Our Journal: Stories from the Foothills of the Himalayas

Interviews with Tibetan Craftsmen - Thangka

Norbulingka has been training artisans in traditional crafts since 1995, giving new purpose and employment to many young Tibetans in exile. We interviewed a few, who have been apprenticed since the...

Lhabab Duchen

In Tibetan, Lhabab Duchen means ‘Festival of the Descent from Heaven’. At the age of 41, the Buddha ascended to the Trayastrimsa heaven to give teachings to the gods of that desire realm. His moth...

Interviews with Traditional Craftsmen

Master Woodcarver

Choe Phuntsok (1923-2005) Choe Phuntsok was born in Ngamring, Tibet in the year 1923. He spent his early years on his family farm and then at the age of fifteen began training as a carpenter, learn...

Master Thangka Painter

Temba Chöphel (1959-2007) Temba Chophel was born in Lhasa in January 1959, two months before the Tibetan uprising, and the absorption of Tibet into China. His family, from the landed aristocracy, s...

Dharma Accessories

In Tibet, concern for the next life comes first, and much is invested in the spiritual. Until recently, all art work was spiritual in nature, as was much of the vernacular including basic furniture...

Chokhor Duchen

Chokhor Duchen, celebrated on the fourth day of the sixth Tibetan month is one of four major Buddhist holidays. It marks the Buddha’s first turning of the wheel of Dharma, which occurred seven week...

Appliqued Thangka at Norbulingka

Applique is an ancient art from Central Asia. The earliest examples, found in Hun tombs, were felt decorative and utilitarian objects. Later dated pieces, mainly banners, originated in the Dung Hua...

Message from Norbulingka

Sagadawa is coming soon. It marks the Buddha’s birthday and is the holiest day of the year, falling on the 15thof the 4th month on the Tibetan lunar calendar. It is a time for gaining merit, and ea...

Birds & Fish of Norbulingka

Norbulingka’s lush gardens teem with bird life. Originally terraced fields that grew wheat in winter and rice in summer, they were bordered with an abundance of mature trees. Several landscapists w...