Phuktal Gompa is a Buddhist monastery located in the remote Lungnak Valley in the Himalayan region of Ladakh in Northern India. It is one of the only Buddhist monasteries that can still be reached only by foot...and you can actually stay there if invited in by the monks. It was built 2,550 years ago for peace and solitude and is still that way today. Lungnak Valley is also a photographer's dream because it's a treat for the eyes...and for the lungs. This piece was inspired by this place and for that peace and solitude. The Brown Picture Jasper and Black Lava Rock remind you of the terrain and the monastery built into the rock. The Yak Bone and Small Wood Beads add to its flavor and the BIG Painted Wood Buddha Head (hand-painted by me!) remind you of why you showed up in the first place. It was painted to resemble Antique Bronze. The Small Bone Mala Skull represents the peace that you may find there. Remember "The pathway to salvation is as narrow and as difficult to walk as a razor's edge."
