Power places

Power places are the destination of pilgrims, and the sacred ambience of the place, its noumenal energy and the pilgrim's relationship to it, is sufficient to fulfill the pilgrim wishes.

'Power place' translates the Tibetan word ne, or nechen, which can also be rendered 'sacred' or 'holy place'.

The most momentous power places are the great sacred mountains and the lakes in their proximity, and cover, therefore, large areas, sometimes hundreds of square miles.

Within these areas the loci of power are the caves, particular peaks and rocks, springs and confluences, sky-burial sites, any of which, in any location may be power places.

Sometimes the natural features have been modified by man and the power place has become inseparable from the structure built at the place - hermitage, [[gompa], lhakhang, chorten.

Regardless of what has been built there, every Power place gains its significance primarily from its geomantic location.

Secondarily, it is consecrated by divine or human activity.

see also: The Sacred Life of Tibet