Buddhist Culture

The origins of the Bon religion among the Sherpas are lost in tribal and clan legend. Khumbu, the Sherpa homeland whose northern boundaries are marked by Mount Everest. often addressed in their rites and rituals are profound and beautiful, as their titles suggest, "The Union of All that is Precious," "The Heavenly principle of the Land of Bliss." and Their performance marked by spectacular offerings, melodious chanting, and festivities.

The Sherpas seem to have long been believer of the Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism, the "ancient school" which for the most part, a heterogeneous and even somewhat anarchic sect: adhereing to the rites revealed by a given Nyingmapa visionary; in Tibet extends back to the introduction of Buddhism during the eighth century A.D. The Sherpas, however, are a young people with their legendary past a mere three or four centuries ago.