The true sramana (monk-sage) abandons all attachment to the things of the world, and abandons all harm and injury to others. Incomparable Lama. May it be that you Prajna Guru and I Girtshair Rinio Woser Bhadra are never parted. I will act always in accord with your words and precepts.
Title:Buddhist Ritual Instruction Card (Tsakali)
Artist:Artist Unknown
Date:13th century
Creation Place:Asia, Tibet
Credit Line:Gift of Ruth and Bruce Dayton
Accession Number:2000.209.8.1
Artist:Artist Unknown
Date:13th century
Creation Place:Asia, Tibet
Credit Line:Gift of Ruth and Bruce Dayton
Accession Number:2000.209.8.1
These rare miniature paintings served as a type of personal meditation card used in Buddhist rituals. Called tsakali, they were created for the Taklung monastic lineage and each of them has a lengthy inscription on the back that includes three elements; 1.) the syllables "om," "ah," and "hum," 2.) a mantra written in Sanskrit, and 3.) prayers and comments in the Tibetan language. The images depicted include a lama seated in the meditation posture on a gold ground; a lama seated cross-legged in the teaching gesture on a red ground; the Medicine Buddha, Suvarna Bhadra Vimala Ratna Prabhasa holding a black alms bowl; and the goddess Shri Devi seated on a red pony. Typical of the several inscriptions are: