Learn Thangka painting at Bon and Buddhist Study Centre REBYNA RANA

GANGTOK, 10 Dec: Those interested in learning Thangka painting now have the opportunity to do so at the Bon and Buddhist Study Centre located near Tamang Gumpa here at Upper Sichey. The centre was set up around 3 months ago by 29-year-old Tenzing Wangda Lama [Tamang] who hails from Ravangla in South Sikkim. Apart from Thangka painting the centre also gives Tibetan language classes.
At the moment, Mr. Lama is giving lessons on Thangka painting to 10 students. There is one student from the United States, one from Darjeeling and the rest are from Sikkim.
Speaking to NOW!, he says, “Becoming a Thangka painter is not easy. It is really tough because one needs a lot of concentration and skill. These Thangkas served as important teaching tools depicting the life of the Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities and bodhisattvas. In fact, one subject is the wheel of life, which is a visual representation of the Abhidharma teachings [Art of Enlightenment]”.
He informs that he learnt the art of painting Thangkas at the Bon monastery in Ravangla under the guidance of his teacher, Kalsang Lama for 7 years. He was earlier giving lessons on Thangka painting at Pelling in West Sikkim in 2010-12 but due to certain reasons had to discontinue it.
He has set up the Centre here in Gangtok in a rented flat and intends to further develop it in the days to come. This initiative is an attempt to spread the knowledge of Thangka painting and its importance, he informs. He has also invited a scholar from Benaras Hindu University to give lessons on Buddhism and he is expected to arrive in Sikkim in January 2014.
The duration of the complete course in Thangka painting is 3 years. Initially, there was a special offer of Rs 3,000 for the complete course, however, now students can join classes on a monthly basis where a month’s course costs Rs 1,200. For Tibetan language classes, students can opt for a 3 or 6 month courses. The 3-month course will cost Rs 1,200 per month while the 6-month course costs Rs 1,000 per month.
Thangka painting classes are held every day except Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 3pm. The Tibetan language classes start from 6am to 7am and 5pm to 6pm every day.