The focus of this retreat was yantra making (Kanakdhara) in a meditative manner to invoke spiritual and material abundance. Goddess Lakshmi has a golden form known as Kanakadhara. Goddess of overflowing abundance, generosity, and compassion, Sri Kanakadhara’s name literally means “stream” (dhārā) of “gold” (kanaka).

All art forms in India spring from the spirit of devotion, searching for the many ways to meet with the Divine, which gave rise to many imagery, stories, symbols, songs and names. In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, this art form of picturing awaken beings is a way of meditation and of finding ones own true nature. The Thangka retreat in Dharamshala was a beautiful three week experience of how art is created in Tibet.