We have just released an absolutely unique, versatile and inspiring yoga meditation app to assist you on your inner journeying. Yoga Deep Meditation app offers an extensive and in-depth guide to the most prominent yoga meditation techniques, with detailed and interactive visuals and information on chakras and mudras.

Please use the iTunes link Yoga Deep Meditation or search for 'Yoga Deep Meditation' in the app store.

Just as peace is the inherent nature of this world, which rather than being "made" needs to be realized ("real eyes-ed", perceived with the eyes of the heart); silence is the natural state of our mind. Peace is amidst all chaos and conflict, whether we realize it or not our whole planet is blanketed in peace. It's what becomes apparent once we remove humans from the environment; we are immediately struck with the resonance of peace. The same way silence is in the heart of the whirlwind of our minds. Our minds have the innate ability to be quiet and meditation is the surest way to harness it. Our task therefore is not to change our mind and make it more peaceful but to rise above it and realize the ever-peaceful Self. When we are quiet within, we are in touch with our true Self, our genius.

Meditation is the state in which we systematically allow our minds to return to their natural state of stillness. The word systematically is of paramount importance because meditation is not a meditation unless it is a habit. We have strayed too far from our still point. Our minds are freeways, generating thoughts from the moment we wake up and until we fall asleep at night and well into our dreaming state. Our nervous system is thus full of obstructions, imprints and impurities that block our natural state from manifesting in the world. This makes it hard to see or sometimes even to believe that we possess a natural capacity to be still and silent. The silent seed within us needs to be awakened.

The effects of meditation, as of any other spiritual practice, are cumulative. It means that only through regular honest practice full of intent will we gradually see our inner silence manifesting in our daily lives. It is akin to digging for gold. The digging process doesn't resemble the treasure chest full of gold, but it is the digging that gets us to it! So let's dig in!

Beautiful tranquil photographs of empty and quiet Kyoto streets lit by sunrise in early morning while the city is still asleep. Japan travel photography.





Amazing views around Kiyomizu-Dera Buddhist temple.

I am much inspired to learn about Japanese culture, language, traditions, gardening, architecture, exploring the philosophy of Wabi-Sabi and the world of shadows, the beauty of imperfection and the depth that lies beneath of what is exposed, I came to love Japan and am trying to integrate their wisdom into my work and art, trying to express the fleeting awareness of Yugen and the unaltered, unpretentious reality as it exists in the universe.

Can it all coexist with a refined and carefully retouched work, you could ask, yes, absolutely. I believe it is very important to simplify photography to the most basic elements and not to overload it with unnecessary details, while keeping those imperfections that are important in conveying the message.

Alex Maxim / MaximImages.com

New travel photography collection is being added to our archive. Today's feature is Kiyomizu-dera, 音羽山清水寺, a major Buddhist temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Kyoto, Japan.



Otowa no taki (Otowa Waterfall), 音羽の瀧, where Kiyomizu-dera temple originates from:



Koyasu pagoda, 子安塔, where women come to pray for safe and easy childbirth:



Jishu Jinja (Land-owner Shrine), 地主神社, largest match-making Shinto shrine with a number of side shrines:



And many other beautiful images in our collection...

For more information on Kiyomizu-dera please see the links below:
Kiyomizu-dera on Wikipedia
Kiyomizu-dera official website

A set of unique sumie artworks have been recently added to our archive.

All the painting in this collection are reproduction of original black ink on rice paper Japanese Sumi-e artworks released by the artist for commercial usage. We see these artworks as amazing design elements suitable for usage in clothing and product manufacturing and as unique, beautiful fine art works on their own.

The simplicity of the illustrations and their strong lines, contrast and composition, make them suitable for a variety of creative applications as stand alone art or as design elements in a layout of a publication.

Oriental in their nature, and organic in their essence, these images will please the eye of a person in any part of the world.

More of sumi-e artworks by the same artist below:

Photo series of a Shaolin warrior monk practicing Kung Fu with weapons, meditation and Qi Gong.

Series of stock images of sitting meditation and Shaolin Qi Gong, Qigong with Instructor Shi Chang Dao of Shaolin Temple Toronto: