Sera The Way of the Tibetan Monk

Tibet was once home to approximately 5,000 Buddhist monasteries. But in 1959 nearly all of them were destroyed by the Chinese military, and the practice of Buddhism was outlawed. In March of that same year, Chinese tanks bombarded the 540-year old Sera Jeh Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet, destroying ancient texts and invaluable artifacts that had been collected over time. Countless monks were killed and thousands of orthers fled. Clad only in thin robes and light footwear, the monks traversed perilous Himalayan passes during harsh winter conditions as they escaped to neighboring India. The Sera Jeh Monastery, reestablished near Mysore, India, now houses 5,000 Buddhist monks living in exile - including survivors of the destruction of the Tibetan monastery. With a powerful foreword by Robert Thurman, Sera: The Way of the Tibetan Monk captures the intimate moods and simple rhythms of this Buddhist community that has steadfasily carried on the legacy of the original Sera Jeh. Sheila Rock's moving portraits are a celebration of the everyday simplicity and subtle heauty of the ascetic life.;More than a hundred duotone photographs document the compassionate expressions, emotional openness, and aura of serenity inspited by lives of renunciation and seclusion.