This has lead to a tradition of extraordinary practitioners and teachers who skillfully guide and help others. This in turn gives rise to deep faith among the ordinary people who try to live their lives according to the principals of Buddhism . Twice in its history the Monastery has been destroyed and then rebuilt. The Abbot , known as Tengboche Rinpoche was recognized as incarnate Lama according to ancient tradition. There are over 50 Monks at Tengboche following an age-old routine of prayer, study and retreat.
Education is considered to be very important and there is a school at the monastery.
Great prayer ceremonies following unbroken traditions are still performed at Tengboche. The most famous is the colourful Mani Rimdu Masked Dance preformed in the autumn. The dates of these Festivals change every year according to the lunar calendar, and are given in the chapter Mani Rimdu . There is also a small Nunnery connected with Tengboche located at Devoche. In the nearby Villages there are also many other small monasteries and hermitages including those at Pangboche, Thame, Lawdo, Khumjung and Kunde.