The monks of Bhutan

The small Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has enjoyed some renown in recent years for its pursuit of collective happiness above individual material wealth. Perched in the Himalayas between India and Tibet, its small size and geographical isolation have allowed it to exist without the strong outside forces that have shaped most other countries. The Buddhist religion is a very strong feature of everyday life in Bhutan, and one of the drivers of the strong community that exists in the country. Temple and monasteries are a constant feature of the landscape, and a special place in society is reserved for monks and nuns. Potential monks and nuns are recruited from a young age and provided a privileged education in the country. With this project, I try to show some aspects of everyday life in the monasteries and nunneries for some of those young recruits.