Pilgrimage participants after planting an Earth Treasure Vase on Sri Pada mountain in Sri Lanka, April 2025. Photo courtesy Tara Lanka Study Group.

A Sacred Climb: Pilgrimage to Sri Pada

By Ven. Tenzin Lekdron

In April 2025, a small but determined group of seven pilgrims gathered in Sri Lanka to ascend the sacred mountain Sri Pada—known also as Adam’s Peak, Mount Malaya, or Samanala Kanda. The journey was not just physical but deeply spiritual, resulting from a request by Palchen Rinpoche who had been unable to travel from Tibet. His students in Singapore entrusted an Earth Treasure Vase (meant for replenishing the Earth) to FPMT Tara Lanka Study Group, requesting it be buried near Sri Pada as part of a global healing practice.

For two years, attempts were made to find a qualified lama to do the burial ritual—until Geshe Rabten of the FPMT Atisha Centre in Bendigo, Australia, told me: “You must do it.”

Thus began a journey marked by obstacles. The pilgrimage season was ending, the rains had begun, and some original participants withdrew due to illness or misunderstandings. Friends become strangers. At one point, it seemed the climb would be a solitary one. And yet, two strangers from Malaysia joined at the last minute, drawn by their devotion to Guru Rinpoche.

View of Sri Pada mountain at night. Photo courtesy Ven. Tenzin Lekdron.

Ven. Dechen Molly recalls the surreal beauty of the moment:  “We knelt side by side in silence. The air was charged with blessing.” But it was no small feat. “The descent was brutal on the knees. We walked backwards at times, like climbing down a ladder.”

Despite the fatigue, the pilgrims completed their mission. Between cloudbursts, they buried the Earth Treasure Vase. Prayers continued, and in an act of compassion, a chicken destined for slaughter was bought and released.

For Eddie, the pilgrimage became a lesson in letting go. “I kept waiting to ‘arrive’—at the summit, at breakfast, at rest. But that desire for resolution kept me from seeing the moment. I realized the journey was the goal.” Ven. Dechen added with a smile, “And the veggie burger made with banana flower? Absolutely delicious.”

It was also extra special for three Sri Lankan pilgrims. Ruwan Basnayaka said, ”Although I had climbed Sri Pada before, this time it had a bonus attached as we were connecting with the second Buddha, Guru Padmasambhava. During the practices we felt the energy and constant reminders from the two nuns —to remember we are climbing on behalf of all sentient beings— made me think differently about the physical hardship.”

The ripple effects of the pilgrimage are still unfolding. New locations, fresh enthusiasm, and revived Dharma efforts now mark the work of Tara Lanka Study Group. What began with uncertainty has become a story of perseverance, interdependence, and the spontaneous blessings that arise when intention meets faith.

To me, this was never just about climbing a mountain. It was about removing obstacles—personal, logistical, spiritual. And since returning, stalled projects have begun to move forward. One of the projects is the sponsorship of the revised translation of one of the island’s greatest unsung treasures from its ancient past, the Manjusri Vasthu Vidya Shasthra, the only version discovered anywhere. This text contains instructions for building Buddhist monastic complexes and Buddha statues, and is a very important text showing the extent of Mahayana practice in Sri Lanka. This stalled project is moving again with Sri Lankan scholar Bertram Liyanage’s incredible help with Sanskrit and English corrections, and the kind generosity of a sponsor.

The Earth Treasure Vase now rests in the shadow of Sri Pada, surrounded by the wild forest and sacred echoes. The journey continues—for the mountain, the pilgrims, and the island itself.

Venerable Tenzin Lekdron is a Sri Lankan-born Australian Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition. A long standing student of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, she was ordained by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2016. She founded the Tara Lanka Foundation to create unification and harmony across Theravada and Mahayana Buddhist traditions. For the past three years, she has been working on making Lama Zopa’s vision for healing and unity a reality by raising funds for archeological research and documentation of Mahayana traditions that have been lost over time. In 2023, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave her the significant task of bringing Baisajyaguru (Medicine Buddha) back to Sri Lanka.

Please read a previously published story about  a pilgrimage Ven. Lekdron led in Sri Lanka to raise funds for the 5MB Project, a mission to build a five-story high Medicine Buddha statue in Sri Lanka, according to the instructions of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Sri Pada mountain, the place where the Buddha taught the Lankavatara Sutra. Photo courtesy Tara Lanka Study Group.

Reminiscences of a Sri Pada Pilgrim

By Eddie Yap

Wow! Wow! Wow! Echoes of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s voice were vividly heard in my mind. As we sat together at the café of Adam’s Peak Inn on a rainy afternoon after the hike, we shared our experiences of the amazing hike of Sri Pada. It is unfathomable because of the auspicious causes and conditions that brought us together and the perfect weather conditions that we enjoyed during the hike. As cliché as it sounds, we felt like in a dream and an illusion…

Adam’s Peak or Sri Pada has a height of 2,243 metre (7,359 feet). The ascent to the peak takes 5,500 steps, measuring about 7.5 km (4.5 miles) in distance. The mountain is also known as Mount Malaya, where the Buddha Shakyamuni taught the Mahayana Lankavatara Sutra. This incredible sacred site also marks the origin of Vajrayana teachings. For more information about the mountain, please refer to www.nekhor.org and Wikipedia.

