hi in the remote desolate borderlands of Nepal in Tibet there is this ancient
Nepal in Tibet there is this ancient
Nepal in Tibet there is this ancient kingdom far beyond the reaches of the
kingdom far beyond the reaches of the
kingdom far beyond the reaches of the modern world it feels like it has this
modern world it feels like it has this
modern world it feels like it has this great expansive spiritualness to it
great expansive spiritualness to it
great expansive spiritualness to it this is Mustafa the place of Mustang
this is Mustafa the place of Mustang
this is Mustafa the place of Mustang it’s not something that’s on the lips of
it’s not something that’s on the lips of
it’s not something that’s on the lips of every single person I mean generally
every single person I mean generally
every single person I mean generally people think you’re talking about a car
people think you’re talking about a car
people think you’re talking about a car you’re talking about a horse or you’re
you’re talking about a horse or you’re
you’re talking about a horse or you’re talking about the ranch okay and it’s
talking about the ranch okay and it’s
talking about the ranch okay and it’s really hard to discuss with American
really hard to discuss with American
really hard to discuss with American audiences most must on and pronounce it
audiences most must on and pronounce it
audiences most must on and pronounce it properly if some people think you’re
properly if some people think you’re
properly if some people think you’re saying moose dung or something like that
saying moose dung or something like that
saying moose dung or something like that so it gets difficult for us when we’re
so it gets difficult for us when we’re
so it gets difficult for us when we’re talking about Mustang but the word most
talking about Mustang but the word most
talking about Mustang but the word most on is actually it’s an anglicisation of
on is actually it’s an anglicisation of
on is actually it’s an anglicisation of global smog tongue which actually means
global smog tongue which actually means
global smog tongue which actually means in western tibetan the plane of
in western tibetan the plane of
in western tibetan the plane of aspiration or the plane of spiritual
aspiration or the plane of spiritual
aspiration or the plane of spiritual longing and this is really what’s
longing and this is really what’s
longing and this is really what’s emblematic of this incredible place it
emblematic of this incredible place it
emblematic of this incredible place it feels like it has this great expansive
feels like it has this great expansive
feels like it has this great expansive spiritual nough stew it it feels like it
spiritual nough stew it it feels like it
spiritual nough stew it it feels like it has this great depth of antiquity to it
has this great depth of antiquity to it
has this great depth of antiquity to it and when you travel in this place you
and when you travel in this place you
and when you travel in this place you can’t help but feel the great
can’t help but feel the great
can’t help but feel the great impermanence of it and you can’t help
impermanence of it and you can’t help
impermanence of it and you can’t help but feel yourself become very very small
but feel yourself become very very small
but feel yourself become very very small very much like a grain of sand much like
very much like a grain of sand much like
very much like a grain of sand much like what you’d see in the Kali Gandaki River
what you’d see in the Kali Gandaki River
what you’d see in the Kali Gandaki River that’s there in the bottom of that
that’s there in the bottom of that
that’s there in the bottom of that photograph but high in the remote
photograph but high in the remote
photograph but high in the remote desolate borderlands of Nepal and Tibet
desolate borderlands of Nepal and Tibet
desolate borderlands of Nepal and Tibet there’s this ancient kingdom far beyond
there’s this ancient kingdom far beyond
there’s this ancient kingdom far beyond the reaches of the modern world it’s
the reaches of the modern world it’s
the reaches of the modern world it’s surrounded by some of the world’s
surrounded by some of the world’s
surrounded by some of the world’s highest peaks and Riven into by the
highest peaks and Riven into by the
highest peaks and Riven into by the great Kali Gandaki watershed
great Kali Gandaki watershed
great Kali Gandaki watershed this is Mustang it’s known as the
this is Mustang it’s known as the
this is Mustang it’s known as the kingdom of lo by all of its inhabitants
kingdom of lo by all of its inhabitants
kingdom of lo by all of its inhabitants and those locals also revere a king
and those locals also revere a king
and those locals also revere a king who’s the 25th in direct succession to
who’s the 25th in direct succession to
who’s the 25th in direct succession to the first king of Nepal who founded that
the first king of Nepal who founded that
the first king of Nepal who founded that royal lineage more than six hundred
royal lineage more than six hundred
royal lineage more than six hundred years ago the place is a remarkable
years ago the place is a remarkable
years ago the place is a remarkable essay in a variety of different types of
essay in a variety of different types of
essay in a variety of different types of occupations of battles sometimes violent
occupations of battles sometimes violent
occupations of battles sometimes violent and
and
and control of trade that’s gone all up and
control of trade that’s gone all up and
control of trade that’s gone all up and down this Kali Gandaki watershed
down this Kali Gandaki watershed
down this Kali Gandaki watershed conducted primarily by horsemen people
conducted primarily by horsemen people
conducted primarily by horsemen people with yaks and other beasts of burden
with yaks and other beasts of burden
with yaks and other beasts of burden they’ve traded virtually everything from
