A unique Tibetan Calligraphy workshop in Como, Italy.

The Fondazione Antonio Ratti, FAR, in association with the Shang Shung Institute of Tibetan Studies, warmly hosts Tashi Mannox to lead a weekend calligraphy workshop on the art of Tibetan uchen script.

This workshop also premieres an exclusive pre-launch of his new book Tibetan Calligraphy – The Meditative practice of Uchen Script (Wisdom Publications). The book will be available for purchase and signing during the workshop.

At the same place and time is an exhibition of an extraordinary *Bardo series of artworks by Drugu Choegyal Rinpoché, offering a rich, all-encompassing introduction to the Tibetan Buddhist view of death and rebirth through figurative and scriptural references, see image below. 

The Bardo series exhibition officially opens at 6 pm on Friday 9th – all welcome.

The Tibetan calligraphy workshop runs from 9 am to 5:30 pm on Saturday 10th and from 9 am to 4 pm on Sunday 11th.

This course is suitable for beginners as well as those more practiced.

Participants should bring an A3 size pad of paper and writing implements: pencil, sharpener, eraser and ruler. Recommended pens: a selection of the reliable Pilot Parallel pen’s, nib sizes: 3.0, 3.8 and 4.5, ink cartridges included.

Participants are welcome to either bring their own lunch or purchase a lunch box that FAR would prepare for them.
FAR can also assist in finding accommodation (apartments or rooms) for the weekend if needed – at the participant’s own expense.

All enquires please email the organiser Martina: [email protected]

As explained –

The Buddha is teaching the Prajñāpāramitā at Vulture Peak in Ragjir, beside him are the lay person Avalokiteśvara and the monk Shariputra.

The monk and the layperson are debating emptiness and interdependence, emptiness and existence, and how the two exist together interdependently.

Instructions on how to meditate on emptiness are given, along with clarifications about the emptiness of the mind, the creating mind and the nature of mind. Realising this, the mind is liberated from fear of death.

Translation of the contents – 

The Buddha said that suchness is beyond description through words or speech. Its nature is like space, totally free from the dualistic mind and the intellect’s movements. This supreme and amazing teaching was given by him after attaining enlightenment. Considering the natural state of mind, indivisible and uncontrived, he said:

Consciousness is empty.

Emptiness is consciousness.

Emptiness is none other than consciousness.

Consciousness is none other than emptiness.

This renown Prajñāpāramitā quote is reproduced on the painting in blue Uchen calligraphy.

In the collected works of Zhechen Gyaltsab Pema Gyurme, (Vol. 9, p. 304) we find;

While resting composed, in the general manner meditate on emptiness like space. During post meditation, practice the two accumulations in union, embracing them with the sense of their being like an illusion. Thus, through the strength of the obscurations’ gradual elimination, the nature of mind will be seen as empty, in the equality of the absence of elaboration.

The Condensed Prajñaparamita Sutra says:

People say in words, “see the sky.”

Examine in what way the sky is seen.

The Tathagata taught that phenomena also are to be seen like that.

A different example of that seeing cannot be given.