Temple of the Golden Buddha, Bangkok, Thailand, Asia

Rock cut panel depicting the Hindu God Lord Shiva and his wife Parvati, in Cave No 29, the Dhumar Lena Cave, at Ellora, Maharashtra State, India

Rock cut reclining statue of the Buddha preparing to enter nirvana, in cave 26, a chaitya in the Buddhist cave site at Ajanta, carved from a gorge in the Waghore River, Ajanta, Maharashtra State, India.

Statue of the Buddha, the largest in Asia, Po Lin Monastery, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, China, Asia

Golden Buddha Temple, Koh Samui, Thailand, Asia

Buddhist stupa known as Boudha at Bodhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal. Taken at Lhosar, the Tibetan new year, hence the abundance of new prayer flags.

Buddhist stupa known as Boudha at Bodhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal. Taken at Lhosar, the Tibetan new year, hence the abundance of new prayer flags.

Buddhist stupa known as Boudha at Bodhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal. Taken at Lhosar, the Tibetan new year, hence the abundance of new prayer flags.

A monk walks clockwise around the buddhist stupa called Swayambhu or Swayambhunath, Kathmandu, Nepal

The Ellora Caves, temples cut into solid rock, near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India

The Ellora Caves, temples cut into solid rock, near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India

Carved stone figures of Rakan, disciples of Shaka the founder of Buddhism, Otagi Nembutsu-ji Temple, Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan, Asia

Detail of demon figure, Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Guardian figure paintings on gate, Hoi Tuong Te Nguoi Hoa Buddhist Chinese temple, Phu Quoc, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddha statue (1790), Japanese Tea Gardens, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California, USA

Wat Chiang Man, Chiang Mai Thailand, Asia

Buddha figures inside Dambulla cave Buddhist temple complex, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Todai-ji Temple, Daibutsu Great Buddha, Nara, Kansai, Japan

Buddha figure inside Dambulla cave Buddhist temple complex, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Buddha figures inside Dambulla cave Buddhist temple complex, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

The Ellora Caves, temples cut into solid rock, near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India

Buddha figure inside Dambulla cave Buddhist temple complex, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Feet of Buddha figure inside Dambulla cave Buddhist temple complex, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Buddha figures inside Dambulla cave Buddhist temple complex, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Buddha figure inside Dambulla cave Buddhist temple complex, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Statues at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), the Royal Palace, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddha figures inside Dambulla cave Buddhist temple complex, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Buddha figures inside Dambulla cave Buddhist temple complex, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Wat Phra Kaeo, Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand, Asia

Buddha figures inside Dambulla cave Buddhist temple complex, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai - Doi Suthep, Thailand, Asia

Detail at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), the Royal Palace, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Reclining Buddha statue, Buddha entering Nirvana, Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka

Carved stone figures of Rakan, disciples of Shaka the founder of Buddhism, Otagi Nembutsu-ji Temple, Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan, Asia

Giant Golden Buddha, Koh Samui, Thailand, Asia

Detail of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), the Royal Palace, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddha statue, Haw Pha Kaew, Vientiane, Laos, Asia

Monk standing in front of the great seated figure of the Buddha, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, Asia

Rock carvings Ajanta Cave complex, Buddhist Temples carved into solid rock dating from the 5th Century BC, Ajanta, Maharastra, India

Sitting golden Buddha figure in main hall and worshippers praying to the Buddha, Linh Phuoc Pagoda, Dalat, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Section of the Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn), Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Giant statue of Buddha and guard, Koh Samui, Thailand, Asia

Carved stone figures of Rakan, disciples of Shaka the founder of Buddhism, Otagi Nembutsu-ji Temple, Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan, Asia

Daibusu (the Great Buddha), Kamakura, Tokyo, Japan

Buddhist nun meditating in the Bayon Temple, at Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Great seated figure of the Buddha, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, Asia

Great seated figure of the Buddha, Mihintale, Sri Lanka, Asia

Angkor Wat, UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Hindu-Buddhist temple complex near Siem Reap, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Detail of the carved facade at one of the temples in Angkor Wat complex, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Seated Buddha and ruined Chedi, Old Sukothai/Muang Kao, Sukothai, Thailand, Asia

Buddha statue in the historical park, Old Sukothai / Muang Kao, Sukothai, Thailand, Asia

