Eight Auspicious Signs & Long Life Buddhas

A special thangka course during Losar - Tibetan New Year

Feb. 27 to Mar. 2 including accommodation and meals.

During this four-day retreat in the Veluwe National Park area, you will learn to draw (and perhaps later paint) one of these subjects according to the tradition of thangka (Tibetan scroll paintings).

Because of the Tibetan New Year (called Losar) which is celebrated on February 28, special subjects will be chosen that best suit this occasion, and from which you may choose:

The Eight Auspicious Symbols

The best-known set of symbols in the Tibetan tradition are the Eight Auspicious Symbols. These symbols are not only decorative, but also bring prosperity and attract spiritual and material well-being. They bring luck, prosperity, health and harmony and are therefore painted for Losar on houses or offered to loved ones to wish and welcome a happy year. In Tibet they are very popular and to this day are depicted on everything.

Large paintings

It is tradition that when a high Lama/teacher visits a Tibetan monastery, these symbols are grandly depicted on the ground in front of the temple entrance. To welcome the Dalai Lama to the Netherlands (in 2009, 2014 and 2018), Carmen Mensink was asked to paint these symbols for the same purpose. A very great honor, for which she made paintings from 5 to 9 meters long.

Separately or in a Mandala

You can choose to draw all the symbols individually, or collectively in the form of a beautiful mandala.

During this course you will not only learn to draw the symbols, but you will also learn all about the deep meanings and teachings behind each symbol and how to use them in your daily life.

Buddhas of Long Life

Have you drawn or painted the symbols before? Or would you prefer a different subject? Then you can also draw one of the three Long Life Buddhas in this course, as a beautiful, long and healthy life is also typically a wish expressed for the Tibetan New Year.

White Tara

The most famous Buddha who represents Long Life is White Tara. She builds energy and life force. White Tara practice or an image of her can be given to someone who is ill, as well as to a newborn baby, so that he/she may have a beautiful and healthy long life ahead.

White Tara holds a lotus flower and has seven eyes: in addition to her two eyes, a third eye, two eyes on her palms and two on the soles of her feet.

Amitayus

The beautiful red Amitayus literally means “Infinite Life. He is a form of Buddha Amitabha. The two are inseparable, but appear as different manifestations. Amitayus holds a vase containing a “nectar of long life and immortality,” from which grows a tree that fulfills all your desires.

Ushnisha Vijaya

Ushnisha Vijaya ('Victorious Crown Protrusion') is the third Buddha associated with long life and good rebirth. She has three faces (peaceful, semi-pious and wrathful) and eight arms, holding a special mudra or various symbolic ritual objects in each hand.

Because of its complicated shape, this Buddha is more suitable for people who already have some thangka experience.

For whom?

This course is suitable for both beginners (yes, even if you have no drawing experience!) and advanced students. If you have any questions about this (or other questions whose answers cannot be found here) please contact Carmen. Prior to the course she will contact everyone to make an inventory of the chosen subjects.

Program

This retreat gives you so much more than just learning to draw Tibetan art. In addition to the drawing sessions, you will learn all about the subject matter and iconography through interesting lectures. Each morning there is a guided meditation related to the topic. You will also learn the related mantras and how to work with them. In addition, you will have time to take wonderful walks in the area and there will be a movie night. ...Expect a good atmosphere and a very nice group!