Photo and caption by Alph Leydon

This young boy displays a virtually permanent circular smudge of mud on his forehead from pressing his head to the ground as he prostrates himself thousands of times a day in the name of saving his spirit and making himself holy. His worn wooden paddles protect his hands as he slides them across the earth in the constant stand-kneel-slide and prostrate cycle. He collects donations in the form of paper notes of minuscule denominations to feed himself and his family. His enormous inner strength emanates from him and you cannot help but be captivated by him.

Location: Lhasa, Xizang, China