Above the monastery of Dzongsar in Eastern Tibet, at about 15,000 feet in elevation, lies the sacred lake of Seng-ngu Yutso, the ‘Lake of Turquoise Where the Snow Lioness Roars.’ Every twelve years, the lake becomes the focus of a special pilgrimage. The lake is said to be the home of a powerful guardian spirit, a naga, half-man, half-serpent who has appeared at its surface on several occasions when great masters have visited. On a bright day, the waters are a dazzling turquoise blue that transforms into pale green, or black, when the sky clouds over. The landscape that surrounds the lake is a configuration of sharp ridges whose rock-strewn sides fall steeply to the lake. A path encircles the lake, enabling pilgrims to walk around it respectfully while reciting prayers and mantras. 2004.