This book invites the reader on a journey to an exotic land – and into one's heart and soul.

The authors' profound intimacy with their subject is immediately apparent in these awe-inspiring images, which present a harmonious mosaic of the unmatched richness of the civilization on the Roof of the World. The beauty of the majestic Himalayan landscape, of the Tibetan people – spiritual masters and humble shepherds alike – and of their sacred places all inspire a desire to look within, in search of an understanding of the essence of Buddhism and the Himalayan spirit.

The pictures are accompanied throughout by contributions from nineteen eminent specialists on the region, who discuss the culture, customs, politics and faith of the Himalayan world; past and present. Reflecting not only the cycle of human existence but also the history of the Himalayas, this lavish volume offers an unparalleled insight into Himalayan Buddhism in the 21st century.

Olivier and Danielle Follmi, winners of the World Press Photo Prize, have published fourteen books and have dedicated more than twenty-five years to this project. Matthieu Ricard has been living in the Himalayas as a Buddhist monk for the past thirty years, and has been the French interpreter for the Dalai Lama since 1989.