Lem: Initiation of a Little Buddha

"For three years I followed the monastic community of Luang Prabang, catching the moments of growth and those of emptiness."

For the first time a woman is allowed into a Buddhist monastery, discovering Laos and its monasteries. With her touching words and intense photographs, Laura Leonelli tells the world of Lem, an aspiring monk, and his entry into a monastery. She describes his daily life—the fears, the longings, and the hopes of the young monks—from a unique and privileged perspective.

Laura Leonelli is a journalist who writes on photography and travel for the Sunday supplement of Il Sole 24 Ore and Panorama Travel.