they’ve traded virtually everything from
they’ve traded virtually everything from salts to silks up and down this valley
salts to silks up and down this valley
salts to silks up and down this valley this animation will give you an idea of
this animation will give you an idea of
this animation will give you an idea of the depth of the Kali Gandaki River on
the depth of the Kali Gandaki River on
the depth of the Kali Gandaki River on one side is the great peak of dalla Giri
one side is the great peak of dalla Giri
one side is the great peak of dalla Giri and other side is Annapurna
and other side is Annapurna
and other side is Annapurna both of them in excess of 26,000 feet in
both of them in excess of 26,000 feet in
both of them in excess of 26,000 feet in height the village of Lamont tongue or
height the village of Lamont tongue or
height the village of Lamont tongue or the city of Lamont tongue was
the city of Lamont tongue was
the city of Lamont tongue was established by the first king of Nepal
established by the first king of Nepal
established by the first king of Nepal Nepal in the walled city that you see
Nepal in the walled city that you see
Nepal in the walled city that you see here was actually finished construction
here was actually finished construction
here was actually finished construction by his son on gradenko sometime in the
by his son on gradenko sometime in the
by his son on gradenko sometime in the 14th century if you’re to travel in this
14th century if you’re to travel in this
14th century if you’re to travel in this place you’ll understand the timelessness
place you’ll understand the timelessness
place you’ll understand the timelessness of it you’ll go into these ancient
of it you’ll go into these ancient
of it you’ll go into these ancient monasteries that were created somewhat
monasteries that were created somewhat
monasteries that were created somewhat after the walled city was created and
after the walled city was created and
after the walled city was created and you’ll be able to see these practices
you’ll be able to see these practices
you’ll be able to see these practices that have been going on for more than
that have been going on for more than
that have been going on for more than 600 years but Mustang is a kingdom with
600 years but Mustang is a kingdom with
600 years but Mustang is a kingdom with a mystery and that was really the reason
a mystery and that was really the reason
a mystery and that was really the reason why I initially got excited about
why I initially got excited about
why I initially got excited about traveling there and this was way back in
traveling there and this was way back in
traveling there and this was way back in 1981 when I was first visiting this
1981 when I was first visiting this
1981 when I was first visiting this place and doing a trek around the
place and doing a trek around the
place and doing a trek around the annapurna region which is a classic Trek
annapurna region which is a classic Trek
annapurna region which is a classic Trek that many people do when they go to
that many people do when they go to
that many people do when they go to Nepal
Nepal
Nepal I noticed caves surrounding some of the
I noticed caves surrounding some of the
I noticed caves surrounding some of the ramparts of the walls of the Kali
ramparts of the walls of the Kali
ramparts of the walls of the Kali Gandaki River that you see here which
Gandaki River that you see here which
Gandaki River that you see here which resembles our own Grand Canyon with
resembles our own Grand Canyon with
resembles our own Grand Canyon with soaring sandstone walls and obviously an
soaring sandstone walls and obviously an
soaring sandstone walls and obviously an incredible River at the bottom of it
incredible River at the bottom of it
incredible River at the bottom of it of course traveling up and down this
of course traveling up and down this
of course traveling up and down this region today is very much like it was
region today is very much like it was
region today is very much like it was 300 years ago you still see people
300 years ago you still see people
300 years ago you still see people loading up donkey trains loading up
loading up donkey trains loading up
loading up donkey trains loading up horse trains traveling with salt
horse trains traveling with salt
horse trains traveling with salt traveling with all of their daily needs
traveling with all of their daily needs
traveling with all of their daily needs any number of things would be put on the
any number of things would be put on the
any number of things would be put on the backs of horses and for trade and for
backs of horses and for trade and for
backs of horses and for trade and for travel for exploration but also for
travel for exploration but also for
travel for exploration but also for pilgrimages for religious objectives
pilgrimages for religious objectives
pilgrimages for religious objectives effectively to move into probably a
effectively to move into probably a
effectively to move into probably a higher level of self-actualization and
higher level of self-actualization and
higher level of self-actualization and that is why many people still travel in
that is why many people still travel in
that is why many people still travel in this region to go into some of the
this region to go into some of the
this region to go into some of the sacred spots that they believe they’ll
sacred spots that they believe they’ll
sacred spots that they believe they’ll be able to take great tidings learn more
be able to take great tidings learn more
be able to take great tidings learn more about the teachings of people who have
about the teachings of people who have
about the teachings of people who have passed before them and achieve greater
passed before them and achieve greater
passed before them and achieve greater ascendancy along life’s great path of
