drawings

Swayambhunath 

The dome at the base represents the entire world. When a person awakes (represented by eyes of wisdom and compassion) from the bonds of the world, the person reaches the state of enlightenment. The thirteen pinnacles on the top symbolize that sentient beings have to go through the thirteen stages of spiritual realizations to reach enlightenment.

There is a large pair of eyes on each of the four sides of the main stupa which represent Wisdom and Compassion.

Ama Dablam, Camp 1

 Thomas J. Kelly Photographs

The stupa at Bouda and Ama Dablam from Camp 1.

clouds and mountains above the monastery at Tengbouche

inside the monastery at Tengbouche

crag at camp 1 and clouds above base camp

feet of the gryphons at Patan and the Swayambhunath temple in the distance