Tashi Norbu

as a Monk /a Lhabri /An Artist /
A Founder of the MOCTA 

 

My name was given by Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche who was my master and is considered to be a Flying Monk. I am inspired by my master Rinpoche, when I paint the Sky Dancers or the Flying Monks and Nuns. These are my “Time Travelers” depicted on my paintings. I was ordinated as a Thangha Painter, by the previous reincarnation of Bokar Rinpoche. My intuition deeply inside me, was that one day later in the years I would become a monk engaging myself into the path taught by the Buddha, meditating and putting his words into practice. Being so familiar with this idea, since -as the eldest son of the family-, I had to accompany my two younger brothers at their age of 8, into monastic life in Monasteries of India”.

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Tashi’s life since his 4 years, until his 18, was spent in a Tibetan School in India, where he was ordained as a Buddhist practitioner been intensively taught Buddha’s doctrines and philosophy, besides Art classes. From his 19 to 21 years, he was studying at Monastic environments, working as a painter at HH 14th Dalai Lama’s private residence. He also painted along with other Tibetan Thangka Painters at the monastery of Tai Situ Rinpoche; until now he is dedicated to the painting of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Tashi recalls his mother’s family story that his grandpa, was going once a week into trans and into another dimension, in order to serve those beings who were lost in “Bardo” - He was always telling Tashi when he was a kid, “one day you will be a Lhabri (one who paints gods). 

 

Tashi’s monastic kind of life, ended at his 25 when he came to the West; where he became a contemporary Tibetan Artist. Although he blends the traditional with the modern, his paintings still teach enlightenment and the path to Buddhahood . They are filled with magical tales, colorful imagery, presenting valuable insight into the living quality of Tibetan Buddhism . Always fascinated to make recitations, being so creative at his “Tibetan Mantra Lounge” something which, according to tradition, is not allowed to be performed by a non monk. But Tashi did perform it, meditating along with his audience, viewers and Art lovers, finding in this way the calmness of their inner self. And he travels to the four continents, reciting Tibetan mantras along with his live painting performances.

Having tasted all aspects of life, Tashi is now conscious of his decision, to dedicate himself in the monkhood, being engaged in Buddhism yet transmitting to the world his artistic activities: painting Buddhas and Boddhisatvas, giving live painting performances, Mandala festivals, Tibetan Mantra Lounges, benefiting all sentient beings through the purpose of art as a communication means with the higher realms. Marking at the same time the unique ethnic cultural Tibetan art and confirming the dominant tropes of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, where the practice in Buddhism is part of Tibet’s cultural heritage and asset. 

 

Tashi has now become a Tibetan Buddhist Monk due to his strong belief that this is a unique way to walk on this path as an Artist, along with all he is willing to offer through his Art; in order to deepen people’s understanding and help them realize their merits and virtues. For, his paintings touch the mind, the soul, the consciousness. He talks about his depictions to the world and explains his Artworks with reference to the Buddha’s teachings and theories. Determined to live a life entirely devoted to the goal to help all sentient beings to overcome their sufferings that inherently exist inside them and cope with their general insecurity of all conditioned phenomena. 
 

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