a thousand years ago.  The old Nun, bent like the