# Teshoo Lama — Kim character guide > Teshoo Lama in Kim by Rudyard Kipling. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Venerable Teshoo Lama, Lama, Holy One, the Holy One, Old Red Hat **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot A gentle Tibetan Buddhist lama who travels across India seeking the legendary River of the Arrow, he becomes the orphan Kim's spiritual father and moral compass. ## Who they are The lama has left his monastery in the Himalayas to find the river that will cleanse him of sin and free him from the Wheel of Life. His serene otherworldliness contrasts sharply with Kim's street cunning, yet the two form an unlikely family bound by mutual care. The lama's search gives the novel its spiritual dimension, while his innocence makes him vulnerable to the very world Kim knows how to navigate. His presence transforms Kim's adventures from mere intrigue into a pilgrimage. ## Relationships ### [Kim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/characters/kim) _friendship_ Kim becomes the devoted chela (disciple) and traveling companion of the Teshoo Lama, sharing a deep spiritual and paternal bond. ### [Father Victor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/characters/father_victor) _social_ Father Victor interacts respectfully with the Teshoo Lama, recognizing him as a fellow religious figure and discussing Kim's future. ### [Lurgan Sahib](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/characters/lurgan_sahib) _social_ Lurgan Sahib and the Teshoo Lama have a courteous but distant acquaintance, with Lurgan respecting the lama's spiritual authority. ### [Mahbub Ali](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/characters/mahbub_ali) _social_ Mahbub Ali and the Teshoo Lama meet occasionally, with Mahbub showing respect for the lama's holiness while keeping his own espionage secret. ### [Hurree Chunder Mookerjee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/characters/hurree_chunder_mookerjee) _social_ Hurree Chunder Mookerjee interacts with the Teshoo Lama with polite deference, often using the lama's presence as cover for intelligence work. ### [Colonel Creighton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/characters/colonel_creighton) _social_ Colonel Creighton meets the Teshoo Lama with formal respect, recognizing the lama's influence over Kim while pursuing his own intelligence agenda. ### [Kim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/characters/kim) _friendship_ Kim becomes the devoted chela (disciple) and traveling companion of the Teshoo Lama, sharing a deep spiritual and paternal bond. ### [Lurgan Sahib](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/characters/lurgan_sahib) _social_ Lurgan Sahib and the Teshoo Lama have a courteous but distant acquaintance, with Lurgan respecting the lama's spiritual authority. ### [Father Victor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/characters/father_victor) _social_ Father Victor interacts respectfully with the Teshoo Lama, recognizing him as a fellow religious figure and discussing Kim's future. ### [Mahbub Ali](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/characters/mahbub_ali) _social_ Mahbub Ali and the Teshoo Lama meet occasionally, with Mahbub showing respect for the lama's holiness while keeping his own espionage secret. ### [Father Victor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/characters/father_victor) _social_ Father Victor interacts respectfully with the Teshoo Lama, recognizing him as a fellow religious figure and discussing Kim's future. ### [Colonel Creighton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/characters/colonel_creighton) _social_ Colonel Creighton meets the Teshoo Lama with formal respect, recognizing the lama's influence over Kim while pursuing his own intelligence agenda. ## In the story ### [Chapter I: The Wonder House and the Lama](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/chapters/i) A Tibetan lama on pilgrimage to the Four Holy Places, who visits the Lahore Museum and is awed by the Buddha statue. ### [Chapter II: The Prophecy of the Red Bull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/chapters/ii) The lama insists on departing despite hospitality, shares his past as a horoscope master, and preaches about the Buddha and the River of healing to the train passengers. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/chapters/iii) The lama continues his search for the River, shows compassion to the farmer and the cobra, and demonstrates his spiritual detachment. ### [On the Grand Trunk Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/chapters/iv) The lama walks in deep meditation, ignoring the sights and sounds around him. He agrees to accompany the old lady's caravan as far as Saharunpore. ### [The Lama's Grief and Kim's Destiny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/chapters/v) The lama is heartbroken that Kim will be taken from him, and he blames himself for breaking the Way by becoming attached to his chela. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/chapters/vi) Sends a letter to Father Victor offering 300 rupees per year for Kim's education at St. Xavier's. ### [The Gates of Learning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/chapters/vii) The lama parts from Kim at the school gates, returning to Benares to continue his search for the River, promising to write and visit. ### [The Road to Simla](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/chapters/viii) The lama is mentioned by Kim and Mahbub as Kim's spiritual bond and the subject of their conversation. ### [The Juggler's Art](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/chapters/xi) Observes Kim's actions and warns against pride; reunites with Kim at the Temple of the Tirthankars. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/chapters/xii) The lama debates with Hurree Babu about medicine, shares stories of his monastery in Bhotiyal, and continues his spiritual search. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/chapters/xiii) Sleeps peacefully while Kim and the hillmen deal with the kilta. ### [The Woman of Shamlegh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/chapters/xiv) The lama is weak from mountain sickness, reflects on a past fight as a monk, and gains enlightenment about the causes of evil, deciding to leave the hills. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/chapters/xv) Confesses to leaning on Kim's strength; announces he has found the River and that Kim will be cleansed and become a teacher. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/characters/teshoo_lama - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/kim_se/characters