View of the Baptistery and Campanile di Giotto, Piazza del Duomo, Florence (Firenze), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tuscany, Italy, Europe

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem, which contains the two holiest sites in Christianity

York Minster seen from the city walls at Bootham Bar, York, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Wooden church, Cherkekhskiy regional museum, Road of Bones, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia, Eurasia

View of Cathedral of Saints Philip and James on Corso Italia, Sorrento, Campania, Italy, Europe

Altar girl praying, Catholic church, Sunday Mass, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

The sacred book of the Bible and ears of wheat as a symbol of spiritual and physical food, France, Europe

Stella Maris Church, Porto Cervo, Sassari Province, Sardinia, Italy, Mediterranean, Europe

View down Avenida Independencia to Magellan Strait, Punta Arenas, Chile, South America

Christmas tree outside the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey, Bath, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Somerset, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Stella Maris Church, Porto Cervo, Sassari Province, Sardinia, Italy, Mediterranean, Europe

St. Thomas a Becket Church on Romney Marsh in afternoon sunlight, Fairfield, Kent, England, United Kingdom, Europe

View of the Neptune Fountain and colourful architecture in Piazza Navona, Piazza Navona, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Wooden church, Cherkekhskiy regional museum, Road of Bones, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia, Eurasia

Wooden church, Cherkekhskiy regional museum, Road of Bones, Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia, Eurasia

View of the Neptune Fountain and colourful architecture in Piazza Navona, Piazza Navona, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Dromore Nature Reserve, County Clare, Munster, Republic of Ireland, Europe

Sadhu,Tso Pema, Himachal Pradesh, India, Asia

Aztec folk healer, shaman practising spiritual cleansing, Zocalo, Plaza de la Constitucion, Mexico City, Mexico, North America

High altar, botafumeiro and crypt in the Roman Catholic cathedral, Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

High altar in the Roman Catholic cathedral, Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

Mass being celebrated by priest in Roman Catholic cathedral, Catedral de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

Grotto with statue of the Virgin Mary and The Immaculate Conception at Ballinspittle near Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland

Sugar cane paddock with Mount Demi in the background, Queensland, Australia

Sugar cane paddock with Mount Demi in the background, Queensland, Australia

A Buddhist monk in saffron coloured robes with hands together while praying at the Buddhist Temple in Huating, China

Sadhu, a naked Baba, belonging to the Junna brotherhood, practising a penis exercise to show his spiritual strength at the Kumbh Mela in February 2010, Haridwar, Uttar Pradesh, India, Asia

Capela Nossa Senhora da Agonia (Chapel of Our Lady of Agony), Viana do Castelo, Minho-Lima, Portugal

Museum of Sacred Art, Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Basilica of Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Galatina, Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Lecce Cathedral (Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta and Sant'Oronzo), Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

The Sermon of Saint John the Baptist, 1685, Church of Gesu (Buon Consiglio), Museum of Sacred Art, Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Chiesa di Santa Chiara interior, Noto, UNESCO, Noto Valley, Sicily, Italy

San Nicolo Cathedral, Noto, UNESCO, Noto Valley, Sicily, Italy

Church of the Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Igreja da Ordem Terceira de Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo), Faro, Algarve, Portugal

Our Lady of the Incarnation Church, Carvoeiro, Algarve, Portugal

Whirling Dervish dance performance (Mevlevi Sema), a spiritual ceremony performed by whirling dervishes, Istanbul, Turkey, Eurasia

Tourists at Whirling Dervish ayin music performance (Mevlevi Sema) a spiritual ceremony performed by whirling dervishes, Istanbul, Turkey, Eurasia

Buddhist sand Mandala, a spiritual and ritual symbol representing the Universe, Paris, France, Europe

Monks at Dambulla cave Buddhist temple complex, Sri Lanka, Asia

A Buddhist monk in saffron coloured robes praying in front of a statue of Buddha at the Buddhist Temple in Huating, China

Local women giving rice offering to Buddhist monks, early morning, Don Daeng island, Mekong River, Muang, near Pakse, Champasak Province, Laos

Main Altarpiece, Cathedral of the Holy Savior, UNESCO, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain

Basilica of St. Martin, Piazza Plebiscito, Martina Franca, Taranto, Apulia, Italy

Koneswaram Kovil Hindu temple, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, Asia

Duomo (Cathedral) interior, Enna, Sicily, Italy, Mediterranean, Europe

Cathedral interior, Braga, Minho Province, Portugal

Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria della Madia, Monopoli, Bari, Apulia, Italy

Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria della Madia, Monopoli, Bari, Apulia, Italy

Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria della Madia, Monopoli, Bari, Apulia, Italy

Mother Church of St. Nicholas, Corigliano d'Otranto, Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Crypt, Basilica of St. Nicholas, Bari, Apulia, Italy

Lecce Cathedral (Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta and Sant'Oronzo), Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Lecce Cathedral (Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta and Sant'Oronzo), Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Cathedral of San Salvatore, Aix-en-Provence, Bouches du Rhone, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France

Metropolitan and Primatial Cathedral Basilica of Santa Tecla (Tarragona Cathedral), Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain

Metropolitan and Primatial Cathedral Basilica of Santa Tecla (Tarragona Cathedral), Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain

Church of San Domenico, Viana do Castelo, Minho-Lima, Portugal

Main Altarpiece, Cathedral of the Holy Savior, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Cathedral of Saint James of Compostela), UNESCO, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Cathedral of Saint James of Compostela), UNESCO, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain

