12/11/13

81 / another world




Some Tibetan monasteries are small, others as big as a town;
visiting as a tourist I've no clear idea of how it all works now
for either monks or lay people. While in Tibet I often wished 
I could talk again with my old friends who were monks
& refugees in India. In the '70's. 
They were thangka painters. 






The vessels in the kitchen of this monastery were
massive,
the light medieval ..







In case you are wondering, this is a thangka,
(my guess is of Tara).
Traditionally they are painted on sized cloth, with
a brocade surround, & can be rolled for travels.
The monks gave me one for  my 30th birthday,
way back then.