This retreat was a nourishing and joyful exploration of art as meditation, art as a way to see reality more vividly and as a joyful expression of ones’ own innermost wisdom. It offered classes in Thangka, Yantra making, Sumi-E painting, Kolam and an introduction to Sanskrit. The venue was a beautifully restored 17th Century Rajasthani haveli within the buffer zone of the Sariska Tiger Sanctuary.

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.

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).