The Ellora Caves, temples cut into solid rock, near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India

The Ellora Caves, temples cut into solid rock, near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India

The Ellora Caves, temples cut into solid rock, near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India

Myriad stone heads typifying Cambodia in the Bayon Temple, Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Buddhist shrine, Bangkok, Thailand, Asia

The Ellora Caves, temples cut into solid rock, near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India

Buddha, Todaiji Temple, Japan

Anicca, God of Destiny holds wheel of life of Buddhist Karma, Dazu rock carvings, Mount Baoding, China

Anicca, God of Destiny holds wheel of life of Buddhist karma, Dazu rock carvings, Mount Baoding, China

Shrine guarded by Bodhisattva figures, dating from 7th century, in Cave 5, Ellora, UNESCO World Heritage Site, near Aurangabad, Maharashtra state, India, Asia

Buddha figures inside Dambulla cave Buddhist temple complex, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka, Asia

Long-eared Buddha figure at Udon Monastery (Vipassana Dhura Buddhist Centre) at Phnom Udon, Udong, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

The caves at Ajanta, Deccan Hills, Maharashtra State, India

Close up of a row of stone figures wearing red cloth, Sanzen In shrine, Kyoto, Kansai, Honshu, Japan, Asia

Stone Buddha figure of Bodhisattva on display in the Shanghai Museum, China

Mystical figure, white umbrella and golden stupas, Shwedagon Paya, Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Sakyamuni Buddha stone from the Northern Qi Dynasty on display in the Shanghai Museum, China

Ceramic Buddha figure on display in the Shanghai Museum, China

Small Buddha figures in cave, Pindaya Natural Cave Museum, Pindaya, Shan State, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Buddha stone from the Northern Qi Dynasty on display in the Shanghai Museum, China

Traditional bronze figure of Buddha with red scarf and fresh flowers, Daisho In temple, Miyajima, Honshu, Japan, Asia

A solitary mask dancer appears wearing a frightening mask and silk brocade. they circle the courtyard with sprightly leaps. called protectors of faith, or dharmapdla, the origins of figures like these can be traced back to the pre-aryan peoples of india. originally known as yaksas (literally, a wondrous thing), they were tree spirits, who were accepted by the buddhists as defenders of the faith. in nepal and tibet, as in india, local deities were converted into protectors. a devotee of an alien sect devised a means to humiliate the buddha and his disciples. the buddha discovered it and succeeded in converting him to his teaching. due to lack of wisdom, the buddha remarked, some could not realize the goodness of his disciples and he compared the ignorant to the blind and the wise to those who have eyes.nobody is condemned in buddhism, for greatness is latent even in the seemingly lowliest just as lotuses spring from muddy ponds. -the dhammapada. solu khumbu, nepal

Statue of a kneeling figure praying in front of Temple of Wat Sop Sickharam, Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Ramakien figure, Wat Phra Kaeo, Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Gilt chedi and Ramakien figures, Wat Phra Kaeo, Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Ramakien figure, Wat Phra Kaeo, Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Tree roots surrounding face of Buddha statue

Sunbeams on Buddha statue, Ayutthaya, Thailand

Low angle view of statues on ornate temple dome

Snow on Buddha statue

Statue of Buddha at sunset, Borobudur, Java, Indonesia

Silhouette of statue of Buddha at night, Borobudur, Java, Indonesia

Naga staircase, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple of Chiang Mai, Thailand

Mythological demon statue at Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, (Rangoon), Myanmar, (Burma)

Face of guardian mythical demon figure, Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand

Woman, women, biking, Bridge and South Gate of Angkor Thom, Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Monk and Buddha statue, in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Detail, statues of Asuras on bridge of South Gate, in Angkor Thom, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Monk blessing a woman, in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Detail, statues of Asuras on bridge of South Gate, in Angkor Thom, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Statues of demons on a Golden Chedi, at the temple of the Emerald Buddha Wat Phra Kaeo, Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand

Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai, Thailand

Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon Temple, Ayutthaya, Thailand

Detail of naga staircase, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Temple of Chiang Mai, Thailand

Detail, Bayon temple, Angkor Thom, Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Buddha statue, Central sanctuary, in Prasat Hin Phimai (Phimai Historical Park), Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand

Reclining Buddha at Wat Chedi Luang Wora Wihan Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai Historical Park, Sukhothai, Thailand

Monk, in Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia