Buddhist ideals of Enlightenment and the practice of meditation have caught the imagination of many in the Western world. For this book, author Andrew Powell and photographer Graham Harrison have traveled throughout the Far East, visiting Buddhist communities in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, India, Nepal, Tibet, China, and Japan. They interviewed some of the religion's leading figures, including the Dalai Lama at his home in the foothills of the Himalayas.

The book's powerful photographs immerse us in the landscapes of the East, revealing in touching detail the daily lives of both monks and laity. The text explores the major Buddhist traditions of Theravada, Tibetan Tantric Buddhism, and Zen, showing how they are withstanding the pressures and rapid changes of the late twentieth century. Together the author and photographer present a unique and beautiful portrait of one of the world's great spiritual and artistic traditions.