Last November, Lila and I had the pleasure of visiting Shaolin Temple, where my former student and good friend Venerable Yanti resides (though he was in Russia at the time--teaching English and kung fu to children!)

After visiting the main compound, we walked a short way to the "pagoda compound" (which I liked even better than the main temple). While we were there, this monk walked by with the veggies.

I wonder for how many centuries this same scene has been enacted on the same spot?

Categories: Art, Buddhism, China, Photography, Temples, Vegetarianism

It was a tough sorta day: I was hoping to do all three of my temples in Putian in a single marathon.

I had done Nangshan Cishou Si, then waited an inordinate amount of time to get a cab to take me to Guanghua Si. He had brought me in on a side-street filled with statuary workshops. After seeing the temple, I was rushing out to catch another cab to Guangxiao Si when I was captivated by the sights around me.

This shot is my favorite of them all, for that day and many days.

And oh yeah: I made it to my third and final temple of the day.

Categories: Art, Buddhism, China, Photography, Temples

A monumental statue of the Vairocana Buddha at Longmen Grottoes, Henan, China

Categories: Art, Buddhism, China, Peace, Photography, Temples