guru

The word Guru in an ornamented Tibetan Umed script style sits handsomely on a ground of gold leaf, above which is a sun and moon motif, which symbolises wisdom and compassion – the essential balanced qualities of Guru Padmasambhava.

Especially mounted with a decoratively topped shape, typical of a shrine or a traditional Bhutanese window surround.

Thus being the fifth syllable of Padmasambhava’s eight-syllable Benza Guru mantra, in a series of eight individual art piece, each based on the individual syllables of His mantra:

oṃ āḥ hūṃ vajra guru padma siddhi hūṃ༔.

Especially created for a solo exhibition with Amankora in Thimphu and Paro, Bhutan.

The theme for the exhibition is based on Bhutan’s patron Saint Padmasambhava. Both Bhutanese and Tibetans widely consider Padmasambhava, or known as Guru Rinpoche, to be the second Buddha.