Chortens at Samye Monastery. Tibet.

Chortens near Samye Monastery, Utsang, centeral Tibet. Carved out of living rock, five white chortens revered as the five transcendental Buddhas mark the site where the Tibetan emperor Trisangdeton met Padmasambhava in the year 765. Joining the earth and sky the stupa symbolizes the path to liberation from cyclic existence. It also represents Tibetan bubbhist and Bon cosmology, in particular the metaphysical Mount Meru around which the entire universe spins and takes shape. Seen here is one of the five white chortens.

Chortens at Samye Monastery. Tibet.

Chortens near Samye Monastery, Utsang, centeral Tibet. Carved out of living rock, five white chortens revered as the five transcendental Buddhas mark the site where the Tibetan emperor Trisangdeton met Padmasambhava in the year 765. Joining the earth and sky the stupa symbolizes the path to liberation from cyclic existence. It also represents Tibetan bubbhist and Bon cosmology, in particular the metaphysical Mount Meru around which the entire universe spins and takes shape. Seen here is one of the five white chortens.

Chortens at Samye Monastery. Tibet.

Chortens near Samye Monastery, Utsang, centeral Tibet. Carved out of living rock, five white chortens revered as the five transcendental Buddhas mark the site where the Tibetan emperor Trisangdeton met Padmasambhava in the year 765. Joining the earth and sky the stupa symbolizes the path to liberation from cyclic existence. It also represents Tibetan bubbhist and Bon cosmology, in particular the metaphysical Mount Meru around which the entire universe spins and takes shape. Seen here is one of the five white chortens.

Chortens at Samye Monastery. Tibet.

Chortens near Samye Monastery, Utsang, centeral Tibet. Carved out of living rock, five white chortens revered as the five transcendental Buddhas mark the site where the Tibetan emperor Trisangdeton met Padmasambhava in the year 765. Joining the earth and sky the stupa symbolizes the path to liberation from cyclic existence. It also represents Tibetan bubbhist and Bon cosmology, in particular the metaphysical Mount Meru around which the entire universe spins and takes shape. Seen here is one of the five white chortens.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

Chortens on the wall of Samye monastery, Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

Chortens on the wall of Samye monastery, Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

A censor and prayer flags face the monastery of Samye, the first Buddhist monastery of Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

A censor and prayer flags face the monastery of Samye, the first Buddhist monastery of Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

Incense burner at Samye Monastery courtyard. Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

The main building (utse) of Samye monastery representing Mount Meru. The ground floor of whitewashed stone slopes inward. The middle floor balcony is enhanced by a row of small stupas. The horizontal sections painted red indicate the building is religious. Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

Small chortens at Samye Monastery, Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

Small chortens at Samye Monastery, Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

The main building (utse) of Samye monastery representing Mount Meru. The ground floor of whitewashed stone slopes inward. The middle floor balcony is enhanced by a row of small stupas. The horizontal sections painted red indicate the building is religious. Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

Deer face the wheel of life in an applique’d curtain at Samye monastery. The image recalls Buddha’s first teaching in the Deer Park at Samye. The image represents harmony and the spreading of Buddhist teachings. Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

The main building (utse) of Samye monastery representing Mount Meru. The ground floor of whitewashed stone slopes inward. The middle floor balcony is enhanced by a row of small stupas. The horizontal sections painted red indicate the building is religious. Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

A wall at Samye monastery. The maroon-colored frieze made of shrubby cinquefoil is called penbey. Above the frieze is a typical detail of white circles painted as if they are the ends of beams. Ochre, like red, is used on the exterior of sacred buildings. Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

Monastic complex. Samye, Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

Painted columns and beams of Samye Monastery. Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

Prayer wheels at Samye Monastery. Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

Prayer wheels at Samye Monastery. Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

The monastery of Samye is the first Buddhist monastery of Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

A censor and prayer flags face the monastery of Samye, the first Buddhist monastery of Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

The monastery of Samye is the first Buddhist monastery of Tibet.

Samye Monastery, Tibet.

A censor and prayer flags face the monastery of Samye, the first Buddhist monastery of Tibet.