Trimingham and Random House Publishing, this week release `Buddha: The Living Way'. The Royal Gazette's Patricia Calnan recently caught up with the former Minister of Tourism and files this report.

Former Tourism Minister deForest (`Shorty') Trimingham is poised to step into the international limelight with the publication this week of his book `Buddha: The Living Way'.

Published by Random House, one of the world's leading publishing houses, well known travel writer Pico Iyer has provided the accompanying text and there is a Foreword by no less a personage than the Dalai Lama.

With more than 200 photographs, the book traces the historical roots of this 2,500 year old religion, born in the daunting, mountainous terrain now known as Nepal -- and which flourishes today, not only in Asia, but around the world.

"This has been an incredibly rewarding experience,'' says Mr. Trimingham who spent three years on a photographic odyssey that took him around the globe, recording the phenomenal spread of Buddhism among the people of the Far and Near East, and to countries on every continent.

Describing Buddhism as a transcultural religion and philosophy, he adds, "I have been travelling and photographing the East for much longer than three years, of course -- since the 1960's -- and I've always been drawn by the mysteries of that part of the world and fascinated by Buddhism. I can say now, after travelling so widely over these last few years, I have learned something about Buddhism.

"I still don't know a lot, but I have an enormous respect for Buddhism as a way of life. As you travel around,'' he adds, "the beauty of their philosophies, as expressed in Eastern art, surrounds you. I was very struck by the presence of Buddhism in the lives of millions of people.'' It is a point taken up by the Dalai Lama in the book's Foreword: "These pictures show the stillness and calm at the heart of Buddhist practice, even as they show people applying these principles in daily life.'' Pico Iyer (author of an acclaimed first novel, `Cuba and the Night') and a contributor to TIME, The New York Times, Harper's and Conde Nast Traveller, writes he is moved by "Trimingham's vibrant and pulsing images of Buddhism around the world, in part because they are so inescapably human, even with their lyricism, and in part because so many of them spin like a mandala with all the whirling energies of Buddhist devotion...'' One of the many differences between Western and Eastern attitudes, notes Mr.

Trimingham, is that in the West the concept of a monastic existence is an alien one. "Whereas, in Asia, many people rely on the monasteries for their education. But most of all, '' he reveals, "I was struck by the religious compassion of the people -- I think that's a much better phrase than `forgiveness'.'' Mr. Trimingham won his first prize for photography as a young student only to give it up as a serious pursuit until his retirement some 40 years later.

Since then his work has appeared in Conde Nast Traveller and Tricycle and he was awarded a solo show at the esteemed Leica Gallery in New York City.

He says he is "thrilled'' Pico Iyer agreed to write the text. "I would say that, currently, there are only a couple of really good writers on the Far East -- and one of them is Iyer.

"I feel very fortunate, especially as he is recognised as an authority on this religion. And, of course, I was honoured beyond words to have the Dalai Lama write the Foreword.'' The Bermudian photographer -- who served as an MP for 23 years and is well known in sailing circles -- admits that he had an auspicious introduction to the world of photography.

"I met Paul Cushing Child -- husband of Julia -- and he was an incredibly diversified artist who worked in watercolour, stained glass, sculpture and photography. He said he would let me use a camera as long as I never used it to illustrate. He introduced me to a whole new world. There I was, just a little Bermuda boy in shorts and grey socks and I knew nothing. But he taught me how to make a photograph appealing to the eye through such things as composition, texture, light and shade, and so on. I also recall him saying that the factors that made a good photographic image could also be applied to other arts -- music, dance -- even food! Then he met Julia and taught her how to cook.'' Other important influences have been Galea (Galen) Rowell and Sam Abell whose photographic workshops he attended. "I never had any interest in photo-journalism,'' he reveals. "I was always so fascinated by the mystery of places. I was immediately captured, for instance, by Japanese art and music.'' Readily admitting his good fortune in being able to indulge his taste for extensive travel to often highly exotic destinations, Mr. Trimingham expresses regret that so many travellers go thousands of miles, merely to sit around in five-star hotels. "I feel sorry for them, they miss so much.'' He explains that the book was conceived along the same lines as a Buddhist scroll: "Pictorially, it could unravel as if it had no beginning or end and the centre would represent the void at the heart of Buddhism, which is known as Om .

So you could say the five parts of the book are the landscape of Buddhism, the temple, the Buddha in his many different forms, Om , which is the central concept of the faith, and lastly, worship. This part of the book traces Buddhism in action in places like France, Scotland, Vermont, as well as the traditional sites of the Far East. I feel rather proud of the book,'' he adds, "and I believe it will have general appeal but, perhaps, especially for young people. You can identify with the book on almost any level -- as you can Buddhism.'' `Buddha: The Living Way', is on sale for $35 at The Bermuda Bookstore, The Book Mart, Windjammer Gallery, the Bermuda National Gallery and The Book Cellar in St. George's.

THE MONKS OF CHIANG MAI -- One of 200 colour images from deForest Trimingham's just released `Buddha: The Living Way.'' Published by Random House, it also includes and introduction by his Holiness, The Dalai Lama.