The Forbidden Kingdom of Mustang: Aspirations in a Desert Bloom

High in the Himalayas, tucked away like a secret treasure chest, lies Nepal’s Mustang region, long known as The Forbidden Kingdom. 

Until recently, this land of ancient Buddhist traditions was cut off from the outside world, its rhythms unfolding as they had for centuries. Here, the kingdom of Lo still hums with vintage monasteries, chanting monks, and cliff-carved cave homes that whisper of salt trade caravans and timeless aspirations.

At first glance, Mustang looks like a barren canvas: dry earth, sprawling desert valleys, and the immense Kali Gandaki Gorge carving its way through. Yet, if you let your gaze linger, life reveals itself: green apple orchards glint in the sun, rhododendrons burst from bark that once looked lifeless, and snowmelt waters turn the gorge into a rushing force.

Mustang is a reminder that even in the driest deserts of our lives, joy finds a way to bloom. This is the essence of Active Zen Living: seeing resilience, curiosity, and inspiration in every corner of nature.

Mudita: The Joy of Another’s Joy

The people of Mustang embody a luminous teaching of Buddhism called Mudita, sympathetic joy, the happiness we feel when others thrive. This joy is not grasping, not clingy, not needy. It is lighthearted, like a prayer flag dancing freely in the wind.

Their way of life reveals a truth: joy isn’t dependent on outcome but on the discipline of the heart. Aspirations, dreams, and desires are honored here, yet never clutched too tightly. To cling creates suffering, but to dream with discipline and kindness creates freedom.

Mudita teaches us that our joy expands when we celebrate both our own progress and the growth of others. In this way, Mustang mirrors the principles of forest bathing yoga; being present, open, and in harmony with the world around us.

Surpassing the Monkey Mind

The Mustang desert mirrors our inner landscape. Some days feel parched, brittle, empty. Yet when we plant aspirations in the soil of discipline, they bloom into something far greater than we imagined.

Without this discipline, the restless monkey mind convinces us to give up before we’ve even begun.

As the Zen teacher Dogen reminds us;

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“Do not follow the ideas of others, but learn to listen to the voice within yourself.”

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Just as the rhododendron erupts from dry bark, our dreams can surprise us. When we notice uncertainty, we don’t need to resist it. We simply acknowledge, bow lightly, and return to the dream.

In this space, aspirations transform into reality, not always as pictured, but always in the way they were meant to unfold. This is nature-inspired motivation in action: it reminds us that even barren seasons give way to growth.

Awakening Our Inner Forbidden Kingdom of Mustang

The beauty of the Forbidden Kingdom of Mustang lies not just in its monasteries or gorges, but in its paradox: a desert that blooms, a kingdom that thrived in isolation, and a people who cultivate joy by letting go. When we approach our aspirations in this way—disciplined yet gentle, ambitious yet unattached—we awaken our inner Forbidden Kingdom.

This hidden land inside us is crowned in resilience and joy, where Mudita dances alongside discipline, and aspirations rise like the morning sun over the peaks. Life’s greatest treasures, it turns out, are found not by clinging, but by opening to the joy that blooms when we dare to surpass our limitations.

This is the heart of Active Zen Living: to wander wild, breathe with presence, and discover that every desert of uncertainty hides the seeds of joy.  

When we do, our own Forbidden Kingdom opens its gates, and aspirations rise exactly as they were meant to.

Cheers!

Kether

Spunky Mind

"A jug fills drop by drop."

-Buddha

Grab this Spunky Mind Field Notes page to reflect on your aspirations and discover joy in the journey. A few inspired notes can help your own “Forbidden Kingdom” come alive.

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