ascendancy along life’s great path of
ascendancy along life’s great path of course traveling into
course traveling into
course traveling into stung going into some of these tombs
stung going into some of these tombs
stung going into some of these tombs going to some of the caves finding the
going to some of the caves finding the
going to some of the caves finding the human remains is very much like a times
human remains is very much like a times
human remains is very much like a times capsule it’s like going back into time
capsule it’s like going back into time
capsule it’s like going back into time as climbers we get into these places
as climbers we get into these places
as climbers we get into these places having gone over in a very difficult
having gone over in a very difficult
having gone over in a very difficult terrain the rock is oftentimes very
terrain the rock is oftentimes very
terrain the rock is oftentimes very unstable oftentimes shifting it
unstable oftentimes shifting it
unstable oftentimes shifting it unfortunately requires a lot of
unfortunately requires a lot of
unfortunately requires a lot of different types of skills sometimes
different types of skills sometimes
different types of skills sometimes we’ll use ice climbing techniques to
we’ll use ice climbing techniques to
we’ll use ice climbing techniques to climb rock it’s just very unstable
climb rock it’s just very unstable
climb rock it’s just very unstable landscape for us to travel in but we get
landscape for us to travel in but we get
landscape for us to travel in but we get inside and we’re immediately transported
inside and we’re immediately transported
inside and we’re immediately transported back hundreds of years frequently we
back hundreds of years frequently we
back hundreds of years frequently we also feel like we’re getting close to
also feel like we’re getting close to
also feel like we’re getting close to the people who might have lived there we
the people who might have lived there we
the people who might have lived there we see the toolmarks in the back of the
see the toolmarks in the back of the
see the toolmarks in the back of the walls we see the human remains we see
walls we see the human remains we see
walls we see the human remains we see some of the things that people would
some of the things that people would
some of the things that people would have discarded and left behind and we
have discarded and left behind and we
have discarded and left behind and we try to imagine effectively what their
try to imagine effectively what their
try to imagine effectively what their lives were like the Lotus born Saint
lives were like the Lotus born Saint
lives were like the Lotus born Saint also known as Padma Sun bhava in Sherpa
also known as Padma Sun bhava in Sherpa
also known as Padma Sun bhava in Sherpa or Tibetan he’s known as guru Rinpoche
or Tibetan he’s known as guru Rinpoche
or Tibetan he’s known as guru Rinpoche and he’s the Blessed teacher this is a
and he’s the Blessed teacher this is a
and he’s the Blessed teacher this is a being supposedly who was the first being
being supposedly who was the first being
being supposedly who was the first being to summit Mount Everest supposedly in a
to summit Mount Everest supposedly in a
to summit Mount Everest supposedly in a chair made of gold on a Sun beam of
chair made of gold on a Sun beam of
chair made of gold on a Sun beam of light he was able to ride to the rooftop
light he was able to ride to the rooftop
light he was able to ride to the rooftop of the world by the same token
of the world by the same token
of the world by the same token Padma Sun bhava guru Rinpoche was one of
Padma Sun bhava guru Rinpoche was one of
Padma Sun bhava guru Rinpoche was one of the first beings to travel up the Kali
the first beings to travel up the Kali
the first beings to travel up the Kali Gandaki region and establish monasteries
Gandaki region and establish monasteries
Gandaki region and establish monasteries of Buddhist faith in this place
of Buddhist faith in this place
of Buddhist faith in this place supplanting the Bond traditions that
supplanting the Bond traditions that
supplanting the Bond traditions that existed beforehand and there are stories
existed beforehand and there are stories
existed beforehand and there are stories of legendary battles of guru rinpoche
of legendary battles of guru rinpoche
of legendary battles of guru rinpoche between he and the demon or demoness of
between he and the demon or demoness of
between he and the demon or demoness of this incredible region of Mustang and
this incredible region of Mustang and
this incredible region of Mustang and when one looks at the walls they’re
when one looks at the walls they’re
when one looks at the walls they’re multi-coloured red yellow black
multi-coloured red yellow black
multi-coloured red yellow black supposedly all these colors emanate from
supposedly all these colors emanate from
supposedly all these colors emanate from bits and pieces of the demon that Guru
bits and pieces of the demon that Guru
bits and pieces of the demon that Guru Rinpoche was able to vivisect and then
Rinpoche was able to vivisect and then
Rinpoche was able to vivisect and then fling into the landscape so these are
fling into the landscape so these are
fling into the landscape so these are just remarkable stories that one hears
just remarkable stories that one hears
just remarkable stories that one hears throughout the course of one’s travels
throughout the course of one’s travels
throughout the course of one’s travels throughout most on and the Everest
throughout most on and the Everest
throughout most on and the Everest region one also hears about Guru
region one also hears about Guru
region one also hears about Guru Rinpoche telling about the 108 Bay eul’s
Rinpoche telling about the 108 Bay eul’s
Rinpoche telling about the 108 Bay eul’s Bay Yule is a word in Tibetan which
