Monastery and church of Cuilapan, Oaxaca, Mexico, North America

Cloister of the Church of Saint Francis, Piran, Slovenia, Europe

St. Michael's Monastery, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe

Monks performing religious ceremonial dances in the inner monastery courtyard at the Paro Tsechu (annual monastery festival), Paro, Bhutan, Asia

Sucevita Monastery, a Gothic church, one of the Painted Churches of Northern Moldavia, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bukovina, Romania, Europe

Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Cave monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe

Convento Santo Ecce Homo, previously a monastery now a historic site, near Villa de Leyva, Colombia, South America

The Cloister, Jeronimos Monastery (Hieronymites Monastery), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

St. Michael's Monastery, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe

Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Cave monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kiev, Ukraine, Europe

Aerial of Fo Guang Shan Monastery, Fo Guang Mountain (Shan), Taiwan, Asia

Arcade murals depicting religious figures and scenes, Church of the Nativity, Rila Monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bulgaria, Europe

Monastery and church of Cuilapan, Oaxaca, Mexico, North America

Courtyard, dormitories and Church of the Nativity, Rila Monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, nestled in the Rila Mountains, Bulgaria, Europe

Monk in wooden mask in traditional costume, dancing in monastery courtyard, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

The cloisters and courtyard of Alcobaca Monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Alcobaca, Estremadura, Portugal, Europe

The Inner Courtyard, Monastery of St. John the Theologian, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Patmos, Dodecanese, Greek Islands, Greece, Europe

A nun sweeps the grounds of the Stavropoleos Monastery Church (Biserica Manastirea Stavropoleos) early in the morning, Bucharest, Romania, Europe

Nativity church in courtyard of Rila monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rila Mountains, Bulgaria, Europe

Monk in wooden mask in traditional costume, dancing in monastery courtyard, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Sculpture, Courtyard of the two-storied cloister, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos (Monastery of the Hieronymites), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

Procession in monastery courtyard with monk musicians blowing traditional horns, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Group of monks dancing in the monastery courtyard rehearsing for Hemis festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Courtyard in Palcho Monastery, Gyantse, Tibet, China, Asia

Tourists visit Konigliches Schloss in Schlossplatz, Berchtesgaden in Baden-Wurttenberg, Bavaria, Germany

Group of monks dancing in the monastery courtyard rehearsing for Hemis festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Konigliches Schloss in Schlossplatz, Berchtesgaden in Baden-Wurttenberg, Bavaria, Germany

Konigliches Schloss in Schlossplatz, Berchtesgaden in Baden-Wurttenberg, Bavaria, Germany

Monks debate in main courtyard, Tashilhunpo monastery, Shigatse (Xigatse), Tibet, China, Asia

Courtyard of the monastery of Likir, Ladakh, India, Asia

Group of monks in wooden masks and traditional costumes in procession in the monastery courtyard, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Pilgrims in monastery courtyard,. Sakya, Tibet, China, Asia

Procession in monastery courtyard with monk musicians wearing masks blowing traditional horns, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Rinpung Dzong Fortress Monastery courtyard, Paro, Bhutan, Asia

Close up of a monk dancing in full traditional costume in monastery courtyard, Hemis Festival, Hemis, Ladakh, India, Asia

Monk beating traditional drum called gong, int he courtyard of chiwang monastery during mani rimdu festival. chiwang monastery, solu khumbu, nepal

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

The cloister garden and courtyard of Kloster Eberbach monastery, used in the filming of The Name of the Rose, Rhine region, Hessen, Germany, Europe

Europe, Portugal, Lisbon. April 19, 2022. The Jeronimos Monastery, burial site of Vasco da Gama, and an example of Portugese Gothic Maueline architecture. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tibetan interior: Tea tables and carpets arranged in the courtyard for a ceremony at Hemis Monastery. Ladakh, India

The courtyard of Soma monastery, restored by THF, where dances and ceremonies are held. The courtyard is repaved with stone from Chiling. It is surrounded by a charming refurbished arcade. Ladakh, India

Tibetan Interior: Brightly colored tea tables and carpets in the courtyard of Hemis monastery following a ceremony and feast. Paintings on slate line the courtyard walls. Ladakh, India

Tibetan interior: Tea tables and carpets arranged in the courtyard for a ceremony at Hemis Monastery. Ladakh, India

Shrine in the courtyard of the Holy Monastery of Saint Stephen, Meteora, Thessaly, Greece

Courtyard, in Wat Pho (Wat Po), Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Bangkok, Thailand

Young monk on the roof looking at the dance of masks in the courtyard during the Hemis Gonpa Festival at convent Hemis, southeast of Leh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Families from villages close by having food in the courtyard, Hemis Festival at convent Hemis, southeast of Leh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Women drinking tea in the courtyard, Hemis Festival at convent Hemis, southeast of Leh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, India

practice for foreign students in side courtyard of the Shaolin Monastery, known for Shaolin boxing, Taoist Buddhist mountain, Song Shan, Henan province, China, Asia

Monastery Certosa di Pavia (“Gratiarum Chartusiae”), Province of Pavia, Lombardy, Italy, Europe

outdoor bathroom in a courtyard of a new Kung Fu school, washing hair, face, cleaning teeth, near Shaolin, Song Shan, Henan province, China, Asia

Abbot playing chinese chess at the courtyard of Cui Yun Gong monastery, Hua Shan, Shaanxi province, China, Asia

Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Community of Madrid, Spain

prayer ceremony, buddhist monks, court yard, during birthday of Wenshu, Xiantong Monastery, Wutai Shan, Five Terrace Mountain, Buddhist Centre, town of Taihuai, Shanxi province, China, Asia

