Rongbo Monastery, located near Mount Qomolangma in Tingri County, Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet, is the world’s highest monastery with an altitude of over 5,000 meters.

Ngawang Peljor, 36years old, has been practicing Buddhism for 15 years in the monastery. In his room lying at the end of a path inside the monastery, there are scripture scrolls and a Buddhist shrine. Every morning at 8:30, Ngawang Peljor gets up to begin his day of Buddhist practice until 11:30 at night. He has led such a life year after year.

Two years ago, the monastery arranged Ngawang Peljor to travel to Lhasa, where he practiced Buddhism at the Tibet Buddhist Academy along with monks of different sects from all over the region. The Buddhist Academy teaches not only dharma, but also politics, law, economics, computers, and other subjects. After graduation, Ngawang Peljor returned to the monastery and continued his usual Buddhist practice.

 
Ngawang Peljor lights butter lamps inside the main hall of Rongbo Monastery.

After getting up every day, Ngawang Peljor makes an offering of fresh water before the shrine in his room, signifying the start of a purified day.

Meditating under the guidance of a teacher.

Playing with the sheep in the Rongbo Monastery

On the way back to his room

Mount Qomolangma off in the distance.

In order to prevent cattle and sheep from entering the meadow at the entrance of Rongbo Monastery, the abbot has arranged Ngawang Peljor to change the stone guardrail to a barbed wire fence. Before work, he takes off his robes and changes into trousers, a down jacket, and a hat, which makes him look like a layperson.