jackiehadel1

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PARO, BHUTAN ART: PEMA LINGPA

This mural is located at one end of the. Nemi Zam at Rinpung Dzong. This is Pema Lingpa (1450-1521), one of Bhutan’s most revered treasure revealers (tertons) and spiritual masters. He’s shown in the traditional style of a tertön with a beard, wearing lay clothing rather than monastic robes, and holding a treasure vessel. He is considered one of the five great treasure discoverers of Tibet and…

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PARO, BHUTAN ART: THE FOUNDER

This is one mural on the side at one end of the Nemi Zam at the Rinpung Dzong.This is Shakyamuni Buddha (also known as Gautama Buddha or the Historical Buddha). In Bhutanese Buddhism, Shakyamuni Buddha is revered as the founder of Buddhism who lived in the 5th-6th century BCE.The iconography is characteristic of Shakyamuni Buddha:The meditation posture (dhyana mudra) with hands folded in lapThe…

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PARO, BHUTAN ART: PADMASAMBHAVA

Beautiful murals on each end of the Nemi Zam (covered bridge) at Rinpung Dzong. Here’s the MAIN deity in Bhutanese Buddhism: Padmasambhava, known as Guru Rinpoche, is revered in Bhutan as the “Second Buddha.” His teachings brought Buddhism to the Himalayas, and his presence is felt in sacred sites across the country, embodying wisdom, compassion, and protection.Paro, Bhutan 🇧🇹18dec24

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PARO, BHUTAN ART: MAHAKALA

This is Mahakala, a wrathful protector deity in Bhutanese Buddhism, depicted with a dark blue-black face, three eyes, fangs, and crowned with five skull ornaments. 18dec24

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PARO, BHUTAN ART: KALACHAKRA MANDALA

This is the Kalachakra monogram (“The Wheel of Time” in Sanskrit), a sacred symbol in Bhutanese Buddhism that represents the unity of cyclic time, Buddhist teachings, and enlightened consciousness. The lotus throne it sits on symbolizes purity, while the crescent moon represents enlightened wisdom. 18dec24

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PARO, BHUTAN ART: THE MAKARA

This is a depiction of a Makara, a mythical sea creature in Bhutanese and Buddhist art. The Makara symbolizes protection and abundance, often serving as a guardian figure. It is believed to ward off negative energies and represents the primal forces of water and life’s fertility, connecting the physical and spiritual realms. 18dec24

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PARO, BHUTAN: RINPUNG DZONG  རིན་སྤུང་རྫོང་།

 རིན་སྤུང་རྫོང་ To stand before Rinzung Dzong is to feel yourself on the edge of comprehension, the edge of insignificance, as though the structure itself mocks your need for answers. It is not a place of explanation, but one of endurance—a monument to a world that will remain long after we are forgotten. This feeling overcame me even more so because I hadn’t done any research on it before…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN ART: SYMBOLS STACKED LIKE STORIES

Walking the streets of Thimphu, you look up and there they are—painted bright and alive, swirling on the walls like the pulse of the universe. The dragon at the top breathes fire and dreams, its body twisting electric green, its claws sharp as prophecy. Below, the Garuda spreads its wings wide, fierce-eyed and radiant, as if ready to snatch demons from the sky. The snow lion roars mid-leap,…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN ART: THE LEGACY OF DRUKPA KUNLEY

On a window of a hotel in downtown Thimphu. This is the legacy of Drukpa Kunley, the “Divine Madman.” A monk who drank, seduced, and blessed with his so-called “Flaming Thunderbolt of Wisdom.” A holy man who saw hypocrisy in piety and used the vulgar to expose it. He made sex sacred and foolishness wise. He made the phallus not just a symbol of fertility, but a middle finger to everything stiff…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN ART: AMITAYUS MURAL ON THE CEILING

This is Amitayus, the Buddha of Infinite Life, a key figure in Bhutanese and Vajrayana Buddhism. Amitayus is closely associated with Amitabha but is specifically revered as the embodiment of longevity, vitality, and the essence of life. He is often depicted with a serene red complexion and holding a vase filled with the nectar of immortality, symbolizing his role in granting a long life and…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN ART: AMITABHA ON THE CEILING

This is Amitabha, the Buddha of Infinite Light, an important figure in Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, including Bhutanese Buddhism. Amitabha is associated with the western Pure Land, known as Sukhavati, a realm of bliss where beings can be reborn and progress toward enlightenment. He is depicted here with red skin, a serene expression, and holding a begging bowl, signifying his role as a symbol…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN ART: GURU RINPOCHE MURAL ON THE CEILING

This is Guru Rinpoche, also known as Padmasambhava, a revered figure in Bhutanese Buddhism. He is considered a “Second Buddha” and credited with bringing Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan and Tibet in the 8th century. Guru Rinpoche is deeply venerated in Bhutan and plays a central role in its spiritual culture, with many temples and monasteries dedicated to him, including the famous Paro Taktsang…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN STREETART: WOW

7dec24

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN STREETART: DINNER

7dec24

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN STREETART: SNOOP DOGG AND BOB MARLEY

One love, he sings—not a dream, but a way of life, a revolution in every chord. Marley’s music winds through hearts and nations, carrying the promise of Zion just over the horizon. A prophet, a beat, a movement eternal—Bob, still swaying the world. Laid-back prophet of the West Coast, he walks a rhythm only he can hear, G-funk gospel humming in his veins. It’s the sound of palm trees swaying,…

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN STREETART: FRED FLINTSTONE and GARFIELD

7dec24

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THIMPHU, BHUTAN STREETART: BLESSINGS AT A CHORTEN

7dec24