Photo Archive of Buddhist Life
Don Farber’s photography of Buddhist life is available for use in magazines, books, films, and exhibitions and as fine art prints. To request the use of images or to inquire about purchasing prints, please send an e-mail Don Farber at d.farber@dharmaheritage.org or call 1-310-829-6002.
Only the sections of the Photo Archive represented above link to more photos at this time. More images from the archive will be added soon. If you have a need for any images that are not yet on the site, please send an e-mail requesting to see them.
Contents of the Photo Archive
Japanese Buddhist Life
In Japan
(Color and black & white)
- Yoshinoyama (Mt. Yoshino) and Yamabushi sect parade
- Shingonshu (Shingon Buddhism)
Koyasan (Mt. Koya)
Shikoku Island, pilgrimage to the "88 Temples"
Shingon temple, Yokohama
Asakusa Kannon temple, Tokyo
- Jodo Shinshu (Jodo Shin Buddhism)
Nishi Hongwanji Temple grounds, architecture, ceremony, Kyoto
Higashi Honganji, grounds, buildings, ceremony, priest training, Kyoto
- Jodoshu (Jodo Buddhism)
Zozoji temple, Tokyo
Chionin temple, ceremonies, wedding, Kyoto
Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at Kotoku-ji Temple, Kamakura
- Rinzai Zenshu (Rinzai Zen Buddhism)
Rinzai Zen temples, Tokyo
Kotokoji temple
Setei Roshi, portrait
Kaiun Roshi, portrait
Higan ceremony, families at cemetery
Sounin temple
Bunkei Yamamoto Sensei leading ceremonies
- Tofukuji monastery, Kyoto
Fukushima Roshi, portrait
Monks practicing Zen, gathering alms
Prof. Eishin Nishimura Sensei, brush painting and caligraphy
Myoshinji monastery, ceremony, Kyoto
Engakuji Monastery, calligraphy, Zen archery, Kamakura
- Soto Zenshu (Soto Zen Buddhism)
Eiheiji monastery, Fukui Prefecture
Sojiji monastery, Yokohama
Sugamo temple, Tokyo
- Nichirenshu (Nichiren Buddhism)
Ikegami Honmonji temple, Tokyo
Minobusan (Mt. Minobu) monastery
Nippansan Myohoji sect anti-war protests
- Tendaishu (Tendai Buddhism)
Hieizan (Mt. Hiei) temple and ceremonies
Goma (fire) ceremony, Tokyo temple
- Prof. Hajime Nakamura, while teaching, Tokyo
- Obon festival and Obon Odori (dances), Tokyo temples
- Sengakuji temple and memorial day for samurai, Tokyo
- Higan memorial services
- Hanamatsuri (Buddha's birthday), Tokyo, Kyoto
- Priests begging for alms, Tokyo & Kyoto
- Tea Ceremony
In Los Angeles
(Color)
- Obon festivals and Obon Odori (dances), Southern California temples
- Hanamatsuri (Buddha's Birthday) festivals, Little Tokyo
- Joshu Sazaki Roshi and Leonard Cohen, portrait
- Zen Center of Los Angeles
Work at Z.C.L.A., in kitchen , painting buildings, stuffing pillows, etc.
Maizumi Roshi, in ceremonies
Zen practice and ceremonies
Kuruda Institute, calligraphy
Weddings, dancing
Portraits, monks, nuns, families
(Black & White)
- Joshu Sazaki Roshi, portraits, ceremonies, birthday party
- Joshu Sazaki Roshi and Leonard Cohen at Rinzai-ji Temple
- Dai Sesshin retreat at Mt. Baldy Zen Center, near Los Angeles
and retreat at Rinzai-ji Temple, Los Angeles, both with Sazaki Roshi
- Obon Odori (dances) and ceremonies, Southern California
- Allen Ginsberg & Peter Orlovsky reading poetry, Zen Center of Los Angeles
Korean Buddhist Life
The following list describes the images of Korean Buddhist life that are included
in the archive:
(Color and black & white)
In South Korea
- Korean lantern festival
- World Fellowship of Buddhists members tour, including ceremonies and large
gatherings at various temples around South Korea
- The Sokkuram Grotto at Kyangju
- T'ongdo-sa temple
- Pulguk-sa temple
In Los Angeles
- Korean Buddha's Birthday ceremony, Los Angeles
- Zen Master Samu Sunim, Los Angeles
- Zen Master Seung Sahn Sunim, with the late Zen masters Maezumi Roshi and
Thich Thien-An,
Los Angeles
Buddhist Life in Nepal
