This is the first in a seven picture series that I made at the Kalaywa Buddhist Monastery in Rangoon. The monks here spend their lives studying and practicing the teachings of Buddha, but before doing so, they must undergo a Shinbyu, the term for a novitiation ceremony. It is one of the most important moments in a Buddhist’s life. In this case, all of the inductees were young boys. I was among the guests attending such a ceremony, and began by photographing a parade of family members that came towards me through the golden gate of the Monastery.