First Assignment of the Year

I photographed at a Buddhist retreat on January first. In the middle of a nine day week, spending a few hours in a serene, modified mansion at a silent retreat was more of a respite for me than an assignment. The lama, or teacher, Lama Willa, was the leader of the week long retreat of silence, which focused on teaching, meditating, and chanting. If you think one week of silence is difficult, get this, most Lamas will take a three year retreat of silence. I was told Lama Willa took TWO three year retreats of silence.