Auspicious Number

108 is an Auspicious Number. Our guide Sonam explains that the number is important in Buddhist culture - Sonam's name actually means Auspicious. There are 108 verses in the teachings of Buddha.  A family will erect 108 tall white  prayer flags to commemorate the death of a family member. At he the top of a mountain we pass  we visit 108 white stupas that were erected by the king's mother who was actually visiting them also while we were there.

Today we set off to visit local holy site. We drive, but then start to walk after our bus has difficulty navigating a washed out bridge workaround. The walk turns into a hike and finally into a climb to find a cave that was once a shelter to Guru Rinpicne when he brought the reform form of Buddhism to Bhutan maybe a thousand years ago.  Once we reach the small temple erected in the cave, Sonam leads us in a chant of 108 repetitions of the guru's mantra. He keeps count on his prayer beads, which has 108 beads. As we repeat the mantra, thunder echoes outside. In the land of the Thunder Dragon - heavy stuff.

Later, traveling on the bus, someone starts a round of 108 Bottles of Beer on the Wall, but enthusiasm fades quickly.