The following list describes the images of Buddhist life in Nepal that are
included in the archive:
(Color)
-Tibetans, Tamangs, Sherpas, and Newars circumambulating, feeding birds, and
prostrating around Boudanath Stupa
- Tibetan monasteries in Bouda
- The late Jamyang Kontrul Rinpoche's monastery, Swayanbu
- Maha Devi Temple, just before excavation, Lumbini
Zanskar, Ladakh, India, 1997
Buddhist Life in Ladakh, India
The following list describes the images of Buddhist life in Ladakh that are included
in the archive:
(Color)
-H.H. the Dalai Lama's 1997 visit and teachings in Zanskar, Ladakh
- People of Zanskar attending the teachings
- A monastery in Zanskar and the monk's daily life there
- Several monasteries in Leh, Ladakh
- Ancient, sacred wall paintings on monastery interior walls, Leh
Thai Buddhist Life
The following list describes the images of Thai Buddhist life that are included in
the archive:
(Color and black & white)
-Monk & Nun Training, outside Bangkok
- Dhammakaya temple major ceremony, outside Bangkok
- Monks going for alms in Bangkok streets
- Bangkok scenery
- Bangkok Temples
Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha)
Wat Arun
Wat Po
Wat Benchamabhopit (the Marble Temple)
Monks taking an examination
Monks receiving alms at temple
An ordination ceremony
Portrait of the Lord Abbot
- N.E. Thailand monasteries
Wat Pa Nanachat (International Forest Monastery)
Wat Pa Ban That
Monks going for alms, forest monasteries
Nong Khai area temples and scenery
- Wat Mahathat, Loy Katrong festival, Sukothai
- Loy Katrong festival, Bangkok
- Wat Suan Mokkh Forest Monastery, Suratthani, S. Thailand
The late Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, portraits and daily activities
- Achaan Sumedho, portrait, Bangkok
- Buddha's Birthday, Wat Thai Temple, Los Angeles
- Sulak Sivaraksa, portrait, Chicago
Buddhist Life in India
(Color)
To see listings for Buddhist life in India, return to Photo Archive page and click on
Buddhist World Heritage Sites, Buddhist Life in Ladakh, India, and
Tibetan Buddhist Life in Exile.
Chinese Buddhist Life
The following list describes the images of Chinese Buddhist life that are
included in the archive:
In China
- Shaoguan river, mountains, monastery
- Hui Neng's temples, in Guangshao and Shaoguan
- Portrait of late Chan master
In Taiwan
-Fo Kuan Shan Temple ceremonies, nuns & monks, Gaoshung
- Ling Yen Mount Temple ceremonies, monks & nuns, Pu-Li
- Master Miao Lien, portrait
- Taipei Buddhist Association conference
- Master Hsing Tao, portrait
Buddhist Life in America
(Color and black & white)
Please see the other categories in this section of the website. You will find listings of
Buddhist teachers, dharma centers, and activities in the U.S. that are connected with
the various Asian Buddhist traditions.
Tibetan Buddhist Life in Exile
The following list describes the images of Tibetan Buddhist life that are included
in the archive:
(Color)
His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the U.S.
H.H. the Dalai Lama, visits to the Vietnamese Buddhist Temple, Los Angeles,
'79 & '84
H.H. the Dalai Lama, Kalachakra ceremony in Santa Monica, Ca. and birthday party
in Malibu,1989
H.H. the Dalai Lama, Vajrapani Institute, Santa Cruz & Mt. Tamalpais 1989
H.H. the Dalai Lama, Berkeley, 1992
H.H. the Dalai Lama, Chicago, Parliament of the World's Religions, 1993
H.H. the Dalai Lama, Pasadena, 1996
- H.H. the Dalai Lama in India, 1997
H.H. the Dalai Lama's visit to Zanskar, Ladakh
H.H. the Dalai Lama giving Kalachakra teachings, near Siliguri
H.H. Dalai Lama at his palace performing fire puja, meditation, reciting scripture,
giving audiences, greeting crowds, Dharamsala
- Namgyal Monks, lama dance in San Diego and visit to Disneyland
- Los Angeles Tibetan community activities
- Drepung Loseling performance, Pasadena, Ca.
