Tseten Dorjee, Thangka Painter
Tseten Dorjee, also known as, Thinlay Gayatso was born in 1960 and had his early education at the Central School for Tibetans, Darjeeling, India. Tseten started the study of thangka painting early in his life from between 1974 to 1980 when he took private lessons from the late Venerable Ngawang Norbu (1903-1996). He continued on his study and practice from 1980 to 1986 at the Gyudmed Tantric Monastery, located in Mysore, South India.
As one of the leading thangka painters in the world today, he has been commissioned by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Royal Family of Sikkim and various major monasteries in India. Tseten has also traveled and painted thangkas outside of India in Bhutan, Nepal and Munich, Germany.
In accordance with the wish of his teacher, Tseten started teaching thangka painting in 1995. Over the years 11 students who have studied fourt to five years under him have graduated into accomplished thankga painters under his guidance. Currently, he is instructing six full time students. In addition Tseten has been a faculty member of Naropa University Study Abroad Program in Sikkim since the Fall of 2002. Naropa University Director of the Sikkim Program, Clarke D. Warren, states, “Being a scholar of Tibetan Buddhism I have been an avid connoisseur of thangka painting for many years and Tseten is amongst the finest I have seen anywhere, in its mastery of tradition, style and execution.”
Apart from being a master thangka painter, Tseten is a successful entrepreneur and co-owns with his wife and brother Amazing Tours, a full service travel agency organizing tours and treks throughout Sikkim.
Tseten is also the Founder and Director of a non-profit organization that provides medical care, education and clothing to poor children and funds medical care, clothing and living costs for poor families and needy elders.
HEAVEN of AMITABHA
5
4
3
