9/20/2017 3:21:29 AM
I just finished a painting that was supposed to be one thing then turned out to be another! I was "supposed" to paint the Himalayas with prayer flags blowing in the wind in the background and then...BAM...something TOTALLY different happened...but, that's the art procedure for you! I had a lot of fun working with a friend in Bali, a fabulous photographer that took a dip in his pool as lotus flowers were flung in, capturing the flowing petals and centers...then I came upon some old prayer flags here in Nepal that I integrated into the background after painting one I didn't like, and with watercolours, you can't really "fix" things. The painting is one of memories for me and fun life happening right here and now, new creations and the ability to laugh at loud at my own misconceptions...of how things should and need to be (since I'm in Nepal and no where near an ocean OR lotus flowers) vs allowing things to just develop in time naturally! The path ahead is not set in stone...
9/1/2017 10:04:55 AM
I am in Nepal and have come across some beautiful artwork called Thangka. Thangka's perform several different functions. Images of deities can be used as teaching tools when depicting the life (or lives) of the Buddha, describing historical events concerning important Lamas, or retelling myths associated with other deities. Devotional images act as the centerpiece during a ritual or ceremony and are often used as mediums through which one can offer prayers or make requests. Overall, and perhaps most importantly, religious art is used as a meditation tool to help bring one further down the path to enlightenment.
Tibetan medicine is a traditional system of medicine which has been practiced for over 2500 years and is still practiced today. It is based on the ancient Four Tantras: native Tibetan texts incorporating Indian, Chinese and Greco-Arab medical systems. As stated by the International Academy for Traditional Tibetan Medicine (IATTM) “one of the unique features of Traditional Tibetan Medicine is that it contains a comprehensive philosophy, cosmology, and system of subtle anatomy with associated spiritual practices”. Traditional Tibetan medicine uses different kinds of ingredients such as plants, minerals and precious metals. However 95% of Tibetan medicine is based on herbs.
