Yeshi Dorjee trained in the sacred art of traditional Tibetan thangka painting has taught himself to use digital tools and computer software to recreate these intricate works while strictly following cultural guidelines and iconographic instructions. His digital thangkas preserve the authenticity and precision of lineage-based thangka painting, blending centuries-old symbolism with modern technology to reach new audiences and preserve this sacred art form.

Siddhartha Gautama, who later became Buddha, was born around 563 BCE in Lumbini. He was born into royalty as the son of King Suddhodana and Queen Maya. According to tradition, seers predicted he would either become a great king or a spiritual leader. His father, preferring the royal path for his son, sheltered Siddhartha from all religious teachings and from human suffering, surrounding him with luxury and pleasure. At age 29, despite living in comfort, Siddhartha ventured beyond the palace walls and encountered what became known as the “Four Sights”: an old man, a sick person, a corpse, and an ascetic. These experiences revealed to him the inevitable suffering that comes with human existence. Deeply moved by these revelations, Siddhartha left his royal life behind in what is called the “Great Renunciation.”
He spent six years studying under various spiritual teachers and practicing extreme asceticism, nearly starving himself to death. Then he adopted what is called the “Middle Way,” avoiding both extreme indulgence and extreme asceticism. Sitting under a Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, he meditated deeply and attained enlightenment at the age of 35, becoming the Buddha (“the Awakened One”). For the next 45 years, Buddha traveled throughout northeastern India teaching what became known as the Dharma (the teachings). The core of his teachings includes the Four Noble Truths (the truth of suffering, the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the path to the cessation of suffering) and the Noble Eightfold Path (right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration). Buddha died at around age 80 in Kushinagar, India. His last words encouraged his followers to
“strive on with diligence” and to be “a lamp unto yourselves.” His teachings spread throughout Asia and eventually around the world, forming the basis of Buddhism, which remains one of the
world’s major religions with hundreds of millions of followers.

Lama Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) was a renowned Tibetan Buddhist  (spiritual leader) who founded the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.  He is one of the most influential figures in Tibetan Buddhist history,  known for his profound scholarship, spiritual realization, and systematic  approach to Buddhist philosophy and practice. 

Guru Yoga is a fundamental practice in Tibetan Buddhism, particularly  important in the Vajrayana tradition. It is a meditation practice that  involves visualizing and developing a deep connection with one’s  spiritual teacher (guru) as an embodiment of enlightened wisdom and  compassion. 

For Tsongkhapa specifically, Guru Yoga often involves: 

1. Visualization of Tsongkhapa as the embodiment of the Three  Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha) 
2. Seeing the guru as inseparable from one’s root teacher and all  enlightened beings 
3. Developing devotion and a deep spiritual connection 4. Receiving blessings and transformative wisdom through  meditation 

In the Gelug tradition, the Guru Yoga practice of Tsongkhapa typically  includes: 

• Preliminary prayers and preparations 
• Visualization of Tsongkhapa 
• Offerings and supplications 
• Meditation on the guru’s kind and wisdom 
• Request for blessings and spiritual guidance 

The practice is considered a powerful method for: 

• Purifying negative karma 
• Accumulating merit 
• Receiving spiritual inspiration 
• Accelerating one’s progress on the spiritual path.

Green Tara is a significant female deity in Buddhism, representing compassion, enlightened activity,and protection. Often depicted as a beautiful green-colored woman seated in a posture of ease, she is known as the “Swift Protector” and is believed to help
practitioners overcome obstacles and fears.
In Buddhist iconography, Green Tara is usually shown
seated on a lotus, symbolizing her purity and
transcendence. Her green color represents her active,
dynamic energy in contrast to White Tara, who represents
more peaceful, healing qualities. She is typically
portrayed with one foot slightly extended, ready to spring
into action to help those in need.

According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, Green Tara
is considered a female Buddha—an enlightened being
who compassionately delays complete nirvana to help
others achieve liberation. She is particularly associated
with protection from eight great fears, including lions
(representing pride), elephants (ignorance), fires (hatred),
snakes (jealousy), thieves (forgetfulness), floods (desire),
demons (doubt), and chain (miserly).

Practitioners invoke Green Tara through meditation,
mantras, and visualization practices, seeking her swift
and compassionate assistance in overcoming personal
and spiritual challenges. Her mantra, “Om Tare Tut Tare
Ture Soha,” is widely recited by Buddhists seeking her
protection and blessings.

Vajrasattva is a prominent deity in Vajrayana Buddhism, particularly in  Tibetan Buddhist traditions. He is considered a powerful purification buddha,  representing the inherent purity of all beings and serving as a key figure in  spiritual transformation and cleansing of negative karma. 

In Buddhist iconography, Vajrasattva is typically depicted as a white-colored  deity, symbolizing purity, clarity, and the fundamental pristine nature of  mind. He is usually shown seated in a meditation posture, holding a vajra  (thunderbolt) in his right hand and a bell in his left hand. These ritual  implements are deeply symbolic: the vajra represents compassionate wisdom  and indestructible enlightenment, while the bell signifies the sound of  emptiness and the wisdom of understanding reality. 

