Upon his first meeting with Jesse, Lama Norbu says "In my country we love masks". What is the significance of this and the importance of...

Masks are important for Buddhism as they often reproduce
gods and deities. They are an integral part of Buddhist culture and beliefs and are
often worn during religious dances and rituals to defeat negative forces. Buddhist masks
also recall images linked to death, the decay of our physical bodies and the consequent
spiritual transformation. The fact that Jesse, whom Norbu believes is the re-incarnation
of his teacher, is wearing a mask that he has made himself when they first meet, may be
taken as a clue to a shared cultural heritage between the Lama and the boy. The boy did
not know that Norbu was coming that day or that masks were such an important part of his
religious and cultural traditions, so he couldn't have consciously worn the
mask.