Unlike some religious sites, the temple doesn’t advertise its presence: it doesn’t take out any ads and there isn’t even a single signpost directing potential visitors their way. Furthermore, despite the fact that the temple is situated on top of a 400-meters high hill, it is hidden from view.
Nevertheless, the temple that normally shuns tourists and casual visitors agreed to open its door to Sputnik correspondents.
"We don’t want this place to become linked with tourism, because otherwise it’ll immediately get swarmed with tourists and lose all its energy," Pema Gompo, an instructor at the temple, said.
He pointed out however that in order not to aggravate relations with local authorities, it was decided that the temple will be open to the tourists once a month.
The temple is a part of an international network of Buddhist centers belonging to the Ñingmapa, the oldest of the four classic schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It was originally established as a site of spiritual retreat where people from all over the world could come to immerse themselves in religious practices.
The temple building itself can accommodate up to 40 pilgrims; furthermore, there are a number of outlying houses scattered across the nearby hills where a person can live in complete seclusion.
While people who come to the temple seeking a spiritual retreat often have comprehensive knowledge of Buddhism, not to mention that most of them are also Ñingmapa adherents, Pema Gompo explained that all seekers of enlightenment are welcome here, even those who don’t know anything about Buddhism yet but wish to learn more.
"In Buddhist tradition it is the apprentice who has to seek his mentor and not vice versa. So when a man feels a spiritual calling, he starts searching by himself. We don’t go from house to house handing out ads or pamphlets, we don’t do anything. This is why there are no signposts (on the road to temple). Everyone must find his own way," he said.
He also jokingly remarked that many people who come to the temple don’t really know what they’re looking for, not to mention what the quest for spirituality is like.
"They think that they just come here, sit and meditate, and the next day they start radiating light. Obviously, when they begin their training they’re told that they’ll have to regularly engage in (spiritual) practices, and that it’ll take a lot of time, many of them just leave," Gompo said.
The temple also sometimes serves as a refuge to celebrities and politicians who seek enlightenment, but such people usually prefer not to advertise their presence and ask the temple administration to keep their whereabouts confidential.
"People ask me all the time if Richard Gere comes here. Even if he does or is currently here but requested confidentiality, we’re all the same going to reply that he never visits this place," Gompo said.
He added that many people prefer the Minas temple to other Buddhist retreats in South America due to its secluded nature, not to mention that the relatively small population of Uruguay helps the place maintain its tranquil atmosphere.
Enlightenment seekers staying at the temple wake up at 5:30 a.m. and gather at the main building within the next thirty minutes in order to engage in group spiritual practice. After it is finished they have breakfast and go their own separate ways, either engaging in personal spiritual practices or taking care of other affairs.
Pema Gompo pointed out that not all of the seekers remain at the temple all day, as some of them go to work or study. Those who do stay however usually don’t remain idle.
"Those who are good with computers work on our website, for example; those who like to cook, cook; those who like gardening, tend to plants. Everyone finds something to do," he said.
In the evening when everyone returns to the temple, the seekers gather for another group spiritual practice session and then return to their rooms. The lights in the entire temple complex go out strictly at 10:00 pm.
