About Lotsawa

Lotsawa is a Tibetan word used as a title to refer to the native Tibetan translators, such as Vairotsana, Rinchen Zangpo, Marpa Lotsawa, Tropu Lotsawa Jampa Pel and others, who worked alongside Indian scholars or panditas to translate Buddhist texts into Tibetan from Sanskrit, Classical Chinese and other Asian languages. It is thought to derive from Sanskrit locchāva, which is said to mean "bilingual" or "eyes of the world." The term is also used to refer to modern-day translators of Tibetan buddhist texts.
Buddhist Studies and Art

The RYI celebrates the next generation of scholars

16
May
2024
Buddhist Studies and Art

A Journey of Wisdom and Inspiration with Lama Jinpa in Kathmandu

8
May
2024

Products related to Lotsawa

Milarepa, wearing the distinctive white shawl (zen) of a Ngagpa

Honorific titles in Tibetan institutions and clergy

28
Jul
2022
Culture, Rinpoche, Vajrayāna
Buddhist monasticism is an important part of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, all the major and minor schools maintain large monastic institutions based on the Mulasarvastivada Vinaya (monastic rule) and many religious leaders come from the monastic community. There are also many religious leaders or teachers (called and Gurus) which are not celibate monastics and in some cases the lama is the leader of a spiritual community. Some lamas gain their title through being .
Read More

A brief introduction to Black Jambhala featuring Thangka and Statue collections

8
Sep
2021
Deities, Jambhala
, Black (: dzam bha la, nag po), a wealthy deity popularized in by Bari and the Kashmiri teacher Shakyashri . is known by in . Kuber is the . Originating in , he appeared from the river's and passed on the ability to generate to a monarch whose realm was experiencing severe financial troubles at the . He also helps the impoverished and those .
Read More
1st Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa Thangka Painting

1st Karmapa Lama – Dusum Kyenpa

2
Jul
2021
Dharma, Vajrayāna
Dusum Khyenpa is known as the 1st . Dusum Khyenpa is the founder of the (Kamtsang) branch of the Tradition. Dusum Khyenpa was born in Kham He served as Abbot of after and founded the . He is becoming the seat of the incarnate Karmapa . Dusum Khyenpa was the founder of the school and of its three main : Kampo Nenang Gon in 1164, Karma Gon .
Read More

The Vajrasattva Mantra Banner

26
May
2021
Mantras
HUM. The Vajrasattva represents primordial . We can clean our of , , and delusion by meditating on him. He carries a thunderbolt in his heart, which signifies his upaya, or talent in liberating via . Who is Vajrasattva? Vajrasattva is a significant figure in the of the Valley's . He is commonly invoked in the maala, which is the fundamental for all other  .
Read More
Black Mahakala Statue Real Gold and Thangka Color

All about Wisdom Protector – Mahakala

9
Apr
2021
Deities, Mantras, Vajrayāna
is a male deity. He is the protector deity known as a in , especially most traditions, in Tangmi and in Japanese Esoteric . Maha literally translates as great and Kala signifies or death, hence Mahakala means "beyond the time" or "Great Black One". Mahakala is a protector deity and specifically the primary Protector of and . In some cases, Mahakala can also be a meditational .
Read More

The power of all Buddhas – Vajrapani Krodha

11
Jan
2021
Art, Deities, Himalayan Art, Vajrapani, Vajrayāna
Krodha has five according to a lineage. Vajrapani Krodha is known as a wrathful meditational deity. Vajrapani Krodh is representing the power of all . The reverse of the of Krodha Vajrapani is decorated with a drawing of a to represent the of all ones. Each of the figures of human teachers and is mar marked with the three letters, ' ah hum', representing the  .
Read More

Interpreting Buddhist Protector Panjarnata Mahakala

4
Dec
2020
Art, Himalayan Art, Thangka
Panjarnata is the protector of the cycle of . The and of Panjarnata Mahakala are found in the 18th chapter of the Panjara Tantra which an exclusive 'explanatory tantra' to the Hevajra Tantra itself. Life of Panjarnata Mahakala In this section, we are going to learn about the life of Panjarnata Mahakala, after that, the short etymological description of the word  Panjarnata Mahakala itself. Panjarnata Mahakala is the main protector of the .
Read More

Lion’s Roar All-Seeing Lord – Simhanada Avalokiteshvara

7
Oct
2020
Art, Himalayan Art, Thangka
Simhanada is a form of connected with removing illness caused by nagas. Simhanada Avalokiteshavara belongs to the classification and arises from the Simahanada Tantra and the text of the Arya Avalokiteshvara . His primary activity is to remove sickness and disease especially illness caused by nagas. Jowo and Mal popularized the practice of Simhanada in the land of . Simhanada Avalokiteshvara is known as seng ge dra chen re zi in .
Read More
Sambhogakaya Buddha

Buddha of luminous Light – Sambhogakaya

20
Jul
2020
Art, Himalayan Art, Thangka
refers to the luminous form of clear light. The practitioner attains upon reaching the highest dimensions of practice. According to tradition, those skilled in , such as advanced and , as well as other highly realized Buddhists, may gain access to the Sambhogakaya and receive direct transmission of doctrine. Life of Sambhogakaya In this section, we are going to learn about the life of Sambhogakaya, after that, the short etymological description of .
Read More

Interpreting Indian Adept Avadhutipa – Maitripa

5
May
2020
Art, Himalayan Art, Thangka
Avadhutipa is also known as Maitripa who is an important figure both in and . It is through him that and ’s crucial on nature, the Uttara , became widely followed in . He also transmitted the esoteric aspect of buddha nature, embodied in the , which treat the topic of in great detail and provide a wide range of progressive, highly-refined . The life of the Indian .
Read More