The Medium of Tibet’s Chief State Oracle, Venerable Thupten Ngodup (“Nechung Kuten”), with the blessings of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and with special permission from the Tibetan Government in Exile's Office of Religious and Cultural Affairs, recently made his first public visit to the United States to offer insights and directions on individual responsibility in the world. On July 10, 2007, traveled from Louisville to Gethsemani Abbey

On arrival, he was met by Abbot Damien Thompson and taken to visit the abbey church. He laid a Tibetan scarf on the altar and then spent a short time in meditation. After a brief tour of the monastery, he spoke to the monastic community in the chapter room, elucidating the need for the wisdom of Tibet on many pressing challenges to the earth, its peoples, and our collective well-being, including global warming.

After taking dinner in the refectory with the community, he visited the grave of Fr. Louis (Thomas) Merton, where he laid a scarf around the burial cross and meditated.

As a cabinet-level official of the Tibet Government in exile, The Oracle’s knowledge is usually reserved for advising the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government. This tour was part of his effort to preserve the lineage of the Nechung Kuten and help fulfill a prophecy that was handed down hundreds of years ago to develop a college of Monasteries known as the Dreyang.