An Unknown Idol

“It was the only thing I was ever taught to do.”

In the middle of the Himalayan mountains, I walk into a temple. I can hear the music and chanting, and smell the aroma of the incense. There is an unknown idol placed on a pedestal in front of the crowd. I am accompanied by my government-required tour guide, Namgay.

I look at this idol, and I don’t recognize who it is. I ask, “Namgay, who is this idol? I’ve never heard of him before.” Namgay grew up in this thoroughly Buddhist country. He looks at me blankly and says, “I have no idea who this is.”

Yet, Namgay begins to circle this idol with the crowd and worship the idol. He proceeds to prostrate himself before the idol, bowing repetitively at the base of the altar as a way to gain merit that leads to good karma. Namgay lights an incense stick, and lays an offering of money at the feet of the idol. He finishes by speaking words of prayer.

As we walk out of the temple together, I ask, “Namgay, if you have no idea who this idol is, then why did you pray to him?” He replies, “I was taught to do this since my childhood.”

I have more questions. “Namgay, if you have no idea who this idol is, then what did you pray for?” Namgay replies, “I pray always for three things: one, that I would have riches and fame; two, that I would have health and my family would have health; and three, that all the animals will come back as humans, to be able to make progress towards nirvana.”

“Namgay,” I ask, “Why do you pray these three things specifically?” His answer is like the first: “I don't know. It was the only thing I as ever taught to do.”

- Pierce, a cross-cultural worker in the Buddhist world