pace and never lost their artistry. It was a truly moving experience to watch these devout
men practice the time-honored dances with such elegance, ardor and accomplishment.
One of the most fascinating things about Bhutanese Buddhism is the fact that there is
no Supreme Being in the religion—Buddha is certainly venerated and respected for his
spiritual achievements, but he is not worshiped in the sense that Christians understand
worshipping their God. Rather, Buddha in all his guises is viewed as a supreme model and
exemplar for human beings to follow in their own quest for Nirvana—release from
samsara—the endless reincarnation cycle which returns all creatures to this world of
unavoidable suffering. The only way to free oneself from this “wheel” is to attain
enlightenment by following the precepts set down by Buddha and his many lamas and
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