- Gyuto monks in L.A. with juvenile prisoners, making sand mandalas
- Portraits of Tibetan Buddhist masters:
Gelugpa masters
H.H. the Dalai Lama, Santa Monica, California, 1989
H.H. the Dalai Lama, Malibu, California, 1989
H.H. the Dalai Lama, Santa Cruz, California, 1989
H.H. the Dalai Lama, Dharamsala, India, 1997
Ven. Ganden Tri Rinpoche, Mongud, India, 1997
Ven. Geshe Tsephel, Santa Cruz, California, 1989
Ven. Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen, Los Angeles, 1989
Ven. Geshe Gyeltsen and H.H. the Dalai Lama, Santa Monica, Ca., 1989
Ven. Lati Rinpoche, Long Beach, California, 1998
The late Ven. Tara Rinpoche, Los Angeles, 1988
The late Ven. Tara Rinpoche, Tokyo, 1990
Mrs. Taring Amala, Rajpur, India, 1997
Dr. Tenzin Choedrak, Los Angeles, 1998
Ven. Palden Gyatso, Los Angeles, 1998
Mrs. Jetsun Pema, Leh, Ladakh, 1997
Karma Kagyu masters
Attendant to the late H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa, Sikkim, India, 1997
H. E. Gelsup Rinpoche, Sikkim, India, 1997
H.E. Bokar Rinpoche, Alhambra, California, 1995
H.E. Bokar Rinpoche, Mirik, Darjeeling, India, 1997
H.E. Tai Situ Rinpoche, Los Angeles, 1995
The late Jamyang Kontrul Rinpoche, Sonada, Darjeeling, India, 1989
Khenpo Thrangu Rinpoche, Bouda, Nepal, 1997
The late H.H. Gyalwa Karmapa, Los Angeles, 1977
The late Very Venerable Kalu Rinpoche, Pasadena, California, 1988
Ven. Khandro Rinpoche, Los Angeles, 1995
Ven. Tenga Rinpoche, Swayanbu, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1997
Yangse Kalu Rinpoche, Santa Monica, 1995
Drikung Kagyu masters
Ven. Ayang K. C. Rinpoche, Los Angeles, 1993
Ven. Ayang K. C. Rinpoche, Bodhgaya, India, 1997
H.H. Chetsang Rinpoche, Monterey Park, California, 1994
Ven. Drikung Togden, Nyingma Monlam, Bodhgaya, 1997
Khenpo Gyaltsen Rinpoche, Monterey Park, Ca., 1994
Drukpa Kagyu
Ven. Togden Achoe, Tashijong, Himachal Pradesh, India, 1997
Ven. Togden Amting, Tashijong, Himachal Pradesh, India, 1997
H.E. Khamtrul Rinpoche, Tashijong , Himachal Pradesh, India, 1997
Nyingma masters
H. E. Dzogchen Rinpoche, Bodhgaya, 1997
H.E. Chagdud Tulku Rinpoche, Los Angeles, 1991
H.E. Mindroling Trichen Rinpoche, Clementown, India, 1997
H.E. Minling Khanchen Tulku Rinpoche, Bodhgaya, 1997
H.E. Rabjam Rinpoche, Nyingma Monlam, Bodhgaya, 1997
H.H. Penor Rinpoche, Nyingma Monlam, Bodhgaya, 1997
Ven. Thinley Norbu Rinpoche, Santa Cruz, California, 1994
Ven. Khenpo Thubten Mewa Rinpoche, Bodhgaya, 1997
Ven. Lama Tharchin Rinpoche, Santa Monica, California, 1994
Ven. Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche, Bodhgaya, 1997
Ven. Sogyal Rinpoche, Bodhgaya, 1997
Ven. Ontul Rinpoche, Los Angeles, 1998
Ven. Orgyen Ku-sum Lingpa Rinpoche, Santa Monica, Ca., 1994
Sakya masters
H.E. Dzongsar Khentse Rinpoche,
Bir, India, 1997
H.H. Sakya Trizen, Los Angeles, 1989
Khandro Tsering Choden, Sikkim, India, 1997
Monks in ceremony with painting of the late H.E. Jamyang Khentse Rinpoche,
Bir, India, 1997
Ven. Gona Tulku Rinpoche, Bir, India, 1997
H.E. Jetsun Chimey Luding
Ven. Khenpo Kunga Wangchuk Rinpoche, Bir, India, 1997
- Funeral for Kalu Rinpoche, Sonada Monastery, Darjeeling, India, 1989
Rinpoches, lay persons, Westerners, monks, nuns and children monks
Ceremonies, pujas, circumambulation, procession with corona around sun
- People and street scenes, Darjeeling, India
- Tibetan Buddhist life in India and Nepal, 1997
- T.I.P.A. (Tibetan Institute for Performing Arts) dance performances at Sherabling
monastery, Himachal Pradesh and during the Dalai Lama's birthday celebration,
Dharamsala
- Tibetans at Boudanath Stupa, Nepal
- Chetsang Rinpoche's monastery, Rajpur
- Sakya Monastery, Vajrakilaya ceremony with H.H. Sakya Trizen, Rajpur
- Nyingma Monlam for World Peace, Bodhgaya
- Spiritual practice at Bodhgaya
- Tibetans at Sarnath, Varanasi
- Lay people, portraits
- Rumtek Monastery and lama dances, Sikkim
- Sherabling Monastery lama dances, ceremonies, Himachal Pradesh
- Tashijong lama dances and empowerment, Himachal Pradesh
- Lake Ralwasar (Tso Pema) and empowerment by H.H. Sakya Trizen
- Monasteries in South India
Sera-je Monastery, Bylakope
Penor Rinpoche's monastery, Bylakope
