Na zdorovje

Unexpectedly, I met with 14 folks visiting from the Republic of Buryatia. Pretty sure that's in Russia. Somewhere. I had a translator and it was a very interesting experience for me. As parting gifts, they gave me the keychain pictured above (which I immediately morphed into a necklace so that I could proudly display and show it off) and ironically a gorgeous art booklet on Thangka, or scroll painting. I think I startled them with my shrieks of pure delight.

On the way out they stopped in front of the Madagascar Journey Painting that is now hanging in the foyer. They say that music is the international language but I am thinking it is really art. My guests were pointing and smiling at the canvas but I really have no idea what they were saying. I do think they recognized the characters and had their own Russian names for them.

I am learning that Thangka is a special art of Tibetan Buddhism. This artist's name is Nickolai Dudka and he was born in 1962 and he works as a teacher of drawing and painting in the Acadmeny of Art in Ulan-Ude. That's in Buryatia, Russia. Here are just a few of his works.

Avalokiteshvara (to the left) -is the embodiment of all the Buddhas infinite compassion. He is white in colour and has different aspects. His first two hands are pressed together at his heart supplicating all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to look after sentient beings and protect them from suffering.

Tara's name means "One Who Saves". Her compassion for living beings, her desire to save them from suffering, is said to be stronger than a mother's love for her children. As Manjushri is the celestial Bodhisattva who represents the wisdom of all Buddhas and Avalokiteshvara is the one who represents all their compassion, Tara is the Bodhisatta who represents the miraculous activity of all the Buddhas of the past, present and future. I think this one is my favorite, both the painting and its symbolism.

This is Ts'u Marpo: the red 'tsen' daemon, principl worldly protector of Samye, the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet.

Manjushri is the Bodhisattva of Wisdom and symbolised the mind of all Buddhas. He appears in five peaceful and wrathful forms for the benefit of all liing beings.

"It is our choices that show who we truly are. . . far more than our abilities." J.K. Rowling

It is only a dream until we start to make it real.