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

Buddhist monk outside Wat Benjamabophit (Marble Temple), Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monk, Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddhist ceremony, Swayambhunath temple, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Young Buddhist monk, Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Alms, Vincennes, France, Europe

Prosternation at Koutloumoussiou monastery on Mount Athos, Greece, Europe

Buddhist monk, Bongeunsa temple, Seoul, South Korea, Asia

Catholic monk, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific

Young Buddhist monks at window, Gangte Goempa, Bhutan, Asia

Young Buddhist monk at window, Gangte Goempa, Bhutan, Asia

Monk and statues, Xieng Khuan (Buddha Park), Vientiane, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Wesak day celebration, Paris, France, Europe

Young Buddhist monk in red robes backlit by evening sunlight at the Jakar Dzong, Jakar, Bumthang, Bhutan, Asia

Buddhist monks on morning alms round in Western Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddhist monks collecting alms in the market town of Phum Swai Chreas, eastern Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddhist monks near Chiang Mai, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddhist ceremony, Magha Puja, Wat Velouvanaram, Bussy Saint Georges, Seine et Marne, France, Europe

Vajra and bell, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Monk reading, Vientiane, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Tibetan monk, Paris, France, Europe

Monk holding rosary, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Orthodox monk on Mount Athos, Greece, Europe

Monk's rosary, Rome, Lazio, Italy, Europe

Three Crosses commemorating Three Crucified Monks, Vilnius, Lithuania, Baltic States, Europe

Praying monk, Jogyesa Temple, Seoul, South Korea, Asia

Monk in Dzogbegan Benedictine Abbey, Danyi Dzogbegan, Togo, West Africa, Africa

Monk in Dzogbegan Benedictine Abbey, Danyi Dzogbegan, Togo, West Africa, AFrica

Buddhist monks on morning alms round in Western Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Portrait of two young monks during Buddhist Lent in Vientiane, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Novice monk ceremony, Maung Sing, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monks by side of Mekong River, Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monks on roof painting the temple decorations, Wat Mai, Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Regong art, Qinghai, China, Asia

Monks, Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monk at Koutloumoussiou monastery on Mount Athos, Greece, Europe

Painting of monk and tiger, Seoul, South Korea, Asia

Prayer call, Ganagobie Monastery church, Ganagobie, Alpes de Haute Provence, France, Europe

Monks in mourning parade for the late King Sihanouk outside Royal Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monks collecting food at 7am, Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monks washing on line drying, Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddhist monks, Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monk at Koutloumoussiou monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mount Athos, Greece, Europe

Young Buddhist monk, Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Sunday Mass in Haifa Melkite Cathedral, Haifa, Israel, Middle East

Mass in Saint Gervais Catholic church run by a monastic community, Paris, France, Europe

Young female monks waiting to receive rice from donors, Pyay, Myanmar, Asia

Wesak day celebration, Paris, France, Europe

Buddhist monk near Swayambhunath offering to bless people at a roadside altar, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Young monk in Wat Preah Ang Monastery, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

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

Monk at Citeaux abbey, St. Nicolas les Citeaux, Cote d'Or, Burgundy, France, Europe

Serbian monk at Koutloumoussiou monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mount Athos, Greece, Europe

Easter candle and praying monk, Evian, Haute Savoie, France, Europe

Buddhist monks, Paris, France, Europe

Buddhist ceremony in a Cambodian pagoda, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Wesak day celebration in Khanh Anh temple, Evry, Essonne, Ile-de-France, France, Europe

Masked dancers at Buddhist monastery, Ura, Bhutan, Asia

Monks in mourning parade for the late King Sihanouk outside Royal Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monks washing on line drying, Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddhist ceremony, Swayambhunath temple, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Buddhist ceremony, Swayambhunath temple, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

French doctor examining monk, Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddhist ceremony, Wat Velouvanaram, Bussy St. George, Seine et Marne, France, Europe

Buddhist ceremony, Magha Puja, Wat Velouvanaram, Bussy Saint Georges, Seine et Marne, France, Europe

Buddhist ceremony, Swayambhunath temple, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Buddhist ceremony, Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Buddhist ceremony, Paris, France, Europe

St.-Guenole procession at Landevennec abbey, Landevennec, Finistere, Brittany, France, Europe

Statue of standing Buddha and monks, Pha That Luang temple, Vientiane, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monk praying in the monastery, Luang Prabang, Laos, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Buddhist ceremony, Wat Velouvanaram, Bussy St. George, Seine et Marne, France, Europe

Sang sang rimpoche uses the dorje, a sacred ritual object to make the first decisive cut into the sand mandala on the last day of the mani rimdu festival. chiwang monastery, solu khumbu, nepal. solu khumbu, nepal

Monks studying at Kyauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Thupten choeling nuns prepare butter-salt tea at nunnery-kitchen. solu khumbu, nepal

Mandala mudra, kalachakra, bodhgaya, india. A mandala mudra is a sacred form or diagram of universe collective consciousness. Mandala means essence, la means container; a mandala contains essence of religion possesses great power, gathering within itself forces of universe. Symbolizing both mind body of buddha, mandala represents order harmony achieved by a truly enlightened mind. Hail to jewel in lotus. Nothing at will is born nothing at will there is nothing that is bound there is nothing liberated.,mahasiddha savarip

Fire ritual at chiwang monastery during the mani rimdu festival. these monks circumambulate the pyre after its ignition. one holds a long book wrapped in a felicitous scarf. the purifying fire takes the offering and raises them towards the sky in smoke. the circumambulatory ritual also recalls the way disciples showed respect for the buddhas body. solu khumbu, nepal

Nepal. Sonam & boom praying at charnel grounds. Humla. Vajrayana is tantric mahasiddha, lives fearlessly in terrifying places like remote jungles charnel grounds. nyingma lamas perform ritual at cremation grounds. lama rattles damaru, a small ritual drum to have origins in - shamanism. damaru, used as a tantric device to summon gods ward evil spirits, once made from human skull bones dried human skin as a reminder of impermanence of body. other lama, boom blows a kangling, a human thigh-bone horn. kangling is used in exorcism is capable of gods demons. Traditionally, best bones a kangling come from brahmans, particularly sixteen-year- brahman girls-or from tigers

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

A painting of Bakula Rinpoche hangs behind his reincarnation, a six year old boy from Nurla, at Samkar Tashi Gatsal House. Ladakh, India

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

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

Religion, ethiopia. Monk (in pink, abba gebra kidan) staying in the caves near the churches of lalibela

Monks walking past chedis, Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Portrait of a novice monk, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monks walking along Pattaya Beach, Pattaya, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Young monk, Ayutthaya Historical Park, Ayutthaya, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monks at Wat Phra Singh, Chiang Mai, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monk in Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, Ayutthaya Historical Park, Ayutthaya, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monks walking in front of the Royal Palace walls, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Indochina, Southeast Asia, Asia

Religion, ethiopia. Monks staying in the caves near the churches of lalibela

Religion, ethiopia. Monk and nun staying in the caves near the churches of lalibela

Religion, ethiopia. Monks staying in the caves near the churches of lalibela

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

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

Stupa (bell-shaped ornaments) of Borobodur, a 9th-century Buddhist Temple near Yogyakarta in central Java, Indonesia.

Monk studying at Kyauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma), Asia

Buddhist monks at Angkor Wat Temple, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Monks offer butter lamps. Bodgaya, india. Monks offer butter lamps in front of 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