A Young Mongolian Monk

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – 11th July 1994: A young Mongolian Buddhist monk at the Dalai Lama talk at Ulaanbaatar. Mongolian Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism are very closely linked, the first Dalai Lama being named and chosen by one of the early Mongolian Khans. Mongolia gained Independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, having been subject to Communism and Russian rule since 1924. The traditional religions of Buddhism and Shamanism that had been suppressed during Communist times were able to flourish again. Temples and Monasteries that had been destroyed during the Soviet period were rebuilt and the young were encouraged to become monks again. New freedoms were keenly embraced. Although there was an obvious gap between old and young monks the people were free to openly practice and rebuild Buddhism, which had been their Religion prior to Communism for hundreds of years. (Photo by Richard Manning/Getty Images)