Lama Choepa Merit Field thangka

We approach the final project in fulfilling LAMA ZOPA RINPOCHE’S VAST VISION FOR TUSHITA’S GOMPA.

After the extensive work done on the Gompa Painting Project, the completion of the Lama Tsong Khapa disciple statues and the commission of two further statues of Lama Atisha and Guru Rinpoche, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has advised us to have a large Lama Choepa Merit Field thangka made. It will be hung behind our Lama Tsong Khapa statue, above the cabinets containing the kangyur and tengyur (Tibetan Buddhist canonical scriptures) on the main altar.

A thangka is an object of Tibetan Buddhist art, painted on fabric and hung surrounded by a brocade frame. The Lama Choepa Merit Field is the visualized or actual holy beings in relation to whom one accumulates merit by going for refuge, making offerings and so forth and to whom one prays or makes requests for special purposes.

The thangka dimensions will be 15 ft wide x 12.7 ft high (4.6 x 3.8 metres). The original image that Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommended that we base our design on is pictured above left. The dimensions of this image are quite different from the space in our Gompa however, so our thangka will be shorter but wider. We have put together a representation of how the thangka will fit into the space when installed, above right.

This thangka is composed of 409 individual deities and will be custom-made by the talented painters who worked on our Gompa, using the finest materials and pure gold paint.

 A Big Thank You from Tushita to all the Kind Beings who are making this possible!