Co-cathedral of Ruvo di Puglia, Ruvo di Puglia, Bari, Apulia, Italy

Soccorpo Cathedral (Lamia dei Morti) (Cemeterio) (Church of S. Croce), Cathedral of S. Maria Assunta, Gravina, Bari, Alta Murgia, Apulia, Italy

Church of San Benedetto, Massafra, Taranto, Apulia, Italiy

Cathedral of the Holy Savior, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain

Lecce Cathedral, Cathedral of Maria Santissima Assunta and Sant'Oronzo, Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Capela Nossa Senhora da Agonia (Chapel of Our Lady of Agony), Viana do Castelo, Minho-Lima, Portugal

Crypt, Cathedral, Trani, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Italy

Mother Church of SS. Peter and Paul, Galatina, Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

Crypt, Cathedral, Trani, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Italy

Crypt, Cathedral, Trani, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Italy

Cathedral, Trani, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Apulia, Italy

Drombeg Stone Circle, County Clare, West of Ireland

Buddhist sand Mandala, a spiritual and ritual symbol representing the Universe, Paris, France, Europe

Tso Pema, Himachal Pradesh, India, Asia

Crucifix of Jesus Christ at traditional religious fiesta at Villaviciosa in Asturias, Northern Spain

Spiritual retreat in Solesmes Benedictine abbey, Solesmes, Sarthe, France, Europe

Aside from a life of simplicity focus on divine, many sadhus engage in a diverse array of practices both internal external in order to attain higher states of awareness consciousness. This sadhu chosen hatha yoga shows results--a well-disciplined, strong body--while holding kukkuta asana, or cock posture. 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. Pilgrim take rickshaw to the main temple in bodhgaya. Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, bihar, india

Sadhus rally initiation at ujjain kumbh mela, indi

Chatral senge dorje rinpoche seated on a tiger skin, yonglesho, Nepal

A young sadhu reads holy scripture near fire. Worship is part of daily life. Some sadhus chant mantras. gayatri mantra is of several mantras that sacred incantations or mystical formulas of ancient literature. gayatri mantra given by brahma mentioned in rigveda is named after consort of brahma: o that glory- of savitri most high. Oh divine us mediate upon. it inspire understanding. goal of recitation is to attain realization. Practice lead mind into a transcendental union with deity.Pashupatinath, kathmandu, nepa

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

Trulshig rinpoche, blesses. Tulshig rinpoche blesses. Tulshig rimpoche s followers believe that he, like many other lamas, reassumes a human body after death in order to return to disciples. previous incarnation of tulshig rimpoche spent several years at dzarongpu monastery (highest monastery in world located at 16,500’ within sight of northern side of mt everest) served as of ngawong tenzin teachers. He promised to return in next life, so at tulshig s death ngawong tenzin norbu sought found reincarnation. current tulshig rimpoche then came to monastery studied with ngawong tenzin norbu. relationship between teacher student, in which a teacher returns to study from former student, maintains lineage over generations. Bhutan

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

Forehead designs, called tilakas, show a sadhus religious sectarian affiliations range from a simple daub of color to complex designs involving entire face. Vertical design of this sadhus tilaka shows to be a vaishnava, or follower of vishnu, preserver of universe. He is a benevolent gentle. gentility is reflected in worshippers devotess. application of a tilaka is usually done at start of each after bathing as a to sanctify body prepare it to receive divine. India

74 year sadhu stands on meditates. Nepal

Purchang (cremation palace) of h.h. Dilgo khyenste. Bhutan. H.h. Dilgo khyentse rinpoche (1910-1991), tutor to present dalai lama revered as of greatest exponents of dzogchen- teachings of great perfection. Khyentse rinpoche®s purchang (cremation palace), satsam chorten, below paro takstang, bhutan, november 4, 1992 never forget swiftly this life will be over, like a flash of summer lightning or wave of a hand. that have opportunity to practice dharma, do waste a single moment on anything else, practice with your energy.oe h.h. Dilgo khyenste rinpoche, heart treasure of enlightened ones my delight in death is, greater than delight of traders at making vast fortunes at, or of lords of gods vaunt their victory in battle or of those sages have entered rapture of perfect meditative absorbtion. So just as a traveler sets on road when time come to go, i will remain in this world no longer, will dwell in stronghold of great bliss of deathlessness. -longchenpa, fourteenth- century dzogchen master

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

Community and home based care service is one of the critical care and support services provided to people living with HIV in Nepal. CHBC Teams provide basic health services, social, emotional and spiritual support, reinforcing the concept of ?positive living? and reducing stigma and discrimination in the community. Doti, Nepal

In month of november before full moon a sacred ceremony is held in various monasteries throughout himalayas by traditional healers known as amchis. They call down spiritual deities to bless medicine. Amchis making torma, a ritual food offering. India

In month of november before full moon a sacred ceremony is held in various monasteries throughout himalayas by traditional healers known as amchis. They call down spiritual deities to bless medicine. Amchis making torma, a ritual food offering. 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 offer holy kusha grass (amrisso). Kalachakra initiation in bodhgaya, bihar, india

In month of november before full moon a sacred ceremony is held in various monasteries throughout himalayas by traditional healers known as amchis. They call down spiritual deities to bless medicine. Amchis performing puja at potenization ceremony. Amchis performing rituals during potenization ceremony. India

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

Sadhu, indi

The Tham Ting spiritual caverns from the Pak Ou caves site, on the Mekong River, with many Buddha sculptures, north of Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Sadhu puting chandan tilaka, india

The Tham Ting spiritual caverns at the Pak Ou caves site, on the Mekong River, with many Buddha sculptures, north of Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

The Tham Ting spiritual caverns at the Pak Ou caves site, on the Mekong River, with many Buddha sculptures, north of Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia