Chiwong Monks. Solu, Nepal.

Chiwong Monks during Mani Rimdu Festival. Solu Khumbu, Nepal.

Lo Manthang Monks.

3 day long Tiji Festival is celebrated in Lo Manthang in April. Buddhist puja and different kind of Masked dances are performed which is concluded by destroying of evil spirits outside Lo Manthang Kingdom. Mustang, Nepal.

Lo Manthang Monks.

3 day long Tiji Festival is celebrated in Lo Manthang in April. Buddhist puja and different kind of Masked dances are performed which is concluded by destroying of evil spirits outside Lo Manthang Kingdom. Mustang, Nepal.

Lo Manthang Monks.

3 day long Tiji Festival is celebrated in Lo Manthang in April. Buddhist puja and different kind of Masked dances are performed which is concluded by destroying of evil spirits outside Lo Manthang Kingdom. Mustang, Nepal.

Lo Manthang Monks.

3 day long Tiji Festival is celebrated in Lo Manthang in April. Buddhist puja and different kind of Masked dances are performed which is concluded by destroying of evil spirits outside Lo Manthang Kingdom. Mustang, Nepal.

Lo Manthang Monks.

3 day long Tiji Festival is celebrated in Lo Manthang in April. Buddhist puja and different kind of Masked dances are performed which is concluded by destroying of evil spirits outside Lo Manthang Kingdom. Mustang, Nepal.

Lo Manthang Monks.

3 day long Tiji Festival is celebrated in Lo Manthang in April. Buddhist puja and different kind of Masked dances are performed which is concluded by destroying of evil spirits outside Lo Manthang Kingdom. Mustang, Nepal.

Lo Manthang Monks.

3 day long Tiji Festival is celebrated in Lo Manthang in April. Buddhist puja and different kind of Masked dances are performed which is concluded by destroying of evil spirits outside Lo Manthang Kingdom. Mustang, Nepal.

Lo Manthang Monks.

3 day long Tiji Festival is celebrated in Lo Manthang in April. Buddhist puja and different kind of Masked dances are performed which is concluded by destroying of evil spirits outside Lo Manthang Kingdom. Mustang, Nepal.

Lo Manthang Monks.

Nuns of Ngagyur Nyingma Buddhist Nunnery. Thimpu, Bhutan

Lo Manthang Monks.

Chiwang Monks check out Hassel Blad Camera. Solu Khumbu, Nepal.

Lo Manthang Monks.

3 day long Tiji Festival is celebrated in Lo Manthang in April. Buddhist puja and different kind of Masked dances are performed which is concluded by destroying of evil spirits outside Lo Manthang Kingdom. Mustang, Nepal.

Lo Manthang Monks.

3 day long Tiji Festival is celebrated in Lo Manthang in April. Buddhist puja and different kind of Masked dances are performed which is concluded by destroying of evil spirits outside Lo Manthang Kingdom. Mustang, Nepal.

Ngagyur Nyingma Buddhist Nunnery. Thimpu, Bhutan.

Nuns of Ngagyur Nyingma Buddhist Nunnery. Thimpu, Bhutan

Thupten Choeling Monastery in Solu, Nepal.

Thupten Choeling nuns churn butter milk tea at the monastery kitchen. Solu, Nepal.

Ngagyur Nyingma Buddhist Nunnery. Thimpu, Bhutan.

Fluttering Prayer flags at the entrance to Ngagyur Nyingma Buddhist Nunnery. Thimpu, Bhutan

Ngagyur Nyingma Buddhist Nunnery. Thimpu, Bhutan.

Best friends. Ngagyur Nyingma Buddhist Nunnery in Thimpu, Bhutan

Ngagyur Nyingma Buddhist Nunnery. Thimpu, Bhutan.

Nun of Ngagyur Nyingma Buddhist Nunnery in Thimpu, Bhutan

Ngagyur Nyingma Buddhist Nunnery. Thimpu, Bhutan.

Nuns of Ngagyur Nyingma Buddhist Nunnery take turn to sing and dance. Thimpu, Bhutan

Kalachakra Initiation in Bodhgaya, India. (Jan-2012)

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. (Jan-2012)

Elderly Nun. Solu.

Nuns from Thupten Choeling Monastery come to Chiwong Monastery every year to attend Mani Rimdu Festival. Solu Khumbu, Nepal.

Kalachakra Initiation in Bodhgaya, India. (Jan-2012)

Devotion! 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. Kalachakra Initiation in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India. (Jan-2012)

Kopan Monastery.

Young nuns of Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Lamayuru. Ladakh, India.

Young monks outside Lamayuru Gompa. Ladakh, India.

Chiwong Monks. Solu, Nepal.

Monks at Chiwong Monastery. Solu Khumbu, Nepal.

Ngagyur Nyingma Buddhist Nunnery. Thimpu, Bhutan.

Nuns of Ngagyur Nyingma Buddhist Nunnery in Thimpu, Bhutan

Chiwong Monks. Solu, Nepal.

Young monks at Chiwong Monastery. Solu Khumbu, Nepal.

Kopan Monastery.

Young nuns with Solar Panels at Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Ngagyur Nyingma Buddhist Nunnery. Thimpu, Bhutan.

Nuns of Ngagyur Nyingma Buddhist Nunnery take turn to sing and dance. Thimpu, Bhutan

Simtokha Dzong. Bhutan.

Simtokha Dzong is a small dzong, located about 3 miles south of the Bhutanese capital of Thimphu. Built in 1629 by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, who unified Bhutan, the dzong is the first of its kind built in Bhutan. An important historical monument and former Buddhist monastery, today it houses one of the premier Dzongkha language learning institutes. It recently underwent renovation. Bhutan.

Mani Rimdu festival at Chiwong Monastery in Solu.

Chiwong monks in front of their beloved master Late Trulshig Rimpoche. Chiwong Monastery in Solu.

Punakha Dzong.

Young novice monk at the inner courtyard of Punakha Dzong. This dzong was constructed by Tuebi Zaow Balip under the great command of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in 1637. It is also the country's most beautiful Dzong.It is the winter residence of Bhutan's Central Monastic Body led by HH the Je Khenpo. The Dzong houses the most sacred relics of the Southern Drukpa Kagyu school including the Rangjung Kasarpani, and the sacred remains of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal and Terton Padma Lingpa. Bhutan.

Kalachakra Initiation in Bodhgaya, India. (Jan-2012)

Volunteer monks rush to distribute tibetan butter-salt tea to the pilgrims who have come to attend the Kalachakra Initiation in Bodhgaya, India. (Jan-2012)

Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang, Mustang. Nepal

Finally, the dances come to an end with the formation of a raucous procession led by the masked dancers, and followed by the king and members of the royal family, representatives of the village devepment committees and the lay people. The procession winds its way through the narrow lanes and is met at the main gate of the walled city by monks who are carrying 5 large red tormas brought from Thupchen Monastery. Lo Manthang. Mustang, Nepal.

Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang, Mustang. Nepal

On the third and final day of Tiji festival. the morning begins again with the offerings of prayers to Vajrakila by the monks in the monastery. Lo Manthang, Mustang, Nepal.

Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang, Mustang. Nepal

On the third and final day of Tiji festival. the morning begins again with the offerings of prayers to Vajrakila by the monks in the monastery. Lo Manthang, Mustang, Nepal.

Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang, Mustang. Nepal

Monks blowing long horn on the conclusion day of Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang. Mustang, Nepal.

Chiwong Monks. Solu, Nepal.

Monks in the Chiwang monastery courtyard play double-reed instruments, called gyaling, to herald Trulshig Rimpoche's arrival. The inscription reads, "May the glorious Lama live forever." What does this mean? Nobody actually believes that the corporeal form of the lama endures forever. Since the lama's life embodies the Buddha's teaching, his body is seen as a symbol of this doctrine. This principle has no beginning or end and therefore is everlasting. Sherpas do not consider it paradoxical that an object with finite duration, like the body, coincides with the infinite. Chiwang Monastery, Solu Khumbu, Nepal.

Kalachakra Initiation in Bodhgaya, India. (Jan-2012)

Young monks sit inside wall niche of Maha Bodhi Temple complex and pilgrims make money while circumambulating the temple. Kalachakra Initiation in Bodhgaya, India. (Jan-2012)

Kalachakra Initiation in Bodhgaya, India. (Jan-2012)

Young monks sit inside wall niche of Maha Bodhi Temple complex and pilgrims make money while circumambulating the temple. Kalachakra Initiation in Bodhgaya, India. (Jan-2012)

Trongsa Dzong. Bhutan.

Trongsa Dzong, the largest dzong at a striking location. It is built on a spur overlooking the gorge of the Mangde River, a temple was first established at the location in 1543 by the Drukpa lama, Ngagi Wangchuk son of Ngawang Chhojey. It is an important administrative building, providing the headquarters of the government of Trongsa District. Trongsa provides a strategic central location to control Bhutan and for centuries it was the seat of the Wangchuck dynasty of penlops (governors) who effectively ruled over much of eastern and central Bhutan, and from 1907 have been Kings of Bhutan. It is also a major monastic complex, with around 200 monks. Bhutan.

Dzong at Wangdue Prodrang. Bhutan.

The town shares its name with the dzong, built in 1638 which dominates the district. The name is said to have been given by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who was searching for the best location for a dzong to prevent incursions from the south. At the chosen spot the Shabdrung encountered a boy named Wangdi playing beside the river and hence named the dzong "Wangdi's Palace". The dzong was burnt down by a fire in the afternoon of 24th June 2012. However, as the dzong was being renovated at the time of the fire, most of the historic relics had been put into storage and so were saved from destruction. Bhutan.

Wangde Phodurung Dzong. Bhutan.

The town shares its name with the dzong, built in 1638 which dominates the district. The name is said to have been given by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who was searching for the best location for a dzong to prevent incursions from the south. At the chosen spot the Shabdrung encountered a boy named Wangdi playing beside the river and hence named the dzong "Wangdi's Palace". The dzong was burnt down by a fire in the afternoon of 24th June 2012. However, as the dzong was being renovated at the time of the fire, most of the historic relics had been put into storage and so were saved from destruction. Bhutan.

Dzong at Wangdue Prodrang. Bhutan.

The town shares its name with the dzong, built in 1638 which dominates the district. The name is said to have been given by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who was searching for the best location for a dzong to prevent incursions from the south. At the chosen spot the Shabdrung encountered a boy named Wangdi playing beside the river and hence named the dzong "Wangdi's Palace". The dzong was burnt down by a fire in the afternoon of 24th June 2012. However, as the dzong was being renovated at the time of the fire, most of the historic relics had been put into storage and so were saved from destruction. Bhutan.

Thupten Choeling Monastery in Solu, Nepal.

Nun drying cheese on nanglo (nigalo tray). Thupten Choeling Monastery in Solu, Nepal.

Thupten Choeling Monastery in Solu, Nepal.

Thupten Choeling nuns make butter milk tea at the monastery kitchen. Solu, Nepal.

Kalachakra Initiation in Bodhgaya, India. (Jan-2012)

Tens of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims from around the world traveled to Bodhgaya, a town in northern India, to hear exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama give the "Kalachakra" religious teachings.

Kalachakra Initiation in Bodhgaya, India. (Jan-2012)

Tens of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims from around the world traveled to Bodhgaya, a town in northern India, to hear exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama give the "Kalachakra" religious teachings.

Saga Dawa Celebration

For nearly 2,600 years, Buddhists have honored Shakyamuni Buddha's passing away into parinirvana, as well as his birth and awakening, with a traditional celebration often called Vesak. Vesak is a great time when followers of all Buddhist traditions make offerings to the Buddha. These offerings are unlimited and can be an extensive offering of lights, flowers, incense and anything that we as humans find pleasant. During Vesak celebration it is important to contemplate the great kindness of the Buddha. He gave us the 84,000 teachings of the Dharma and showed us that we all possess the capacity to become fully awakened beings and help others to achieve the same, just as Buddha himself did. Vesak is an excellent time for all of us to especially honor all of our Gurus, great teachers and Dharma friends. These are the beings who truly support our practice, although we often do not fully realize it. Saka Dawa is the special month in which the Buddha’s conception, birth, awakening, and parinirvana all occur. In particular, the full moon day, or 15th day, of the fourth month marks the holiest day in Tibetan Buddhism. It is the day of the Buddha’s Conception, Birth, Awakening, and parting into Nirvana. (Some traditions celebrate Buddha's birthday on this day, some on the 5th day of the month.) It is auspicious to perform meritorious activities on this specific day. The merit generated from these virtuous activities increases 100,000-fold on this day in Saka Dawa.

Saga Dawa Celebration

Novice monks seated in a row for alms on Saga Dawa day, at the base of Boudhnath stupa. For nearly 2,600 years, Buddhists have honored Shakyamuni Buddha's passing away into parinirvana, as well as his birth and awakening, with a traditional celebration often called Vesak. Vesak is a great time when followers of all Buddhist traditions make offerings to the Buddha. These offerings are unlimited and can be an extensive offering of lights, flowers, incense and anything that we as humans find pleasant. During Vesak celebration it is important to contemplate the great kindness of the Buddha. He gave us the 84,000 teachings of the Dharma and showed us that we all possess the capacity to become fully awakened beings and help others to achieve the same, just as Buddha himself did. Vesak is an excellent time for all of us to especially honor all of our Gurus, great teachers and Dharma friends. These are the beings who truly support our practice, although we often do not fully realize it. Saka Dawa is the special month in which the Buddha’s conception, birth, awakening, and parinirvana all occur. In particular, the full moon day, or 15th day, of the fourth month marks the holiest day in Tibetan Buddhism. It is the day of the Buddha’s Conception, Birth, Awakening, and parting into Nirvana. (Some traditions celebrate Buddha's birthday on this day, some on the 5th day of the month.) It is auspicious to perform meritorious activities on this specific day. The merit generated from these virtuous activities increases 100,000-fold on this day in Saka Dawa.