In Nepal’s highlands, climate change threatens Tibet’s Bon faith
Lubra, Nepal — "It has been 20 generations since the great monk, Trashi Gyaltsen, founded Lubra,” says Lama Tsultrim, speaking from the basement of his home in the Nepali Himalayas. His basement door
Lubra, Nepal — "It has been 20 generations since the great monk, Trashi Gyaltsen, founded Lubra,” says Lama Tsultrim, speaking from the basement of hi
Read Full Story at Al Jazeera →Why This Matters
The survival of Lubra’s ancient Bon faith—one of the world’s oldest spiritual traditions—hinges on the same fragile alpine ecosystems that are now rapidly degrading. As glaciers retreat and seasonal patterns shift, the cultural and ecological foundations of this Himalayan community face existential threats, revealing how climate change is not just an environmental crisis but a spiritual and historical one as well.
Background Context
Nestled in Nepal’s Mustang District, Lubra has been a bastion of the Bon tradition for centuries, preserving rituals, texts, and practices that predate Buddhism in the region. The community’s isolation has shielded it from modern pressures, but its survival now depends on increasingly erratic weather patterns that disrupt sacred agricultural cycles and erode the spiritual narratives tied to the land.
What Happens Next
Without immediate adaptation strategies—such as relocating sacred sites or altering agricultural practices—the Bon faith in Lubra could face irreversible decline within a generation. Local leaders are already considering migration to lower altitudes, which would sever generations of cultural continuity but might be the only way to preserve the faith’s viability in a warming world.
Bigger Picture
Lubra’s plight reflects a broader pattern across the Himalayas, where indigenous traditions are being upended by climate shifts. From the Sherpa communities in Nepal to the Ladakhi Buddhists in India, the interplay of environmental degradation and cultural erosion underscores how climate change is redefining not just landscapes, but identities rooted in them.
