THANGKA PAINTER
In 11th-century Tibet, thangkas were evocative visual instruments within an oral tradition, complementing Buddhist teachings. These scroll paintings depicted stories of Buddha’s enlightenment and religious figures, often used by travelling lamas to convey Buddhist philosophy. The meticulous precision of thangka art—characterized by strict grids and proportions—ensured faithful storytelling, with artists remaining anonymous to emphasize the spiritual message rather than the curator. In contrast, modern art emphasizes individual expression.
Book a Sacred Thangka Painting with Lama Tashi below!
Receive your personal Buddha, a sacred and personal mantra to empower your life journey. Held in Sacred Tibetan chanting rituals by Lama Tashi Norbu.
Two Sacred Thangka options are available: In-Person Chanting Rituals and Mail Order.
In-Person Chanting Rituals is the standard option people choose as it allows those who book it to personally participate in the Sacred Tibetan chanting rituals as Lama Tashi creates their sacred thangka.
The Mail Order option was created after one person was unable to participate in person but still wanted a personal sacred thangka. Lama Tashi created a sacred thangka for them while performing the chanting rituals and shipped the sacred thangka to them. With this option, we wish for those who cannot meet in-person to be able to receive their own personal sacred thangka.
Please read before booking the In-Person Chanting Rituals option:
Please email info@lamatashinorbu.org to inquire if Lama Tashi Norbu will be near you around the date you want to book the In-Person Chanting Rituals option. Please note that the booking is open everyday for 24 hours/day, however, the date and time you book MAY NOT be the confirmed date and time your appointment will take place.
Lama Tashi will personally reach out to you to schedule a precise date, time, and location for your appointment to take place. This is because Lama Tashi travels frequently, attends and participates in many events, and has other confirmed appointments. By reaching out for scheduling, you and Lama Tashi will be able to better discuss what date and time works best.
Although he trained as a traditional thangka painter under the influence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Norbu’s work maintains core thangka principles while embracing a distinctly personal identity. His work reflects the essence of Tibet yet integrates Western imagery. For instance, Dutch symbols like tulips, windmills, and wooden shoes alongside modern technology such as mobile phones and laptops are depicted. His paintings are rich, layered narratives, mixing humor, flow, and creative consistency. Each viewing reveals new details—some deeply personal, others with strict symbology—showcasing the skill and depth of an artist grounded in both traditional culture and the artistic landscape of the modern era. Tashi explains:
“Apart from being ruthless, change gives hope to us Tibetans. We have to grow out of our present situation, as the lotus grows out of the mud, by accepting change, nourishing the Buddha nature of ourselves in the modern world, and revealing our faults fearlessly. If we grow within ourselves, we gain freedom.”
Norbu’s work continues to explore the interplay between Western influences and Tibetan importance, striving to balance the dynamic energy of the abstract with the meditative essence of Tibetan Buddhism. Tashi Norbu personifies balance in a growing movement towards social and spiritual transformation in art and society.
Institute of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA)/Traditional Thangka Painting. Dharamsala, India