Sera Utsé Hermitage, Buddhist hermitage near Sera Monastery, Tibet, China
Sera Utsé Hermitage is a Buddhist retreat sanctuary located on a mountain behind Sera Monastery in Tibet at roughly 4,100 meters elevation. The site sits within a landscape of granite rock formations and overlooks the city of Lhasa and surrounding ridges.
The site was established in 1705 by Drubkhang Gelek Gyatso at a location where Buddhist master Tsongkhapa had conducted meditation retreats in the 14th century. This connection links two important periods of spiritual practice at the same mountain location.
The chapel holds a shrine dedicated to Pehar, a spirit figure important to Tibetan religious practice. You can see metal Buddhist statues inside that monks use as part of their daily devotions.
Access is by a roughly 90-minute walk from Tsongkhapa's hermitage along trails that wind through granite rock formations. The path requires moderate fitness and mountain terrain, so sturdy footwear and plenty of water are important preparations.
The site contains meditation huts and a Dharma study enclosure where monks engage in text study and contemplative practice within the mountain setting. These structures reveal how daily meditative routines and Buddhist scholarship are lived out in this remote mountain location.
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