Photo 4 of 12. The palanquin (a sedan chair used to transport one person, and historically used for royalty or people of importance) that carried Guru Deva’s body from his appartment in Ulan Bator to the cremation grounds, having been carried by senior Mongolian Gelug monks, is positioned beside the funerary vestibule. As a sign of respect, a great honour, and as Zava Damdin Rinpoche’s authorised representatives, Dugarjav Lobsang Bilguun and Lobsang Sampel escorted the body of Guru Deva Rinpoche, from his apartment in Ulan Bator to the cremation grounds to this point. As Guru Deva Rinpoche the previous year had instructed his chief Mongolian disciple Zavaa Damdin Rinpoche to enter a period of extended solitary retreat at his monastery Delgeruun Choira in the Dundgovi, Zava Rinpoche was unable to attend these funerary rites. To have done so, would mean breaking his retreat, and the vow he made to his heart’s Guru. 13 April 2009. Photograph: C.Pleteshner

Photo 4 of 12. The palanquin (a sedan chair used to transport one person, and historically used for royalty or people of importance) that carried Guru Deva’s body from his appartment in Ulan Bator to the cremation grounds, having been carried by senior Mongolian Gelug monks, is positioned beside the funerary vestibule. As a sign of respect, a great honour, and as Zava Damdin Rinpoche’s authorised representatives, Dugarjav Lobsang Bilguun and Lobsang Sampel escorted the body of Guru Deva Rinpoche, from his apartment in Ulan Bator to the cremation grounds to this point. As Guru Deva Rinpoche the previous year had instructed his chief Mongolian disciple Zavaa Damdin Rinpoche to enter a period of extended solitary retreat at his monastery Delgeruun Choira in the Dundgovi, Zava Rinpoche was unable to attend these funerary rites. To have done so, would mean breaking his retreat, and the vow he made to his heart’s Guru. 13 April 2009. Photograph: C.Pleteshner

Photo 4 of 12. The palanquin (a sedan chair used to transport one person, and historically used for royalty or people of importance) that carried Guru Deva’s body from his appartment in Ulan Bator to the cremation grounds, having been carried by senior Mongolian Gelug monks, is positioned beside the funerary vestibule. As a sign of respect, a great honour, and as Zava Damdin Rinpoche’s authorised representatives, Dugarjav Lobsang Bilguun and Lobsang Sampel escorted the body of Guru Deva Rinpoche, from his apartment in Ulan Bator to the cremation grounds to this point. As Guru Deva Rinpoche the previous year had instructed his chief Mongolian disciple Zavaa Damdin Rinpoche to enter a period of extended solitary retreat at his monastery Delgeruun Choira in the Dundgovi, Zava Rinpoche was unable to attend these funerary rites. To have done so, would mean breaking his retreat, and the vow he made to his heart’s Guru. 13 April 2009. Photograph: C.Pleteshner

Photo 4 of 12. The palanquin (a sedan chair used to transport one person, and historically used for royalty or people of importance) that carried Guru Deva’s body from his appartment in Ulan Bator to the cremation grounds, having been carried by senior Mongolian Gelug monks, is positioned beside the funerary vestibule. As a sign of respect, a great honour, and as Zava Damdin Rinpoche’s authorised representatives, Dugarjav Lobsang Bilguun and Lobsang Sampel escorted the body of Guru Deva Rinpoche, from his apartment in Ulan Bator to the cremation grounds to this point. As Guru Deva Rinpoche the previous year had instructed his chief Mongolian disciple Zavaa Damdin Rinpoche to enter a period of extended solitary retreat at his monastery Delgeruun Choira in the Dundgovi, Zava Rinpoche was unable to attend these funerary rites. To have done so, would mean breaking his retreat, and the vow he made to his heart’s Guru. 13 April 2009. Photograph: C.Pleteshner