Tiger's Nest: Bhutan's Cliff-Hanging Buddhist Monastery

The Tiger’s Nest in #Bhutan was founded in the 8th century, though wasn’t built until the late 17th century by the country's first ruler, Desi Tenzin Rabgay. It was built into the rock because this is where the Second #Buddha (#Padmasambhava) subdued the local demon. The Second Buddha was on his was on his way toward India from Tibet when felt something was wrong in the Western part (where the Tiger's Nest is today). So he turned his consort into a flying tigress, and transformed himself into an angry-faced #DorjeDrolo. While the angry face was meant to hide his identity, it also taught a #lesson about one of the three poisons (the others are ignorance and greed) that is in all of us, that we should work to rid ourselves of to potentially reach #Nirvana. He was able to subdue the demon using a magic dagger, but instead of being killed it was transformed into what is now the protective deity of the temple. This story is also how the Tiger’s Nest, or Tak Tsang in the local language, got its name. #Amazing!