Watching incense being made was heaven scent

Burning incense is one of the most common scenes on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. By chance, I witnessed the legendary perfume being made.

Not far from Samye Monastery, 1,000-year-old Mindroling Monastery is known for making traditional Tibetan incense that contains more than 20 kinds of spices, medicinal herbs, gold, silver and rare minerals.

Tenzin, the lama in charge of making incense in the temple, ushered me into a northern chamber of the monastery where several villagers were grinding herbs like saffron, Chinese licorice and Dolichousnea longissima, a kind of lichen. Monks used to do all the work but recently more villagers have become willing helpers.