SALLERI, SOLUKHUMBU — In the crisp, high-altitude air of the Himalayas, where the breath of practitioners meets the silence of the peaks, a profound spiritual undertaking has begun. Tekchhen Pema Chholing Gonpa, nestled in the heart of Salleri, has officially launched its विश्व शान्तिका लागि १० करोड बज्र गुरु मन्त्र जप कार्यक्रम.

As the monastery approaches its 25th anniversary this year, this massive collective effort taking place between 17 – 26 April 2026 seeks to harness the power of “skilful means” to navigate an increasingly turbulent world. Up to 1000 regular devotees of which 650 are monks and nuns are joining together in daily prayer and teachings. On the final day, around 3000 total visitors are expected.

The Power of 100 Million

The program centers on the rhythmic recitation of the Vajra Guru Mantra: Om Ah Hung Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hung. In the Vajrayana tradition, this mantra is considered the very “life-essence” of Guru Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), the lotus-born master who established Buddhism in the Himalayas.

How it works:

The goal of 100 million recitations is not a solitary task but a collective accumulation of merit (punya). By gathering monks, local residents, and international practitioners, the monastery creates a “spiritual reservoir.” According to Buddhist philosophy, when a group recites together with a shared intention of Bodhicitta (the wish to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings), the merit generated by each individual is augmented by the total number of participants.

The primary goal is twofold:

• Inner Peace: Purifying the three mental poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance within the practitioners by recognizing our own wisdom (Buddha-nature).
• Global Harmony: Dedicating the resulting merit to the pacification of conflict, famine, and environmental imbalance across the globe.

For instance, while 100,000 recitations are said to purify lifetimes of non-virtuous karma, reaching the one-million mark traditionally empowers the practitioner to manifest the four enlightened activities: pacifying, increasing, magnetizing, and subjugating.

A Beacon in Solukhumbu

Under the leadership of  Sherlo Rinpoche Tulku Pema Tarjen, Vajra Master of the Recitation Program, the participants are led through the daily prayers and teachings for the 10-day program. The teachings are imperative to transmit the Dharma and for the devotees to recognize its true nature.

During the inauguration from Day 1-3 the monastery was honored to have received 32nd reincarnation of His Holiness Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche Nirvanakaya as chief guest in the rituals (Puja). The monks, nuns and visitors are very grateful for all his blessings and the oral transmission of the Vajra Guru Mantra.

“Parts of the world are in turmoil, chaos and war”, monastery Secretary Ngima Tendup Sherpa notes, “and there are so many people with personal problems. This program advocates for world peace, signifying the cessation of all armed conflict and the end of suffering for all sentient beings. In these turbulent times, we invoke Padmasambhava, the Buddha of the Three Times, known for his power to subdue ignorance, greed, and hatred. This practice generates the positive energy of compassion, loving-kindness and equanimity for all sentient beings, the ultimate path to peace.”

Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or a curious traveler passing through the Solu region, the doors of the Gonpa remain open to all who wish to learn more about the program and add their voice to the 100 million echoes for peace.

The Daily Rhythm: A Schedule of Devotion

The program follows a rigorous yet meditative daily schedule, designed to balance formal prayer with profound teachings from the Vajra Masters.