The central practice associated with Vajrasattva is his 100-syllable mantra,  which is considered one of the most powerful purification practices in Tibetan  Buddhism. Practitioners recite this mantra to: 

• Cleanse negative karma and obscurations 
• Heal past mental and spiritual wounds 
• Prepare the mind for deeper meditation and spiritual practices 
• Remove obstacles on the spiritual path 

In tantric practices, Vajrasattva is often visualized as being in union with his  consort, representing the union of wisdom and compassion, or the ultimate  non-duality of existence. This imagery symbolizes the integration of  seemingly opposite energies and the transcendence of dualistic thinking. 

The practice of Vajrasattva is not just about external ritual, but a profound  inner transformation. It emphasizes that all beings have an inherent pure  nature, temporarily obscured by negative actions and mental patterns.  Through meditation, visualization, and mantra recitation, practitioners aim to  reconnect with this fundamental purity. 

Practitioners typically engage with Vajrasattva practice as part of ngöndro  (preliminary practices) in Tibetan Buddhism, using visualization, breathing  techniques, and mantra recitation to purify the mind and prepare for more  advanced spiritual work.

Manjushri is a Buddha of wisdom and transcendent insight in  Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism. He represents intellectual  and spiritual understanding, and is considered the personification  of the enlightened wisdom that cuts through ignorance. 

In traditional iconography, Manjushri is typically depicted as a  young, beautiful prince seated on a lotus, holding a flaming  sword in his right hand and a sacred text (often the Perfection of  Wisdom sutra) in his left. The sword symbolizes the sharp,  discriminating wisdom that cuts through delusion, while the text  represents profound spiritual knowledge. 

His color is usually orange or golden, and which symbolizes  fearlessness and the power of wisdom to overcome mental  obstacles. Manjushri is particularly important in Tibetan,  Chinese, and Japanese Buddhist traditions, where he is revered  as a key meditation deity and source of intellectual and spiritual  illumination. 

Practitioners invoke Manjushri to: 

• Enhance mental clarity and understanding 
• Develop wisdom and insight 
• Overcome ignorance and confusion 
• Improve memory and learning capabilities

In Buddhist practice, Manjushri represents the fundamental  Buddhist goal of developing prajna (wisdom), which is  considered crucial for achieving enlightenment and  understanding the true nature of reality.

Medicine Buddha is a central healing deity in Mahayana and Tibetan  Buddhism. He represents spiritual and physical healing, representing the  power of medicine, compassion, and the elimination of suffering. 

In traditional Buddhist iconography, Medicine Buddha is typically depicted  with deep blue or azure skin, symbolizing healing energy. He is usually  shown seated in a meditation posture, holding a medicinal myrobalan plant in  his right hand and a healing bowl filled with nectar in his left hand. 

According to Buddhist tradition, Medicine Buddha made twelve great vows  to assist beings in overcoming physical and mental suffering. These vows  include: 

• Helping those who are sick
• Providing protection and healing
• Assisting beings in spiritual and physical recovery
• Offering compassionate support to those in distress

Practitioners invoke the Medicine Buddha through meditation, visualization,  and mantra recitation, seeking: 

• Physical healing
• Protection from illness
• Mental and emotional well-being
• Spiritual transformation

In Tibetan Buddhist practice, the Medicine Buddha is associated with holistic  healing that addresses not just physical ailments, but also the deeper spiritual  roots of suffering. His practice emphasizes compassion, mindfulness, and the  interconnection of physical and spiritual health. 

The Medicine Buddha’s mantra is believed to have powerful healing  properties, and practitioners often recite it for personal healing and for the  benefit of others.

White Tara is a powerful female deity in Tibetan Buddhism,  representing longevity, compassion, and healing. In the traditional  iconographic representation of White Tara surrounded by fire, the  flames symbolize transformative spiritual energy and the  purification of obstacles. 

The fire imagery around White Tara is not a destructive force, but a  metaphysical representation of: 

• Spiritual transformation 
• Burning away of ignorance and negative karma • Purification of mind and spirit 
• Transcendence of worldly limitations 

In this profound visualization, the flames encircling White Tara  represent her dynamic, protective energy. She is typically depicted  as a serene white figure with seven eyes (symbolizing complete  awareness) – one on her forehead, two in her palms, and two on the  soles of her feet, in addition to her two main eyes. The surrounding  fire does not harm her, but instead amplifies her spiritual power. The fire represents the intense, consuming wisdom that burns away  delusions, while White Tara remains a beacon of compassion and  healing. This imagery suggests that true spiritual growth involves  transformative, sometimes intense processes of inner change, with  compassion as the guiding principle. 

Her practice is particularly associated with healing, long life, and  protection from obstacles and negative energies.

The combination of the Red Cross symbol with White Tara  represents an intriguing intersection of humanitarian compassion  and Buddhist spiritual healing. While not a traditional religious  iconography, this symbolic pairing can be interpreted as a powerful  representation of universal compassion and healing. 

