“Sacred Places (1),” Print, 8″x11″, $5.95 Ea

Buddhism is a path of spiritual development leading to insight into the true nature of life. Buddhists practice meditation as a means of developing the qualities of awareness, kindness, and inner wisdom, which ultimately will lead us to Enlightenment, or Buddhahood. This image shows that a Buddha sits facing the sacred Mount Merapi, which erupted in 1006, shrouding Borobudur (Java, Indonesia) in ash. It stayed covered for 800 years. Annually, a monk climbs the “Mountain of Fire” with a ritual offering as it embodies the home of ancient Javanese spirits and also Mount Meru – the mythical axis of creation for Hindus and Buddhists, and also the model for this shrine.