1196-239 - 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
1196-214 - Dharma chakra, jhokang roof, lhasa. Buddha shakyamuni considered a cultivated awareness of death impermanence to be fundamental to a happy healthy life. Tibet
1196-158 - Torpu eppi. Every line in work-worn face tells a story. In mountains, is a sign of wisdom in of survival. Torpu eppi wears heirloom necklaces of coral, amber, turquoise, acquired on trading trips to tibet humla, north-west nepal
1196-182 - Vultures, drigung. bodies what we most attached to, says of monks. Thats offering ones body carries greatest merit. believe that should benefit other beings at every stage of ones life. After completion of powa ceremony, corpse is traditionally offered to great vultures lammergeiers that frequent charnel grounds. Vultures descend on flayed corpse. Offering bodies to birds is same as reciting mantras. It brings merit benefit to dead person as well as to family friends bring here. While cutting up corpse i to keep a pure compassionate mind. would feel if someone felt cutting up your body. -tomdenla. Tibet
1196-100 - 11th generation practicing amchi tsampha ngawang shows dragon bone used treating broken bones sticks to tongue. He treats patients throughout kali gandaki region is very active with training other amchis from over tibet, nepal mongolia
1196-205 - Panel discussion about melt down in tibet sponsored by tibetan woman's association, highlighting the future of nomads and the drastic resettelment measures they are undergoing by the chinese. And the effect of the construction of 30 storey high dams in tibet by the chinese. Michael buckley did a film "meltdown in tibet"
1196-197 - Gurla mandata. Tibet. Symbolizing interpenetration of phenomena, sacred sites in tibet often places where male female elements in landscape joined-a mountain a lake, example
1196-83 - Khyunglung chorten. Tibet. Chortens mark entrance to khyunglung (garuda valley), capital of zhangzhung prior to seventh or eighth century b.c
817-287195 - His holiness the Dalai Lama speaking about the situation of the Tibetan people in exile, in Namgyal Monastery, Tsuglagkhang complex McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh state, India, Asia
816-2401 - Magnificent tiered Kumbum, literally one hundred thousand images, of the Palcho Monastery, the largest chorten in Tibet, Gyantse, Tibet, China, Asia
816-2404 - Magnificent tiered Kumbum, literally one hundred thousand images, of the Palcho Monastery, the largest chorten in Tibet, Gyantse, Tibet, China, Asia
816-2406 - Buddha inside the Kumbum, literally one hundred thousand images, of the Palcho Monastery, the largest chorten in Tibet, Gyantse, Tibet, China, Asia
816-2407 - Money for luck from pilgrims inside the Kumbum, literally one hundred thousand images, of the Palcho Monastery, the largest chorten in Tibet, Gyantse, China, Asia
816-2402 - Magnificent tiered Kumbum, literally one hundred thousand images, of the Palcho Monastery, the largest chorten in Tibet, Gyantse, Tibet, China, Asia