On April 9, 2025, at 12:30 a.m. we started our walk from the Adam’s Peak Inn to the foothill of the Sri Pada. We reached the peak about 5:30 a.m., just in time for paying homage at the temple. We did our prayers and watched the sunrise at 6 a.m. We started to descend around 6:30 a.m. and each of us arrived at the Adam’s Peak Inn at varied times. It took me about 9 hours to complete the entire pilgrimage of Sri Pada. I am indeed grateful for the blessings of my Guru and Three Jewels, Venerable Lekdron, Venerable Dechen, and to my fellow pilgrims who showered me with unconditional love, joy, support, and care.

Pilgrimage participants completing prayers before climbing Sri Pada mountain. Photo courtesy Tara Lanka Study Group.

As indescribably fruitful as the midnight hike is for my inner transformation, I was perturbed with anxiety and doubts in the beginning. My thoughts were like… what if I can’t cope with lack of sleep and fatigue? Will my knapsack be too heavy if I pack too much water, warm clothes, medicine, etc.? Will it rain? Will it be very crowded with pilgrims on the way up like what I saw on YouTube? Countless ruminations on my mind that I cannot even recall.

If you ask me how I did it, I cannot pinpoint any specific method. Perhaps Nike’s slogan of “Just do it” helps; or our team camaraderie, brimming with love and care that pushed me to take another step after another. Or when I was stuck halfway, I had no choice but to continue. Or perhaps meeting an 80-year-old lady who hiked Sri Pada eight times in her life, descending a step at a time in the dark of the night with much joy and vigor that inspired me. It is awe inspiring to witness various causes and conditions working together … I think I am in control and yet I am vulnerable too. So, I just suck it up and take a moment to reflect on the wondrous opportunity that I am experiencing. Maybe it is not about reaching the summit that really matters. It is the journey. Pausing, enjoying the surrounding, laughing, succumbing to the pain of fatigued muscles, taking deep breaths and marveling at how far I have climbed and descended.

Along the way, Ven. Lekdron gently reminded me of our altruistic aspirations. For the benefit of all sentient beings, may all beings have happiness and its causes, may all beings be free from suffering and its causes. Think of the six classes of beings who are with us on this journey. Any pain that I feel is far less than those felt by hell beings. Bodhichitta, the essence of Buddha Dharma, is my inconceivable propulsion. Balancing my capacity to help others and myself is a constant juggle. I have learnt to be compassionate to my experiences and allow changes to happen. During the hike, I am reminded of the airplane emergency procedures. I must wear the oxygen mask first, then help others. I have to be safe before helping others, I have to be kind to myself to be kind to others.

The nine-hour journey is filled with lucid and transient sweet and bitter moments. Truly exceptional opportunities to discover endless discomfort that came and went. When I was on my way up, I thought of when I would reach the top and, on my way down, when would I arrive at the Inn for a warm breakfast. Dissatisfaction pervaded my state of mind. Habitually, I was not contented with every moment of my experience. As long as I wanted a preconceived and permanent outcome, I was dissatisfied.

I recalled the inspiring stories of Ven. Lekdron and Ven. Dechen over our meals together. Their relentless pursuit of Dharma activities and the numerous challenges that they had to deal with. Perhaps the goal is the path. Perhaps I shall appreciate the spontaneity of each moment of experience. Discover the transitory nature of life. Not everything has to make sense from my meager perspective. Live a larger life. It is not always about me. Whatever I feel or perceive is only a minute part of what it really is. My experience is dependent on a multitude of factors that I cannot possibly know. Learn to live with discomfort and dissatisfaction as the path. I do not need to create pleasant experience. Be open to all experiences. Appreciate the interdependence, ever changing and multiple outcomes of causes and conditions. Be in love with the world. Be creative. Be kind.

Tara Lanka Study Group pilgrimage participants at the summit of Sri Pada mountain. Photo courtesy Tara Laka Study Group.

I wish to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the wise and compassionate Ven. Lekdron and Ven. Dechen for their guidance and teachings. It is an amazing experience to eat and live with unique and exemplary bodhisattvas like them. It is certainly a wish fulfilling pilgrimage that I have much to learn from. My experience at Sri Pada would not be as lovely and memorable without the love, care and unwavering support from my fellow pilgrims who I am truly thankful for. The journey continues…

Humbly with lots of love,
Eddie

Eddie Yap lives in Malaysia and is a member of Losang Dragpa Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He has traveled to many sacred sites of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava).

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