You don’t see a group of Buddhist monks every day walking around in their traditional robes with a pair of athletic shoes on their feet.
The particular scene was part of “Meditation in Motion”, an initiative by PUMA India that brought together 40 Buddhist monks from Ladakh and photographed them at the historic Thiksey Monastery, built in the 15th century.
The idea was to bring together two worlds that at first glance seem completely different. On the one hand, a practice shaped by centuries of tradition and meditation; on the other, sports and a pair of shoes designed for running.
However, the concept was specifically seeking what both practices can have in common: concentration, discipline, and the ability to remain present even when the body begins to feel discomfort.
The result ultimately produced images that were quite difficult to ignore: 40 monks wearing their usual robes and modern sneakers on their feet, showing that even meditation can be put into motion.