Here are some stunning photographs from Tomasz Gudzowaty, taken from the Shaolin Temple in Henan Province. Tomasz is a Polish born photo essayist, whose work has been published in Forbes, TIME, and L’Equipe, and has been awarded World Press Photo, Photo of the Year and NPPA Best of Photo Journalism.
Gudzowaty holed up with the Shaolin Monks, documenting a handful of the rigorous training routines that they must endure in order to elevate themselves to higher planes of consciousness. These are truly stunning documents of not only their tremendous strength and dedicatoin, but also their ability to absorb both mental and physical pain.
Photos: Tomasz Gudzowaty