magic & mystery at sakya monastery, tibet

This article was originally published on Inside Himalaya’s website and magazine on 7th May 2020.

Legends of magic and mystery lie within the fortified walls of Sakya Monastery, off the Friendship Highway in southern Tibet. From flying scriptures that sense world events, to speaking statues and paintings that bestow khatak (silk ceremonial scarves) on pious pilgrims, to pillars that were transported from India on the backs of tigers and yaks, there have been mystical forces at work in Sakya since its foundation in 1073.

The air was heavy with incense and prayers, an atmosphere that helped ease the doubt from my group’s sceptical minds through our visit. It was hard not to trust the monk-guide as he explained the strange phenomena with such earnest passion. Belief in magic is common in Tibet, but even so there are few places that can rival Sakya for sheer number of magic events reported there. If you’re going to become a believer, this is the place.