Ayang Rinpoche's monastery, Bylakope
Ganden Shartse monastery, Mongud
Drepung Loseling monastery, Mongud
- Various scenes in Dharamsala
- Monlam ceremony, Dharamsala
- Tibetan orphans at Tibetan Children's Village, Dharamsala and in Nepal
- Nunneries, Dharamsala & Mongud, South India
- Monasteries, monk life, temple art, in Zanskar and in Leh, Ladakh
- Tibetan settlement, Leh, Ladakh
- Crafts, including carpet weaving, incense making, making butter lamps
- Thanka painting, Norbulinka, Dharamsala
Various Buddhist Subjects
The following list describes the images of various Buddhist subjects that are included
in the archive:
(Color and black & white)-Statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas from different traditions
- "Change Your Mind" day of meditation, Central Park, New York with
Robert Thurman, the late Allen Ginsberg, Ven. Suhito, and Chan
Master Sheng-Yen
- Wesak festival and ceremony, Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara,
a Singhalese (Sri Lanka) Buddhist temple, Los Angeles
- Senior Singhalese teachers living at or visiting the Dharma Vihara
Ven. H. Ratanasara, Ph.D
Ven. Bhante Piyananda
Ven. Bhante Piyadassi
Ven. Bhante Ananda Maitraya
- Community Meditation Center with Shinzen Young, Los Angeles
- Ven. Maha Ghosananda, Supreme Patriarch of Cambodia, portraits made
in Korea, India, and Chicago
- Sangha from Mongolia, Siberia, Bangladesh, Taiwan etc. visiting
Los Angeles and Disneyland
Vietnamese Buddhist Life in Exile
The following list describes the images of Vietnamese Buddhist life in exile that
are included in the archive:
(Color and black & white)
- Vietnamese Buddhist Temple, Los Angeles
A-Di-Da Temple (small nuns temple adjacent to main temple)
Ven. Dr. Thich Man Giac, with birds, leading parade
Portraits of nuns & monks, children monks, lay people
Daily life of temple members
Memorial services in the temple and in homes
Ceremonies, parades
Retreats for lay people with chanting, meditation, prostration, meals
Weddings in the temple, in homes, and receptions
Tet (New Year) celebrations
Visits of H.H. the Dalai Lama, '79 & '84
Buddhist youth group, games, performances, camping, ceremonies
Thich Thien-An's death, funeral
Visit of Gary Snyder
- International Buddhist Meditation Center, L.A.
Ven. Thich Thien-An, portraits
Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh' visit
Ven. Karuna Dharma, portrait
Buddha's Birthday ceremony and parade
"Great Ordination" ceremonies
Meditation retreats with Thich Thien-An and Shinzen Young
Visit of H.H. Karmapa, '78
Visit of John Blofeld
Thich Nhat Hanh, leading a meditation retreat, Malibu, California
Other Asian Religions
The Arts and Religion of Bali
The following list describes the images of other Asian religions that
are included in the archive:
(Color)
- Weaving, batik, wood carving, painting
- Landscapes
- Traditional performers
- Various temple ceremonies
- Ceremony in king of Gianyar's temple
- Priests in ceremonies and portraits
Shintoism, Japan
(Color)
- Matsuri festival, Tokyo
- Meiji Shrine ceremony, Tokyo
- Nikko Toshogu Shrine, temple scenes
Taoism in Taiwan
(Color and black & white)
- Lung Shan Temple, rituals, fortune telling, Taipei
- Various Taoist Temples around Taiwan
Vedanta in India and the U.S.
(Color)
- Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Calcutta, India
- Kali Puja festival and ceremony, Laguna Beach, California
- Sri Haradhan Chakraborti performing ceremony
- Maya Tiwari, portrait
Parliament of the World's Religions, Chicago
(Color)
Extensive coverage of the most important interfaith gathering of the 20th century
including a remarkable assembly of spiritual masters from many faiths and
countries. Shot on assignment for Time magazine in 1993.
Buddhist World Heritage Sites
The following list describes the images of Buddhist world heritage that are
included in the archive:
(Color and black & white)
- Bodhanath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Bodhgaya, Bihar, India
- Borobudur, during Wesak, Java, Indonesia
- Maha Devi Temple (before excavation) Lumbini, Nepal
- Sarnath, Varanasi, India
DON FARBER PHOTOGRAPHY