My Digital Thangkas

Buddha Shakyamuni with Two Disciples

Buddha Shakyamuni with Two Disciples (1016 downloads) (14,2 MB)

Buddha Shakyamuni is the buddha from our time. Born as a prince named Siddhārtha Gautama, he chose to renounce his title and wealth and discover the true nature of samsara.

He is accompanied by his two main disciples: Shariputra on his right side and Moggallana on his left. Although both are often portrayed as fair-skinned, Moggallana is actually described as “having a dark complexion”.

Eight Medicine Buddhas Tower (FPMT)

Eight Medicine Buddhas Tower FPMT (1241 downloads) (18,4 MB)

This thangka of The Eight Medicine Buddhas is based on the description, given in the 2013 version of the Medicine Buddha sadhana by Ngawang Losang Tenpa Gyältsän, translated by Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche and prepared by Ven. Thubten Gyatso. Therefore it is usable in the visualization practice of said sadhana.

These are the Seven Medicine Buddhas with Buddha Shakyamuni as the eighth.

The names of the buddhas are (top/down):

Buddha Shakyamuni

Glorious King of Excellent Signs

King of Melodious Sound

Stainless Excellent Gold

Supreme Glory Free from Sorrow<

Melodious Ocean of Proclaimed Dharma

King of Clear Knowing

Medicine Buddha (Sangye Menla)

At the bottom there are six herbs used in Tibetan medicine, from left to right: cardamon, wolfberry, nutmeg, namgyal arura, medicinal ginger and eaglewood.

You can view the separate images of the buddhas on my Facebook gallery.

Eight Medicine Buddhas Tower (13th Dalai Lama)

Eight Medicine Buddhas Tower 13th Dalai Lama (381 downloads) (19,2 MB)

This thangka of The Eight Medicine Buddhas is based on the description, given by the 13th Dalai Lama to the Ganden Monastery in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia. The colours of the Medicine Buddhas and their mudras are different from the one from the FPMT (above).

Eight Medicine Buddhas field with Tibetan medicinal herbs

Eight Medicine Buddhas with Tibetan medicinal herbs (2368 downloads) (38,5 MB)

The Seven Medicine Buddhas with Buddha Shakyamuni as the eighth.

The Buddhas from top to bottom, left to right:

Buddha Shakyamuni

King of Clear Knowing

Melodious Ocean of Proclaimed Dharma

Supreme Glory Free from Sorrow

Stainless Excellent Gold

King of Melodious Sound

Glorious King of Excellent Signs

In the middle the Medicine Buddha (Sangye Menla in Tibetan) is depicted.

At the bottom there are six herbs used in Tibetan medicine, from left to right: cardamon, wolfberry, nutmeg, namgyal arura, medicinal ginger and eaglewood.

Eight Medicine Buddhas field with Longevity deities

Eight Medicine Buddhas with Long-life Deities (1064 downloads) (42,7 MB)

Same as the one above but at the bottom the three long-life deities are portrayed: Amitayus with at his right side White Tara and to his left Namgyalma (Ushnisha Vijaya in Sanskriet).

Medicine Buddha with Healing Dakinis

Medicine Buddha with Healing Dakinis (1072 downloads) (16,5 MB)

This image of the Medicine Buddha with Healing Dakinis was done, according to a visualization description from Healing Buddha – A practice for the prevention and healing of disease and The Prayer Liberating Shakya from disease – © 2001, 2008, Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Medicine Buddha on Throne

Medicine Buddha on throne (677 downloads) (6,9 MB)

By request: the Medicine Buddha on his throne.

Twenty-one Taras (Atisha tradition)

Twenty-one Taras (Atisha) (1231 downloads) (40,6 MB)

This thangka image can be used as a visualization aid during the Praise to the Twenty-one Taras. It is drawn according to the description of the great Buddhist master and scholar Atisha.

Twenty-one Taras -Overview Sheet

(Atisha tradition)

21 Taras – Overview Sheet (6072 downloads) (28,2 MB)

All the 21 Taras as separate images, for use in the sadhana. They are drawn and ordered according to the description of Atisha, so please check with your teacher before using them.

Green Tara

Green Tara Tushita (1914 downloads) (24,7 MB)

Green Tara is a bodhisattva associated with compassion and action. She is seen as the female aspect of Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara). It is told that she came into this world from one of his tears.

She actively protects against the Eight Fears, hence her wide open eyes as well as the posture of her legs, getting up to leave her lotus throne.

