This spectacular book invites the reader on a journey to a faraway exotic land -- and into one's own heart and soul. The beauty of the majestic Himalayan countryside, of the Tibetan people -- spiritual masters and humble shepherds alike -- and of their sacred places all inspire a desire to look within, in search of an understanding of the essence of Buddhism and the Himalayan spirit.Contributions by eminent specialists on Tibetan culture -- from the noted photographer Galen Rowell to the Dalai Lama himself -- illuminate the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth. Glorious photographs of the Himalayas combine with the text to form a harmonious mosaic of this uniquely spiritual mountaintop civilization.