Bay Yule is a word in Tibetan which
Bay Yule is a word in Tibetan which means sanctuary and supposedly there are
means sanctuary and supposedly there are
means sanctuary and supposedly there are almost these parallel universe that
almost these parallel universe that
almost these parallel universe that abide in certain places that if one’s
abide in certain places that if one’s
abide in certain places that if one’s reached a level of self-actualization
reached a level of self-actualization
reached a level of self-actualization one can slip inside of them but without
one can slip inside of them but without
one can slip inside of them but without achieving that level
achieving that level
achieving that level would never even know that they exist so
would never even know that they exist so
would never even know that they exist so this is really the etymology of the
this is really the etymology of the
this is really the etymology of the shangri-la myth in many ways the
shangri-la myth in many ways the
shangri-la myth in many ways the Tibetans know it as Shambhala and
Tibetans know it as Shambhala and
Tibetans know it as Shambhala and certain people believe that there are
certain people believe that there are
certain people believe that there are actually these earthly paradise that
actually these earthly paradise that
actually these earthly paradise that truly exists some of the artwork that
truly exists some of the artwork that
truly exists some of the artwork that one would see commemorate the life of
one would see commemorate the life of
one would see commemorate the life of Buddha commemorate obviously the
Buddha commemorate obviously the
Buddha commemorate obviously the animistic traditions and of course the
animistic traditions and of course the
animistic traditions and of course the bun tradition that existed far before
bun tradition that existed far before
bun tradition that existed far before Buddhism but one of the caves that we
Buddhism but one of the caves that we
Buddhism but one of the caves that we went inside is known as the snow leopard
went inside is known as the snow leopard
went inside is known as the snow leopard cave reason being is this particular
cave reason being is this particular
cave reason being is this particular cave really showed no passing of any
cave really showed no passing of any
cave really showed no passing of any individual any being other than the
individual any being other than the
individual any being other than the tracks of this this little kitty here
tracks of this this little kitty here
tracks of this this little kitty here and it was interesting for us to look at
and it was interesting for us to look at
and it was interesting for us to look at this place and to explore this place
this place and to explore this place
this place and to explore this place because we were thinking if a place like
because we were thinking if a place like
because we were thinking if a place like shangri-la actually did exist on earth
shangri-la actually did exist on earth
shangri-la actually did exist on earth could it exist in a cave in Muslim could
could it exist in a cave in Muslim could
could it exist in a cave in Muslim could it be a place that was once known for
it be a place that was once known for
it be a place that was once known for being no high difficult to get to
being no high difficult to get to
being no high difficult to get to but perhaps the sentient teachers lived
but perhaps the sentient teachers lived
but perhaps the sentient teachers lived in these places perhaps there were
in these places perhaps there were
in these places perhaps there were places for people to meditate in this
places for people to meditate in this
places for people to meditate in this area the artwork that existed inside was
area the artwork that existed inside was
area the artwork that existed inside was it there for the people to focus their
it there for the people to focus their
it there for the people to focus their concentration and to move beyond
concentration and to move beyond
concentration and to move beyond obviously the cares concerns of this
obviously the cares concerns of this
obviously the cares concerns of this earthly life well it’s difficult for us
earthly life well it’s difficult for us
earthly life well it’s difficult for us to say I mean this is one of the great
to say I mean this is one of the great
to say I mean this is one of the great myths that we did explore when we were
myths that we did explore when we were
myths that we did explore when we were there could there have actually been a
there could there have actually been a
there could there have actually been a shangri-la could there have been an
shangri-la could there have been an
shangri-la could there have been an earthly paradise in this place it’s
earthly paradise in this place it’s
earthly paradise in this place it’s difficult to say you know there’s this
difficult to say you know there’s this
difficult to say you know there’s this enchantment of the human mind with
enchantment of the human mind with
enchantment of the human mind with archetypal utopian landscape that it’s
archetypal utopian landscape that it’s
archetypal utopian landscape that it’s as old as myth and it’s ephemeral as a
as old as myth and it’s ephemeral as a
as old as myth and it’s ephemeral as a dream we seem to have this incredible
dream we seem to have this incredible
dream we seem to have this incredible yearning for places that don’t exist
yearning for places that don’t exist
yearning for places that don’t exist of course looking into this incredible
of course looking into this incredible
of course looking into this incredible place and climbing into this landscape
place and climbing into this landscape
place and climbing into this landscape is a transcendent experience for me
is a transcendent experience for me
is a transcendent experience for me personally and certainly for dr.