This particular thangka is dedicated to Centre de meditació Tushita, who gave me refuge when I needed it most. You can see the buildings of the centre in the hills.

The yellow flowers are local to the area; they are called Spanish broom (Spartium Junceum).

Her mantra is:

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA

Green Tara Solo version

Green Tara Solo (906 downloads) (11,5 MB)

This version of Green Tara is made for people who want to visualize the bodhisattva without being distracted by the landscape.

Manjushri

Manjushri (1182 downloads) (28,0 MB)

Manjushri is a bodhisattva associated with prajñā (transcendent wisdom). He belongs to the three protective bodhisattvas surrounding the Buddha. Manjushri manifests all the Buddha’s wisdom, Avalokiteśvara all the Buddha’s immense compassion, and Vajrapāni all the Buddha’s power.

The veera (lute) displayed is a reference to Manjushri’s consort Saraswati. She is often depicted playing one, while riding a swan, hence the swan’s head at the top of the lute.

White Tara

White Tara (1263 downloads) (11,7 MB)

White Tara, the female bodhisattva of compassion, long life, healing and serenity; also known as The Wish-fulfilling Wheel, or Cintachakra.

Her mantra is:

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE MAMA AYUR PUNYE JÑANA PUSHTIM KURU YE SVAHA

White Tara Gold on Red

White Tara Gold on Red (644 downloads) (24,8 MB)

This variation of White Tara is a digital translation of a Chinese style, where gold is painted on a dark red lacquer background. As it is customary, I have painted in the eyes and face. The lotus flower is painted using faded colours.

Vajrapani

Vajrapani with naginis (855 downloads) (21,2 MB)

Vajrapani is the protector and guide of Buddha Shakyamuni and symbolizes the Buddha’s power. Vajrapani is extensively represented in Buddhist iconography as one of the earliest three protective deities or bodhisattvas surrounding the Buddha. Each of them symbolizes one of the Buddha’s virtues: Manjushri manifests all the Buddha” wisdom, Avalokiteshvara manifests all the Buddha’s immense compassion, and Vajrapani protects the Buddha and manifests all the Buddha’s power as well as the power of all five tathagatas.

For the yogi, he is a means of accomplishing fierce determination and symbolizes unrelenting effectiveness in the conquest of negativity. He is called the Master of Unfathomable Mysteries who upholds truth even in adversities of darkness and ignorance.

He is also the protector of the Nagas. Since the Naga are believed to control the rainclouds, Vajrapani is looked upon as the Rain god, and it is to him the Mahayana Buddhists appeal when rain is needed or is too abundant.

His mantra is: OM VAJRAPANI HUM

Avalokiteshvara

Avalokiteshvara (1402 downloads) (15,3 MB)

Avalokiteshvara (Tibetan: Chenrezig) is the bodhisattva of compassion. His name means “The one with the unwavering eye”. His mantra is probably the most well known in the world: Om Mani Padme Hum.

Avalokiteshvara wears a deer skin, a reference to compassion. The story behind this is the following. It is said that a certain Tibetan deer is so compassionate, that it cannot stand violence and injustice. Hunters take advantage of its nature to lure the deer out. By staging a fight between two of them, the deer – filled with compassion – comes out of hiding to stop the fighting and then is shot by a third hunter.

In this image, compassion prevails: the hunter breaks his bow and befriends the deer. The two fighting men are off to a monastery, one becoming a Buddhist monk.

A complete thangka of this image was offered as a gift to HH the 14th Dalai Lama, during his visit to The Netherlands in 2014.

Avalokiteshvara with Lapis Lazuli Jewel

Avalokiteshvara – Lapis Lazuli (528 downloads) (19,2 MB)

This is a version of the Avalokiteshvara image above, adapted for a different visualization. The Jewel is made of lapis lazuli, Avalokiteshvara carries a pink lotus in his left first hand and a mala made of chrystal in his first right.

Prajnaparamita

Prajnaparamita (1070 downloads) (22,7 MB)

Prajnaparamita means “The Perfection of (Transcendent) Wisdom”, refering to the perfected way of seeing the nature of reality, as well as a collection of suttras.

This female bodhisattva with the same name is the personification of this fundamental element of the Bodhisattva path.

This image is part of the Mandala of the Medicine Buddha, a painting project I am working on for the next two years.

Prajnaparamita Line Drawing

Prajnaparamita Line Drawing (582 downloads) (16,6 MB)

Prajnaparamita image as a line drawing.

