Buddhist monk having his head shaved, U Min Kyaukse Pagoda, Sagaing, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Top view of the spiral stairs inside the towers of masonic Initiation Well at Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal, Europe

Photographer at the top of the spiral stairs inside the towers of Initiation Well at Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal, Europe

View of spiral staircases at the Initiation Well, purportedly used for ceremonial purposes by Freemasons in the 19th century, at Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal, Europe

View of spiral staircases at the Initiation Well, purportedly used for ceremonial purposes by Freemasons in the 19th century, at Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal, Europe

Face painting with a mixture of clay, oils and plant pigments in preparation for the Hamer (Hamar) jumping of the bulls initiation ceremony, Turmi, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Ritual dancing round cows and bulls before the initiate jumps, Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony of the Hamer (Hamar) people, Turmi, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Ritual dancing round cows and bulls before the initiate jumps, Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony of the Hamer (Hamar) people, Turmi, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Ritual dancing round cows and bulls before the initiate jumps, Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony of the Hamer (Hamar) people, Turmi, Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Back of a Tibetan man with needles inserted into skin in manhood rites in Qinghai Province, China, Asia

Women sing and dance before the bull jumping, Hamer Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony, Turmi, Lower Omo valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Face painting with a mixture of clay, oils and plant pigments, Hamer Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony, Turmi, Lower Omo valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Women sing and dance before the bull jumping, Hamer Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony, Turmi, Lower Omo valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Hamer man, Hamer Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony,Turmi, Lower Omo valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Hamer Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony, naked initiate running over backs of bulls or cows, Turmi, Lower Omo valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Young Burmese girl during ritual for becoming a nun, Paya Mahamuni, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Young Burmese girl during ritual for becoming a nun, Paya Mahamuni, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Face painting with a mixture of clay, oils and plant pigments, Hamer Jumping of the Bulls initiation ceremony, Turmi, Lower Omo valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Monks initiation, Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Tens of thousands of buddhist pilgrims from around the world traveled to bodhgaya, a town in northern india, to hear exiled tibetan spiritual leader hh dalai lama give the kalachakra-religious teachings. Pilgrim take rickshaw to the main temple in bodhgaya. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, bihar, india

Bodhgaya, kalachakra, india. holiness 14th dalai lama conferring giving kalachakra initiation in sarnath, india. Because of profundity, kalachakra initiation be bestowed only by most realized of tibets lamas. Rays of lightÀÜat heart of lama-inseparable from kalachakra-draw in. Entering mouth pass through center of body, through vajra path enter mothers lotus, melting into a luminous drop which dissolves into emptiness. From within emptiness arises a jewel from which arise as a deity embraced by consort mamaki.

Sadhus rally initiation at ujjain kumbh mela, indi

Buddhist monks prostrating at maha bodhi temple complex in bodhgaya. Prostration is a gesture used in buddhist practice to show reverence to the triple gem (comprising the buddha, his teachings, and the spiritual community) and other objects of veneration. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Monk prostrating in front of maha bodhi temple. Bodhgaya prostration is a gesture used in buddhist practice to show reverence to the triple gem (comprising the buddha, his teachings, and the spiritual community) and other objects of veneration. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. altar boy lights candles of young girls after the ceremony

Kalchakra initiation. holiness 14th dalai lama conferring giving kalachakra initiation in bodgaya, india. Because of profundity, kalachakra initiation be bestowed only by most realized of tibets lamas. Rays of light at heart of lama-inseparable from kalachakra-draw in. Entering mouth pass through center of body, through vajra path enter mothers lotus, melting into a luminous drop which dissolves into emptiness. From within emptiness arises a jewel from which arise as a deity embraced by consort mamaki. -instructions visualization in kalachakra tantra

His holiness the 17th gyalwang karmapa. Following the death of hh dalai lama, it is believed that 17th karmapa with take hold of the seculare reign. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Tens of thousands of buddhist pilgrims from around the world traveled to bodhgaya, a town in northern india, to hear exiled tibetan spiritual leader hh dalai lama give the kalachakra-religious teachings. Pilgrims walk through the entrance banner at main temple in bodhgaya. They carry kusha grass for offering. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, bihar, india

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. altar boy lights candles of young girls after the ceremony

Monks offer butter lamps. Kalachakra initiation, bodhgaya. India. Monks attending kalachakra initiation at mahaboudhi temple in bodhgaya, india. mahabodhi temple marks site of buddhas enlightment twenty-five hundred years. centuries have made pilgrimages across himalayas to sites connected with life of historical buddha. From a tantric perspective, pilgrimage is more than paying homage at sacred sites. Rather, it is that activities performed at these places become a memory of place itself. By attuning oneself through ritual meditation to this timeless presence, similar experiences be evoked

