Introduction / History

The Lishpa Monpa, who actually call themselves Kishpi in their own language, are considered the most different of all the Monpa groups in India with regards to language, origin and culture. Their distinctiveness is because they came from Tibet. Other Monpa groups say they migrated from Bhutan and areas to the west.

The Lishpa Monpa people inhabit hilly terrain near the Dirang administrative centre in the West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh in north-east India. They are distributed in three villages—Lish, Lish Gompache and Lish Gompalok. Their habitat is surrounded by dense pine forests. It has a cool and salubrious climate with moderate to heavy rainfall.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Like the other peoples in this region, the Lishpa Monpa people grow grain and raise livestock in their mountain homeland.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Despite this almost complete profession of Buddhism, the Lishpa Monpas practice a curious mixture of traditional Tibetan Buddhism combined with shamanism and witchcraft. The lama imparts religious teaching among them. The Lishpa practice witchcraft and sorcery and are engaged in curing diseases.

Besides Lord Buddha and his different incarnations, the Lishpas have a traditional community deity known as Phu or Lishpu (the hill deity). The Lishpas also send their sons to different monasteries in India to acquire training in Lamaism.

There has never been a single known Christ follower among the Lishpa Monpa. Outreach to them has proven difficult. Prospective missionaries to them should be trained in spiritual warfare. A group of Naga evangelists who moved to Arunachal Pradesh to reach the Monpa in 2001 faced tremendous demonic opposition and intimidation.

What Are Their Needs?

These people need to realize that they cannot please God without being empowered by the Holy Spirit. They cannot have the Holy Spirit without Jesus Christ.

Prayer Points

Pray for a movement of Jesus to heal and strengthen Lish Monpa communities.

Pray for a "Book of Acts" type of movement to Christ among the Lish Monpa.

Pray for the Lish Monpa people to understand and embrace that Jesus wants to bless their families and neighborhoods.

Pray for Holy Spirit anointed believers from the Lish Monpa people to change their society from within.

Pray for a movement in which the Holy Spirit leads and empowers disciples to make more disciples.

Scripture Prayers for the Monpa Lish in India.

References

Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission