SISI – Week 3: Sacred Art & Buddhist Artisanry

Tulku Migmar Tsering is a master of the Chokling New Treasures lineage of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in Nubri, Nepal in 1975 and began his training at an early age after having been recognized as a reincarnate lama. Tulku Migmar began his formal education in 1983 at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery in Kathmandu. Through the years, Tulku Migmar proved to be an outstanding practitioner, mastering all of the elaborate vajrayana rituals and sacred arts so essential to the Chokling New Treasures tradition. Tulku-la completed a 3-year retreat under the close guidance of his root guru, the renowned Dzogchen master, Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche. He has received extensive teachings and empowerments from Kyabje Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche, Kyabje Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche and Kyabgön Phakchok Rinpoche. He then went on to study for six years in the Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Shedra or Monastic College. There he excelled at the intricacies of Buddhist philosophy in the monastery’s advanced Buddhist studies program. Tulku-la has also been an integral part of humanitarian and cultural preservation activities within Nepal. Tulku Migmar has been a friend of Phakchok Rinpoche since childhood and they share a close dharma bond. Tulku-la continues to work hard to develop his English language skills so that he can share the dharma in a way that allows his audience to truly understand and gain experience. For the past five years, Tulku Migmar has been based in Singapore, where he has fulfilled multiple roles of lama, spiritual advisor, ritual specialist, counselor, organizer, cook, and center manager. In addition, he has traveled throughout Asia and North America teaching and inspiring students at many centers. Tulku-la is a keen observer and is quick to understand the difficulties faced by students from many nationalities and walks of life. Phakchok Rinpoche has appointed him the senior lama and supporting teacher for his sangha based upon his wonderful qualities as a lama and his strong capacity and desire to help others.

Urgyen Gyalpo is a traditionally trained Himalayan artist specializing in authentic Buddhist Thangka painting. From 1996 to 2006, he studied at the renowned Tsering Art School in Kathmandu, Nepal, under the mentorship of the esteemed master painter Venerable Konchog Ladrepa. He was trained in the Karma Gadri style—an Eastern Tibetan tradition known for its spacious landscapes and luminous, transparent hues.

In 2004, Urgyen participated in a UNESCO workshop on Thangka restoration and conservation in Nepal. He later contributed significant mural and fresco works at Shechen Monastery in Bodh Gaya, India, and Khawalung Monastery in Nepal, including depictions of the Life of the Buddha and the terma revelations of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

His work has taken him internationally, restoring sacred art and creating new commissions. While serving as a resident artist at Riwoche Temple in Toronto, he adorned the main prayer hall with intricate murals, patterns, and sacred symbols.

Currently, Urgyen continues his artistic practice, offering traditional Thangka painting, realistic art, line illustrations, graphic design, and custom logo work.

Hilary Herdman, PhD, studied and taught at Rangjung Yeshe Institute at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling monastery since 2000. Hilary was a founding member of the Dharmachakra Translation Committee. She completed an MA and later a Ph.D in Buddhist Studies at the University of Bristol, UK. Her thesis concerned the origins of pilgrimage and her research interests include pilgrimage, devotional and ritual practices, and their significance in the Buddhist tradition. She is a member of Samye Institute Manager team, serving as Content Manager. She humbly wishes to thank her teachers, Khyabje Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche and Phakchok Rinpoche for their tremendous compassion, wisdom and kindness. Hilary feels deep gratitude to all the excellent Buddhist teachers throughout the years, and the lamas, khenpos, and nuns associated with Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling monastery.