A TIBETAN PERSPECTIVE

• Photographer
  JAVIER SANCHEZ-MONGE ESCARDO, Spain
• Studio
  AGE FOTOSTOCK INTERNATIONAL/ PERIODISTAS EN ESPANOL

This image series responds to a long term project intended to reveal the deep spirituality
which impregnates the Tibetan Bon-Lama religious culture. The first image shows a tool
carried by most of the Tibetans and which is called the "Praying wheel of the Dharma"(the
path of Buddha). They are used to accumulate wisdom and good Kharma, and while spinning
them clockwise, the believers should concentrate in eliminating bad energies and achieve
compassion. The next image shows rituals performed under the Bon religious tradition,
which represents the oldest Tibetan religion and which is Shamanistic in nature and
believes in good and evil spirits which should be worshipped or exorcised. The religion
existed in Tibet since the VII century and at that time it was prosecuted by Buddhism ,
but the fusion between the Bon religious elements and the Buddhist Lamaism gave birth to
the uniqueness of the Tibetan Buddhism as compared to other forms of Buddhism. The term
Bon signifies "truth" and the path for liberation. The girls in one of the images are
getting ready to perform a ritual dance to pacify the evil spirits and attract the good
ones into their village and lives.
On the other hand, the "Lamaism" which has been frequently used to design the Tibetan
Buddhism, has to do with the word "Lama" also known as "the superior one" and which can
only be referred to the few monks who have achieved total spirituality. The images which
show Lamas wearing their traditional ceremonial hat represent on one side a Lama reunion
and on the other a Lama procession mixing Lama costumes with Bon costumes.
Their traditional religious beliefs , strive for compassion, equanimity, clarity of mind
and wisdom, and in a last stage to achieve "Nirvana" which means liberating themselves
from the cycle of reincarnation.

• Awards
  My name is Javier Sanchez-Monge Escardo .I was born in Madrid in 1965.Education: Degree in International business management at the Schiller International University Germany (Heidleberg), 3 years of Biology studies at the University of Alcala de Henares and a degree in Philosophy, followed by a PHD still to be finished. Several advanced photography courses, video and editing. Can speak and write in different languages. Constantly I have been travelling around the world, photographing and living in foreign cultures. AWARDS 2014 FIRST PLACE (GOLD) People’s Choice Awards 2014, Press Feature Story at the Prix de Paris Awards (PX3 2014) FIRST PLACE (GOLD)) /General News at the Prix de Paris Awards (PX32014) FIRST PLACE (GOLD) People’s Choice Awards 2014 /Nature Environmental at the THIRD PLACE (BRONZE) Press Feature Story at the Prix de Paris Awards 2014 THREE HONORABLE MENTIONS Prix de Paris Awards (PX3 2014) 4 HONORABLE MENTIONS at the ND Awards (2014).THREE HONORABLE MENTIONS at the International Photography Awards (IPA 2014). 2015 TWO HONORABLE MENTIONS MONOCHROME AWARDS 2014, TWO HONORABLE MENTIONS IPA one shot awards 2015 Works exhibited during the Month of Photography, Los Angeles by the LUCIE FOUNDATION. SEVEN HONORABLE MENTIONS IPA 2015, FOUR HONORABLE MENTIONS Prix de Paris White Awards 2015.SIX HONORABLE MENTIONS Prix de Paris Awards annual competition 2015 TWO HONORABLE MENTIONS ND AWARDS 2015 IPA 2015 SECOND PLACE Award Category Event Culture and traditions. IPA THIRD PLACE AWARD Awards Category Portraiture, Children. PRIX DE PARIS 2015 SILVER MEDAL Environmental Press category. PRIX DE PARIS 2015 BRONZE MEDAL Portraits category. FIRST PLACE ND AWARDS 2015 (GOLDEN STAR AWARD) People. FIRST PLACE ND AWARDS 2015 (GOLDEN STAR AWARD) Editorial, Environmental. FINALIST WITH HONORABLE MENTION at the SIENA INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS storyboard category, FINALIST NOMINEE at the FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS (FAPA 2015) portraits category, FINALIST NOMINEE at the FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS (FAPA 2015) Photojournalism category. 3HONORABLE MENTIONS MONOCHROME AWARDS 2015