Feature: Bird Lama

by Xinhua writers Yuan Quan, Li Yan

XINING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Most monks find inner peace through meditation -- Tashi Sangpo turns to nature.

The 46-year-old Khenpo, or Tibetan monastic preceptor, spends much of the year in the vast wilderness of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with his heavy binoculars and cameras, looking for birds.

He has photographed nearly 400 bird species and he paints birds on traditional thankga scrolls.

He is passionate about making young people more aware of the environment, and is writing a picture book to teach children to protect wildlife.

According to Tashi, nature conservation is the practice of the Buddhist doctrine of mercy.

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES