City - Tashiding Monastery State - WEST SIKKIM Country - India
About
This old man, more than 90 years old, has spend almost his entire lifetime carving the sacred Buddhist Mantra of "Om Mane Padme Hung" on slates and rocks at the ancient Tashiding Monastery in West Sikkim in India. Pala (father in Tibetan) as he is fondly called, sits all day, sometimes even entire nights in a small, dimly lit shack made up of stones and a plastic sheet roof with just a small bulb and the flickering butter lamps for light carving the mantras. He does not charge money and only accepts donations offered at a small alter in his shack. Pala's eyesights are failing, but not his devotion.
This is incredible Sarikah! Your photograph and presentation and Pala as well, just tell so much about life in all its variety. Definitely a well-deserved BIP award! I loved it! Has Pala seen this photo? Best wishes!
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{K:56854} 4/5/2008
