High Dreams Coming From The Himalayas Snowland Children

The unique backgrounds of these children enhance their imaginative pursuits.

Celebrations took place in 2021 for Lhabab Duchen Day, marking Buddha Shakyamuni’s return from heaven after liberating his mother and teaching Dharma to celestial beings. This day is one of the four significant festivals in Buddhism.

Later that evening, I received a message from a former English student now working as a doctor in Nepal, caring for young monks’ children near the Gaden Shartse monastery in Mundgod, Karnataka, India.

The message read: "Offering for Boys to Become Sangha. In the Himalayan regions, many families, unable to cover expenses, are willing to send their sons to monasteries, with the cost to support one boy being USD 100."

This message brought back memories of Galchen, who, like many others, embarked on a life-changing journey from the mountains 26 years ago during my initial visit to Gaden Shartse Monastery in India. At that time, I was volunteering and teaching English, which also deepened my understanding of Buddhism.

In the Himalayan region, children often enter monastic life at a young age.

Galchen hailed from Singming, a village in the upper Dolpa Buddha Municipality, requiring a four-day trek through rugged terrain to reach the district headquarters in Dunai. The area continues to lack basic infrastructure, including transportation, communication, health services, and education. When Galchen was born, ordinary schools were nonexistent.

Enrollment often involves the village head informing parents about the opportunity to prepare their children for a journey to meet Gaden’s monks, typically requiring travel by foot or horseback through the mountains. This journey can stretch from 150 to 400 kilometers across various settlements, with countless children facing similar fates.

In Tibet and Nepal, monks are generally enrolled as young as six, with parents often deciding for them, believing that early recruitment is crucial to prevent distractions in their quest for knowledge.

However, the remote Himalayan villages in northwestern Nepal remain some of the most isolated places on Earth. Families face an agonizing choice: should their children attend school or remain in the village?

Many children leave home between the ages of four and six, often never to return if their families lack the resources to afford their journey back. Geographic isolation, poor communication, and inadequate sanitation hinder educational opportunities in these areas.

Even with schools established, they may remain unused until regional infrastructure improves, as a shortage of teachers persists. Schools primarily rely on local government funding, but the harsh living conditions make it challenging to attract educators to remote regions.

While education is essential for development, it is often inadequate in these isolated areas, leading to a neglect of their needs in favor of urban populations.

Traditionally, many parents regard their sons’ feelings about a lifetime commitment to celibate monasticism as secondary, effectively making them monks without considering their individuality. However, Buddhism teaches that enlightenment is a personal journey influenced by one’s own actions and karma.

Discussions about this life choice may occur, but more frequently, children are simply informed of their parents’ decisions. According to monastic rules, monks must join voluntarily, and the hardships of mountain life often inspire a sense of blessing in becoming monks, granting them access to education and a respected lifestyle.

The journey from home to the temple is lengthy and arduous. For Galchen, traveling four days from his remote village involved navigating challenging terrain and crossing rivers, often taking up to twelve days to reach the city, about 380 kilometers away.

If a novice monk struggles with the transition to monastic life, the monastery does not interpret this as a lack of intent to become a monk. Instead, they send senior monks to locate and encourage the return of those who attempt to flee. Parents can visit, but often only after several months, and some cannot afford the journey, relying on village representatives.

This practice of enrolling child monks is not exclusive to the monasteries of Tibet and Nepal. From the monks' perspective, having young boys as lifelong monks is practical, although this mass recruitment leads to everyday challenges.

Over the years, the governments in both countries have urged monasteries to host events for donations, ensuring they do not operate like communal kitchens. Monks, however, are not required to beg daily for sustenance.

What then becomes of other children? With a preference for boys, are there alternatives for girls?

Every child born in this remote area has an extraordinary story of resilience and determination. In contrast to what we consider traditional villages at lower altitudes, it is common for children to live without shelter or education.

Witnessing the brave faces of these children, confronting poverty and starvation with the support of their communities, evokes admiration and reflection, especially for those from urban areas.

Galchen's childhood was marked by hardship in the mountains. Despite these challenges, he pursued education and eventually enrolled at a local institution, Vishalnagar, over twelve years. After graduating from high school, he struggled to find work, leading his family, including his five sisters, to labor in the fields for survival.

As a child, he was prohibited from speaking to men outside his family, yet he gained some education, allowing him to explore various universities in India. Seeking a better life, he found refuge in a Buddhist monastery, where he studied among fellow young monks, eventually aspiring to become a doctor.

His story reflects the journey of a "snow mountain child" aiming for a brighter future, as not all children enter monasteries; some pursue education in Kathmandu.

Many children instead attend school in the city for twelve years without returning home. Upon returning at sixteen, they experience emotional reunions but often wish to continue their education.

Galchen recalls the preparations for his long journey back to his mountain village, guided by a local guide after being dropped off at the nearest town. Some older teens may choose to travel with friends, while those alone receive assistance to navigate the mountains back home.

The youngest child of Karma and Sawa, Galchen's upbringing involved agriculture and his father’s caravan business. His father sold sheep wool, herbs, and ghee in Tibet, trading for goods such as salt.

At four, Galchen first visited a monastery in Kathmandu, where he realized the harsh realities of life. His father had begun mentally preparing him for the challenges of a twelve-year monastic life.

After completing his studies, Galchen returned home to reunite with his parents for two months before returning to the monastery for further education, which had been arranged post-secondary.

He began secondary education at the Himalayan White House, where he excelled academically, graduating with distinction in 2014. Alongside academics, he enjoyed music and art and set his sights on a career in medicine after finding inspiration from a mentorship.

His struggle highlighted the rarity of seeing a real doctor while growing up in a remote village.

A chance encounter with a foreign volunteer doctor at a small clinic sparked his interest in medicine. As he assisted her in the clinic, he was captivated by the relief she brought to patients, igniting his own aspirations.

Two years later, an email from Dr. Martina brought unexpected hope. She had contacted his schoolmaster, offering a scholarship for him to study medicine in Mumbai.

Before heading to Mumbai, Galchen returned home to share news of his scholarship. He discovered that little had changed in his village, where medical facilities were scarce, leading to unnecessary suffering among pregnant women.

This realization solidified his resolve to pursue a medical career, aiming to improve healthcare in his village.

Despite the daunting decision, Galchen's desire to become a doctor was unwavering, earning him praise from his community. He returned to Kathmandu, determined to help alleviate the healthcare crisis in his village.

Galchen's journey to becoming a doctor is just one among many. Children in impoverished regions face critical needs for education and housing. What will we do when we meet these hopeful faces on the streets?

Can our compassion ignite a ripple of positive change?

Thousands of children share similar struggles, and we hope this narrative encourages readers to support initiatives for these children, such as the "Snowland Journeys" program, dedicated to aiding families in need.

In a perfect world, every child would grow up within their family.

Snowland Journeys advocates for the rights of Himalayan children to family, community, and culture, alongside their academic rights.

Nepalese students have opportunities for further education, but high costs often deter them from pursuing higher studies after completing secondary education at sixteen.

Before returning home, students must prepare emotionally and physically for reintegration into their communities. They may require resources for travel, warm clothing, and supplies for their journey, which can be costly.

The return trip can last up to 15 days, and without assistance, many youths cannot reunite with their families. Snowland Journeys aims to facilitate these reunions, helping them navigate the transition to adulthood or further education.

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