Thangkas: Art and Empowerment

According to the 2021 census, approximately 650,000 people with disabilities live in Nepal. This represents about 2.2 percent of the population. The situation is particularly difficult for
people with spinal cord injuries resulting from falls, traffic accidents, or spinal injuries caused by natural disasters—particularly earthquakes, landslides, rockfalls, or flooding.

In remote mountain villages, these people have virtually no access to healthcare, mobility, education, or even vocational training. Wheelchairs are virtually unusable on mountain trails. As a result, these people are confined to their homes for the rest of their lives and they require round-the-clock care from their families, which is virtually impossible for their relatives to provide, especially within the cramped living conditions in underserved areas. The local project partner, the B.I.A. Institute (B.I.A.: Bodhisattvas In Action) in Kathmandu, has dedicated itself for many years to helping these people who have been so severely afflicted by fate. The institute brings people with disabilities from the most remote mountain villages to Kathmandu, provides them with wheelchairs and medical care in a barrier-free environment, and provides an education tailored to the needs of people with disabilities. The B.I.A. Institute offers training in nine traditional Nepalese arts and crafts. Training, lodging, meals, and training materials are provided free of charge. And after completing their training, these individuals have a real chance for a fulfilling professional life, social integration, and participation in the
cultural heritage of their homeland.

One of these training programs is Thangka painting. A Thangka is a traditional Tibetan Buddhist scroll painting, painted or embroidered on cotton or silk. It serves as an important aid for meditation and the visualization of complex spiritual concepts. Originally developed for nomads in the Himalayas, the paintings are easily to roll up and serve as portable shrines. They are used in monasteries, on household altars, or during ceremonies. In Nepal—and increasingly internationally as well—there is a growing demand from practitioners, enthusiasts, and collectors. Barriers to market entry are high due
to the intensive training, the high level of detail, and the necessary artisanal skills. Although people with paraplegia are physically disabled, they can contribute many qualities that are
prerequisites for this art: patience, concentration, dedication, attention to detail, precision, perseverance, and a commitment to craftsmanship and artistic development. Training to
become a Thangka Painter at the B.I.A. lasts six years, is conducted by experienced masters and involves a daily, step-by-step learning process covering painting techniques, iconography,
sketching, composition, paint preparation, and the application of gold elements. The goal is for students to be able to earn a living as independent thangka painters or teachers.
The Dr. Birk Foundation, together with its German partner, the Chogyal Rinpoche Association, enables 7 Thangka Painters to complete the full 6-year training program.