For the description see the full-colour version of Prajnaparamita.

Eight Auspicious Symbols

Eight Auspicious Symbols (1016 downloads) (13,7 MB)

The Eight Auspicious Symbols embody various Buddhist aspects:

Parasol – protects from all suffering caused by destructive emotions, illness, harm and other obstacles

Golden Fish – fearlessness, freedom and liberation, fertility and abundance

Treasure Vase – inexhaustible source of longevity, and fulfillment of all spiritual and material wishes

Lotus Blossom – symbolizes purity of mind and heart, transformation, compassion and all other perfect qualities

Conch Shell – symbolizes the far-reaching melodious sound of the spiritual teachings

Endless Knot – the symbol of interdependence, of how everything in the universe is interconnected

Victory Banner – symbol of victory over all disagreement, disharmony or obstacles, and the attainment of both temporary and ultimate happiness Dharma Wheel – symbolizing the teachings of Buddha.

Eight Auspicious Symbols Tower

Eight Auspicious Symbols Tower (610 downloads) (7,1 MB)

For an explanation of The Eight Auspicious Symbols see the version above.

Eight Auspicious Symbols Line Drawing

Eight Auspicious Symbols Line Drawing (530 downloads) (6,8 MB)

For an explanation of The Eight Auspicious Symbols see the version above.

Three Long-Life Deities – Namgyalma

Three Long-life Deities – Namgyalma, Amitayus and White Tara (1001 downloads) (15,8 MB)

Namgyalma (Ushnisha Vijaya) is one of The Three Long-life Deities, that are combined in this image; Amitayus sits to her right and White Tara to her left.

I have made two other images of these with each having a different centre figure: one with Amitayus in the middle and one with White Tara.

Three Long-Life Deities – Amitayus

Three Long-life Deities – Amitayus, White Tara an Namgyalma (871 downloads) (44,6 MB)

Amitayus is one of The Three Long-life Deities, that are combined in this image; White Tara sits to his right and Namgyalma (Ushnisha Vijaya) to his left.

Three Long-Life Deities – White Tara

Three Long-life Deities – White Tara, Amitayus and Namgyalma (739 downloads) (46,7 MB)

White Tara is one of The Three Long-life Deities, that are combined in this image; Amitayus sits to her right and Namgyalma (Ushnisha Vijaya) to her left.

Lama Tsongkhapa with disciples

Lama Tsongkhapa (3344 downloads) (38,3 MB)

Lama Tsongkhapa, author of the Lamrim Chenmo, with his two disciples Gyaltsab Je (the older) and Khedrub Je (the younger).

White Tara Mantra Garland

White Tara Mantra Garland (638 downloads) (4,6 MB)

The Mantra Garland of White Tara. Usually the mantra is painted in the same colour of the deity,so this is a study in white on white. The garland contains the short and long mantra, and the syllables of the Tibetan alphabet. It is surrounded by protective auras and vajras.

Her short mantra is OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SOHA

The long mantra is OM TARE TUTTARE MAMA AYUR PUNYA JNANA PUSTIM KURU SOHA

White Tara Mantra Garland Black&White

White Tara Mantra Garland Line Drawing (458 downloads) (4,1 MB)

See the explanation above underneath the coloured version.

Chenrezig Mantra Garland

Om Mani Padme Hum Mantra Garland (582 downloads) (3,5 MB)

The Mantra Garland of Chenrezig (Avalokiteshvara in Sanskriet). The garland contains the mantra that is probably most well-known in the world:

OM MANI PADME HUM

Chenrezig Mantra Garland Black&White

Om Mani Padme Hum Mantra Garland Line Drawing (686 downloads) (6,8 MB)

A black&white version of the mantra garland above.

Amitayus with mantra

Amitayus with mantra (707 downloads) (5,6 MB)

Amitayus, the sambhogakāya (enlightment) body of Amitabha.

The short mantra of Amitayus in the background reads:

OM AMARANI ZEWANTEYE SOHA

Amitabha

Amitabha (908 downloads) (7,6 MB)

Amitābha is known for his longevity attribute, the aggregate of discernment, pure perception and the deep awareness of emptiness of phenomena. According to the scriptures, Amitābha possesses infinite merits resulting from good deeds over countless past lives as a bodhisattva named Dharmakāra.

Amitābha means “Infinite Light”. Since his sambhogakāya (enlightment) body Amitāyus means “Infinite Life”, Amitābha is also called “The Buddha of Immeasurable Light and Life”.14