Info about the greeting cards:

Sadhu #1
Taken 03/21/08

In Hinduism, sadhu is a common term for an ascetic or practitioner of yoga (yogi) who has given up pursuit of the first three Hindu goals of life: kama (enjoyment), artha (practical objectives) and even dharma (duty). The sadhu is solely dedicated to achieving moksha (liberation) through meditation and contemplation of God. Sadhus often wear ochre-colored clothing, symbolizing renunciation.

Most of them follow Shiva. They don't cut or wash their hair. They are sometimes totally naked, but usually wear a simple, loose cloth, decorated with strings of tulsi beads. They put ash on their heads and bodies, and marks on their foreheads to indicate their religious affiliation. Three white, horizontal stripes means Shiva, while red and white vertical stripes means Vishnu. They carry a brass pot for begging, and some also have a symbol favored by Shiva - the three pointed spear called a trident. They have no other possessions.

Sadhu #2
Taken 03/21/08

In Hinduism, sadhu is a common term for an ascetic or practitioner of yoga (yogi) who has given up pursuit of the first three Hindu goals of life: kama (enjoyment), artha (practical objectives) and even dharma (duty). The sadhu is solely dedicated to achieving moksha (liberation) through meditation and contemplation of God. Sadhus often wear ochre-colored clothing, symbolizing renunciation.

Sadhus are often sanyasi, or renunciates, who have left behind all material and sexual attachments and live in caves, forests and temples all over India and Nepal.

There are 4 or 5 million sadhus and they are still widely respected: revered for their holiness, sometimes feared for their curses. It is also thought that the austere practices of the sadhus help to burn off their karma and that of the community at large. Thus seen as benefiting society, sadhus are supported by donations from many people.

This photograph was taken at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal. Pashupatinath is Nepal's holiest Hindu Pilgrimage site. Dedicated to Lord Shiva (one of the Hindu trinity), the shrines and temples of Pashupatinath straddle the now-polluted Bagmati river which, like the Ganges, is considered sacred by the faithful. To die and to be cremated here is to be released from samsara (the cycle of rebirth in this world).

Peruvian Shaman
Taken 8/10/07

Before our hike to Machu Picchu we had a shaman visit our campsite at Q'ente and give a blessing. Practicing a mixture of local Peruvian beliefs and Christianity, the shaman used Christian symbols and Peruvian rituals to bless our trip and our loved ones. The ritual took just over an hour and ended with the burying of an offering to the mountains.

Peruvian Grandmother
Taken 8/9/07

This photograph was taken at Ollantaytambo, a town and an Inca archaeological site in southern Peru some 60 kilometers northwest of the city of Cusco. This grandmother was with her daughter, and 3 granddaughters at a local “restaurant” in the village. The family had come down from the nearby hill to get food and supplies, while selling crafts and asking for money.

Thai Buddhist Monks
Taken May 2008

A Bhikku is a fully ordained male Buddhist monastic. Bhikkhus keep many precepts: they live by the vinaya's framework of monastic discipline, the basic rules of which are called the patimokkha. Their lifestyle is shaped so as to support their spiritual practice, to live a simple and meditative life, and attain Nirvana.

Monks and nuns take their vows for a lifetime, but they can "give them back" (up to three times in one life), a possibility which is actually used by many people. In this way, Buddhism keeps the vows "clean". It is possible to keep them or to leave this lifestyle, but it is considered extremely negative to break these vows. Bhiksu may be literally translated as "beggar" or more broadly as "one who lives by alms".