The Red Cross, founded on principles of humanitarian aid and  medical assistance, shares fundamental values with White Tara’s  spiritual essence of compassion and healing. White Tara, known as  the “Mother of Liberated Wisdom,” embodies: 

• Healing
• Protection
• Compassion
• Longevity

In this symbolic fusion, the Red Cross represents physical medical  assistance, while White Tara represents spiritual and holistic  healing. The white color of Tara and the white background of the  Red Cross symbol both symbolize purity, peace, and universal care. 

White Tara’s traditional iconography – with seven eyes representing  complete awareness (on her forehead, palms, and feet) – could  metaphorically align with the humanitarian vision of the Red Cross:  seeing and responding to suffering everywhere. 

This conceptual combination might represent a holistic approach to  healing that addresses both physical and spiritual dimensions of  human well-being, transcending cultural and religious boundaries  through the universal language of compassion.

The Eight Auspicious Symbols are a group of sacred Buddhist  and Tibetan emblems that represent virtuous spiritual qualities  and good fortune. These symbols are deeply significant in  Buddhist art, philosophy, and ritual practices, often appearing in  paintings, sculptures, and religious decorations. 

The Eight Auspicious Symbols are: 

1. Parasol (Dhvaja): Represents protection, royal dignity, and spiritual shelter from suffering.
2. Golden Fish (Matsya): Symbolizes freedom, abundance, and happiness. In Buddhist tradition, fish represent liberation from cyclic existence. 
3. Treasure Vase (Kalasha): Represents spiritual and material wealth, abundance, and long life.
4. Lotus Flower (Padma): Symbolizes purity, spiritual awakening, and rise from muddy ignorance to

enlightenment. 

5. Conch Shell (Shankha): Represents the voice of Buddha’s teachings, awakening beings from ignorance.
6. Endless Knot (Shrivatsa): Symbolizes interconnectedness, infinite wisdom, and the cyclical nature of existence. 7. Victory Banner (Dhvaja): Represents triumph of Buddhist teachings over obstacles and ignorance. 
7. Wheel (Dharma Chakra): Represents the Buddha’s teachings, spiritual transformation, and the cycle of rebirth. These symbols are often used together in Buddhist art and ritual contexts, each carrying profound symbolic meaning representing  spiritual qualities and enlightenment.

The Wheel of Life vividly illustrates samsara—the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth governed by karma. At its center, three animals represent ignorance (pig), attachment (rooster), and hatred (snake), the root causes of human suffering. Encircling them are detailed portrayals of the six realms of existence and the twelve stages of dependent origination. The figure of Yama, the Lord of Death, holds the wheel, symbolizing impermanence.

Central Imagery:
Pig (ignorance), Snake (hatred), Rooster (attachment), chasing each other, representing interconnected delusions.

Inner Circle: Illustrates karma—beings rising or falling due to their actions.

Middle Ring (Six Realms):
Gods (pleasure and eventual decline)
Demigods (conflict and jealousy)
Humans (ideal balance for spiritual practice)
Animals (ignorance)
Hungry Ghosts (constant craving)
Hell Beings (suffering, anger-driven)

Outer Ring (Twelve Links of Dependent Origination): Depicts the cycle of cause and effect, from ignorance to aging and death.

Figure Holding the Wheel:
Yama, Lord of Death, symbolizes impermanence.

Outside the Wheel:
A Buddha or Bodhisattva pointing toward liberation, illustrating freedom from Samsara through spiritual awakening.

Though samsara appears external, its true origin resides within the mind itself. Realizing this transforms suffering into the path toward enlightenment.

Meditation is not merely relaxation but a transformative practice that converts ordinary awareness into “pristine wisdom,” revealing our authentic self.

Ordinary vs. Pristine Awareness

• Ordinary awareness is our conditioned self-perception, a mental construct mistaken for reality.
• Pristine wisdom emerges through meditation, exposing previous perceptions as illusions.

Projection and the True Self

• The perceived self is a mental projection, not the fundamental reality.
• Recognizing this aligns with Buddhist teachings of “no-self” (anatta), highlighting the importance of transcending illusions.

Meditation strips away false perceptions to uncover our genuine essence.

Forms of Ignorance

• External ignorance: misunderstanding the outside world.
• Self-ignorance: lack of internal self-awareness.

Self-ignorance is more harmful, causing emotions like anger, jealousy, fear, and anxiety. True wisdom and emotional peace arise from deep self-reflection and understanding, not from external knowledge alone.

The Wind Horse (Lung Ta) in Tibetan Buddhist culture iconography is traditionally accompanied by four powerful animals, known as the “Four Dignities” or  “Four Protective Animals,” which are placed in each  
corner. These animals symbolize different qualities of  four elements our body:

• Earth
• Water
• Fire
• Wind  

Together with the wind horse, these animals create a  powerful symbolic representation of spiritual and  material protection, personal growth, and the ability to overcome obstacles. The wind horse carries a wish fulfilling jewel, representing enlightenment and  potential, while the surrounding animals provide  protection and support in one’s spiritual journey and  material development.