personally and certainly for dr.
personally and certainly for dr. Alderfer and also for Corey as well this
Alderfer and also for Corey as well this
Alderfer and also for Corey as well this is a place where one sees the presence
is a place where one sees the presence
is a place where one sees the presence of humanity one sees the landscape
of humanity one sees the landscape
of humanity one sees the landscape melting changing right in front of your
melting changing right in front of your
melting changing right in front of your eyes and it’s a great great testament to
eyes and it’s a great great testament to
eyes and it’s a great great testament to the great impermanence of life but to
the great impermanence of life but to
the great impermanence of life but to give you an idea of what it’s like to
give you an idea of what it’s like to
give you an idea of what it’s like to take a step inside we actually have
take a step inside we actually have
take a step inside we actually have architectural drawings as part of our
architectural drawings as part of our
architectural drawings as part of our inventory process and the things we
inventory process and the things we
inventory process and the things we collect to try to effectively document
collect to try to effectively document
collect to try to effectively document all of our travels but we also have
all of our travels but we also have
all of our travels but we also have created this animation to try to take
created this animation to try to take
created this animation to try to take you all inside like most of the stones
you all inside like most of the stones
you all inside like most of the stones cave complexes the approach is a
cave complexes the approach is a
cave complexes the approach is a struggle but once inside the rooms are
struggle but once inside the rooms are
struggle but once inside the rooms are level and plans are much like a house
many floors have long corridors
many floors have long corridors either perpendicular or parallel to the
either perpendicular or parallel to the
either perpendicular or parallel to the cliff vertical shafts connect one level
cliff vertical shafts connect one level
cliff vertical shafts connect one level to the next cave colonies can range from
to the next cave colonies can range from
to the next cave colonies can range from two levels to ten
two levels to ten
two levels to ten some levels containing as many as 15
some levels containing as many as 15
some levels containing as many as 15 rooms suit on walls indicate cave
rooms suit on walls indicate cave
rooms suit on walls indicate cave kitchens and storage rooms hold large
kitchens and storage rooms hold large
kitchens and storage rooms hold large granny’s most of the complexes have a
granny’s most of the complexes have a
granny’s most of the complexes have a single monastic room at the uppermost
single monastic room at the uppermost
single monastic room at the uppermost level a later edition by religious
level a later edition by religious
level a later edition by religious practitioners these high temple rooms
practitioners these high temple rooms
practitioners these high temple rooms sit atop cave complexes that can have
sit atop cave complexes that can have
sit atop cave complexes that can have sixty to eighty rooms a high-rise hewn
sixty to eighty rooms a high-rise hewn
sixty to eighty rooms a high-rise hewn into a high Himalayan cliff so for us to
into a high Himalayan cliff so for us to
into a high Himalayan cliff so for us to bring back this inventory to document
bring back this inventory to document
bring back this inventory to document the materials that we find inside the
the materials that we find inside the
the materials that we find inside the caves and then to try to present them
caves and then to try to present them
caves and then to try to present them and to make sense of them requires
and to make sense of them requires
and to make sense of them requires obviously an incredible team that’s why
obviously an incredible team that’s why
obviously an incredible team that’s why we have obviously someone like it mark
we have obviously someone like it mark
we have obviously someone like it mark Alderfer mark is the real deal he’s
Alderfer mark is the real deal he’s
Alderfer mark is the real deal he’s truly the real Indiana Jones with all
truly the real Indiana Jones with all
truly the real Indiana Jones with all the great academic credentials and none
the great academic credentials and none
the great academic credentials and none of the looter mentality so thank you
of the looter mentality so thank you
of the looter mentality so thank you very much everyone and I’d like to pass
very much everyone and I’d like to pass
very much everyone and I’d like to pass over the leadership here at this point
”
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