Photos and copyright: Ken Stearns

It was a cold blustery day at Bir, (like beer) India as I took this photo of the monastery. There is a sense of joy and lightness about Tibetan architecture that can be infectious. Note that there are few right angles particularly around the window casements. This makes the building more earthquake proof. It also makes the monastery radar resistant, stealthy, in case the Tibetan monks declare war.

The front entrance to the Tibetan monastery at Bir, India. Nothing funereal or other worldly about this architecture. This is an invitation to the dance!