Monks offer butter lamps prayer, kalachakra initiation, bodhgaya. India. Monks attending kalachakra initiation at mahaboudhi temple in bodhgaya, india. mahabodhi temple marks site of buddha’s enlightment twenty-five hundred years. centuries have made pilgrimages across himalayas to sites connected with life of historical buddha. From a tantric perspective, pilgrimage is more than paying homage at sacred sites. Rather, it is that activities performed at these places become a memory of place itself. By attuning oneself through ritual meditation to this timeless presence, similar experiences be evoked

Buddhist monk holding blessed water in a vessel with hh dalai lama amulet. Inside mahabodhi temple. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Budhist lamas in prayer, bodhgaya, india. Monks attending kalachakra initiation at mahaboudhi temple in bodhgaya, india. mahabodhi temple marks site of buddha’s enlightment twenty-five hundred years. centuries have made pilgrimages across himalayas to sites connected with life of historical buddha. From a tantric perspective, pilgrimage is more than paying homage at sacred sites. Rather, it is that activities performed at these places become a memory of place itself. By attuning oneself through ritual meditation to this timeless presence, similar experiences be evoked

Hindu pilgrims come to maha bodhi temple to worship buddha because he is the reincarnation of vishnu. Maha bodhi temple complex. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten. girls during mass

Hollywood actor richard gere attended kalachakra initiation at maha bodhi temple. Bodhgaya, india

Tibetan monk take rickshaw to the main temple in bodhgaya. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, bihar, india

Hh dalai lama giving the kalachakra-religious teachings. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Guatemala catholic first communion and mass at remate, el peten

Tens of thousands of buddhist pilgrims from around the world traveled to bodhgaya, a town in northern india, to hear exiled tibetan spiritual leader hh dalai lama give the kalachakra-religious teachings. Pilgrims offer holy kusha grass (amrisso). Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, bihar, india

Bhutanese pilgrim holds leaf of bodhi tree as she meditates. It is believed that gautam buddha attained unsurpassed, supreme enlightenment under the bodhi tree in bodhgaya. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Volunteer monks distribute tibetan butter salt milk tea to the kalachakra initiation attendants. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Receiving kalachakra initiation in sarnath, india

Volunteer monks make tibetan butter salt milk tea in gigantic vessel for the kalachakra initiation attendants. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Tibetan musicians perform at maha bodhi temple. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Tibetan spiritual leader hh dalai lama. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Buddhist nuns in front of tergar monastery in maha bodhi temple. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Bhutanese pilgrims meditate under bodhi tree. It is believed that gautam buddha attained unsurpassed, supreme enlightenment under this bodhi tree. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Thai temple on the way to mahabodhi temple. Bodhgaya, india

Bhutanese pilgrim praying at butter statues that is made under the bodhi tree inside mahabodhi temple complex. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

His holiness the 17th gyalwang karmapa banners at tergar monastery in maha bodhi temple. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Dharma at day and dance at night. After the teachings dance and music entertainment is enjoyed. Bodhgaya, india

Pilgrims receive puriying essence blessings. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Buddhist monk praying butter statues that is made under the bodhi tree inside mahabodhi temple complex. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

While circumambulating maha bodhi temple, tibetans making money offerings to bihari in need. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

While circumambulating maha bodhi temple, tibetans making money offerings to bihari in need. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Hh the 14th dalai lama holds a statue of buddha with bodhi-tree-leaf. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Buddhist pilgrims from arunachal pradesh in india, buyng stone souvenirs. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Buddhist pilgrims circumambulate maha bodhi temple in bodhgaya. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Tibetan pilgrims in devotion. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Dharma at day and dance at night. After the teachings dance and music entertainment is enjoyed. Bodhgaya, india

Volunteer monks make tibetan butter salt milk tea in gigantic vessel for the kalachakra initiation attendants. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, india

Young woman from the Hamar tribe during the bull-leaping ceremony, an initiation rite, portrait, southern Omo Valley, Ethiopia, Africa

Theyyam performer looking into a mirror, moment of initiation, during a Theyyam ritual, near Kasargod, North Kerala, South India, Asia

Initiation ceremony for new sadhus during the Kumbha Mela festival, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, formerly Uttaranchal, India, Asia

Xavante Warrior. Mato Grosso, Brazil

Lean brown bodies glisten with red and black paint. Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Xavante log race. Mato Grosso, Brazil.

Maasai youth with traditional face paint signifying that he has completed the initiation process for entering adulthood the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania

Hamer woman carrying a baby at a bull jumping ceremony, which initiates a boy into manhood, in the village of Asile, Omo Valley, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia

Hamer man wearing a colourful hat at a bull jumping ceremony, which initiates a boy into manhood, in the village of Asile, Omo Valley, Ethiopia

SIERRA LEONE Initiation Ceremony Portrait of girl initiate with white painted face.

SIERRA LEONE People Young girls attending initiation ceremony with white painted faces.

SIERRA LEONE People Soko Dancer at Soko secret society initiation.