According to Buddhist scriptures, a child mature enough to protect fields from insects and birds is capable of choosing the path of “lamahood.” At times children as young as 7 or 8 are admitted to the austere discipline of the monasteries. Situated at the foothills of the Himalayas, Bir, in Himachal Pradesh, India, is dotted with monasteries. This audio slideshow is an inside view into the lives of child “lamas” and their desires and aspirations.
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