Art Workshop

Nalanda has a well equipped art-workshop in which statues, stupas and tsa-tsas (plaster-cast images) are produced, painted and gilded.

We do not supply them for commercial use e.g. making statues to sell; but we are happy to provide them for a price that covers materials and postage only. Nalanda monks also fill statues with blessed substances and mantras for all practicioners.

We are happy to assist guests doing their preliminary practice of making tsa-tsas.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche: "The existence of Buddha’s teachings for a long time depends on the existence of the holy objects of Buddha. To have the scriptural understanding and realisations of the teachings is not easy. For these, you need to have a lot of merit. The most powerful merit that one can accumulate, and accumulate so easily, in is relation to holy objects. By making statues of Buddha and making offerings to statues of Buddha, one accumulates infinite, inconceivable merit that immediately becomes the cause for enlightenment."

We are well known for our high quality tsa-tsa molds. These are provided so that practitioners can create merit and fulfill commitments given to them by their teachers.

Over the years we have gained a great deal of experience in making tsa-tsas, and so are able to give advice ranging from “first-timer” instructions, to the best material to use for the finest detail.

There are well equipped working areas, as well as a custom built house for their long-term storage.

Former projects include the 1000 Buddhas which are all placed in the altar of the new gompa. It took five years to complete, and they were all blessed by Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tenzin during his visit to Nalanda in October 2008. Future projects include large statues of Maitreya and Lama Tsongkhapa for the main gompa.

Another project of our workshop is the large Tara statue made by Bertrand Cayla which has now been shipped to Spain for casting. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said that this Tara will be famous in the years to come. See their website www.taraprojects.org

Please contact us if you are interested to know more about working in the workshop or would like to make a donation.