Tibet Monastery Tour – Taboos in the Monasteries

1.Tourists making a Tibet monastery tour should wear some proper clothes. Better not wear shorts or skirts when visiting a monastery.

2.Slaughtering is the biggest taboo for local Tibetans, especially for the devout followers of Tibetan Buddhism in the monasteries. Tourists making a Tibet monastery tour should not talk about the meat before the lamas in the monasteries. It should be noted that local Tibetans never eat horseflesh and dog meat and some of the Tibetans don't even eat fish.

3.While having meals with the lamas or Buddhists, tourists should not put too much food in the mouth. Please chew the food and drink the soup silently.

4.When you are presented with a bowl of Tibet butter tea, tourists making a Tibet monastery tour should accept the bowl with both hands respectfully.

5.Tourists making a Tibet monastery tour should not touch the head of the Tibetan children or the lamas in the monasteries. It is very impolite to spit or clap your hands behind the local Tibetans.

6.Don't step on threshold when entering the tent or house. The followers of Tibetan Buddhism hold that the threshold is the shoulder of the Buddha.

7.Don't relieve yourself at the sheepfold, or any place where the cow or horse is tied.

8.Don't take the paper with Tibetan words on as toilet paper or use it to clean the dirty things.

9.Don't mention some impolite words while talking with the lamas in the monasteries.

10.Don't take pictures in the monasteries without any allowance.

11.Don't smoking in the monasteries.

12.Don't throw any bones into the fire.