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The Art of Buddhism |
The images in this collection were made in Ladakh, a starkly beautiful high-altitude desert situated in the northeast corner of India and home to one of the most intact Tibetan Buddhist societies in the world. Often called "Little Tibet" or "The Land of Gompas," there are roughly 35 monasteries (gompas) and 10 nunneries spread across the entire region, including Nubra and Zanskar Valleys. Built from the 10th-17th centuries along caravan routes that connected with Central Asia and Tibet, Ladakh's monasteries are set in spectacular locations and are the social and spiritual focal-point of their villages. The four major sects of Tibetan Buddhism are represented in Ladakh, and each monastery holds an annual festival with ceremonies to purify the landscape and masked dances (chams) that reenact stories in Buddhist mythology. The Dalai Lama is an important spiritual figure in the region and visits regularly. He believes that Ladakh will play an important role in the survival of Tibetan Buddhism. For additional images and stories, please visit my blog posts on Buddhist Art. |
Next: Buddhist Nuns Debate |
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