Monastery of Moni Odigitria, courtyard

Courtyard, prayer hall, Wannian monastery and temple, pilgrims hostel, China, Asia, World Heritage Site, UNESCO

Real Sitio de San Lorenzo de El Escorial, San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Community of Madrid, Spain

Picturesque patio Mudéjar at La Rábida monastery, Province of Huelva, Andalusia, Spain, Europe

Inner courtyard of Maulbronn monastery, Cistercian monastery, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Green courtyard seen through arched stone columns in the priory of St. Paul de Mausole in St. Remy de Provence, France, Europe

Two-storeyed cloister in the enclosure, Claustro, of the Hieronymites Monastery, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Manueline style, Portuguese late-Gothic, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

Two-storeyed cloister in the enclosure, Claustro, of the Hieronymites Monastery, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Manueline style, Portuguese late-Gothic, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

Two-storeyed cloister in the enclosure, Claustro, of the Hieronymites Monastery, Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Manueline style, Portuguese late-Gothic, Belem, Lisbon, Portugal, Europe

Timber-frame architecture in the courtyard of the Johanniskloster, St John's Monastery, Stralsund, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, Europe

The empty courtyard of the Rumtek monastery, a tourist attraction and home of the Karmapa and Karma Kagyu order of Buddhism located in Gangtok, Sikkim, India, Asia

The inscribed pillar at the center of the Rumtek Monastery courtyard details the history of the monastery located in Gangtok, Sikkim, India, Asia

Monks with big wooden masks and colorful costumes are performing ritual dances at Hemis Festival in the courtyard of the monastery, Hemis, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Asia

Monks with big wooden masks and colorful costumes are performing ritual dances at Hemis Festival in the courtyard of the monastery, Hemis, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Asia

Church and medieval cloister of the Abbaye de Fontevraud abbey, Aquitaine Romanesque, built from 1105 to 1160, Fontevraud-líAbbaye, Loire Valley near Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, France, Europe

Monks with big wooden masks and colorful costumes are performing ritual dances at Hemis Festival in the courtyard of the monastery, Hemis, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Asia

Cistercian monastery Bebenhausen Tuebingen Baden Wuerttemberg Germany

Arkadi Monastery, Moni Arkadi, National Monument, Crete, Greece, Europe

Statue of a nun, courtyard of the former Benedictine monastery, historical monastery quarter, town of Krk, island of Krk, Kvarner Gulf Bay, Croatia, Europe

Memorial to Bishop Pere-Joan Campins, inner courtyard of Lluc Abbey, pilgrimage church, pilgrims hostel, Escorca, Mallorca, Balearics, Spain, Europe

Monks with big wooden masks and colorful costumes are performing ritual dances at Hemis Festival in the courtyard of the monastery, Hemis, Jammu and Kashmir, India, Asia

Church of St. Mary of the Angels and courtyard of the former Benedictine monastery, historical monastery quarter, town of Krk, island of Krk, Kvarner Gulf Bay, Croatia, Europe

Romantic courtyard of the Kloster Maulbronn monastery, Maulbronn, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Cloistered courtyard of convent the Augustinian Canons, St Florian, Upper Austria, Europe

Cloister of the monastery church Timiou Stavro, Omodos, Troodos Mountains, Central Cyprus

Gates of Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery, Singapore, Asia

Millstatt monastery, Carinthia, Austria

St Laurentius, St Lawrence church, inner courtyard, former monastery Wedinghausen, city archive, art exhibitions, Arnsberg, Sauerland region, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Europe

Courtyard, Kykkos Monastery, Troodos Mountains, Cyprus, Europe

Kykkos Monastery, Troodos Mountains, Cyprus, Europe

The abbey of Sayn with cloister, Sayn, Koblenz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, Europe

Kameralamt, old German term for Ministry of Finance, monastery courtyard with half-timbered houses, Maulbronn Monastery, Cistercian Abbey, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kraichgau, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, Europe

Adlerbrunnen at inner courtyard in St. Floria, St. Florian, Upper Austria, Austria

Royal Kykkos monastery, courtyard, Orthodox monastery, icons, mosaics, Troodos Mountains, Cyprus, Greece, Europe

Courtyard, arcades, Santo Domingo Monastery, Cusco, Inca settlement, Quechua settlement, Peru, South America, Latin America

Banz Abbey, a former Benedictine monastery, near Bad Staffelstein, Lichtenfels, Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Great cloister, by Diogo do Torralva, fortified monastery Convento de Cristo of the Knights Templar, Tomar, Centro Region, Portugal, Europe

Courtyard, Santa Catalina monastery, Arequipa, Inca settlement, Quechua settlement, nunnery, Peru, South America, Latin America

Royal Kykkos monastery, courtyard, Orthodox monastery, icons, mosaics, Troodos Mountains, Cyprus, Greece, Europe

Convent Gasten, Upper Austria, Austria

Moni Kalivianis convent, orphanage, girl boarding school and retirement home, Crete, Greece, Europe

Great cloister, by Diogo do Torralva, fortified monastery Convento de Cristo of the Knights Templar, Tomar, Centro Region, Portugal, Europe

Millstatt monastery, Carinthia, Austria

Inner courtyard of Banz Abbey, Bad Staffelstein, Upper Franconia, Franconia, Bavaria, Germany, Europe

Courtyard in the fortress castle Wangdue Phondrang, Bhutan, Asia

Great cloister, by Diogo do Torralva, fortified monastery Convento de Cristo of the Knights Templar, Tomar, Centro Region, Portugal, Europe