Material: Iron. Pendant. Amrita Pill. Tsa-tsa Buddha Statue (Four-armed Avalokitesvara)

Size: 4 X 2.5 cm

Description:

Khenpo Garbo Rinpoche was one of the two personal attendants of the second generation of the Dhondup Dharma King. He had met many of the greatest spiritual teachers of the time with the Dhondup Dharma King and had been able to obtain many sacred treasures. Khenpo Garbo Rinpoche built a giant Guru Rinpoche Buddha in Bhutan (which was built in accordance with the instructions of the dakini). In order to complete the construction of this special Guru Rinpoche statue as soon as possible, and to benefit all Buddhas and eliminate all obstacles, he made this special Buddhist instrument.

Tsa-tsa (Tibetan: ཚ་ཚ་, tsha tsha) is a small molded clay sculpture in Tibetan Buddhism, usually a relief or round sculpture of a Buddha statue, pagoda or sutra. It originated from ancient India and means "copy". Its symbolic meaning in Tibetan Buddhism includes:

Accumulating merit and praying for blessings and eliminating disasters: Making and offering tsa-tsa is regarded as a way of accumulating good karma. Believers believe that by making, offering or carrying tsa-tsa, they can pray for peace, eliminate disasters and misfortunes, or liberate the souls of the dead. Tsa-tsa is often placed in pagodas as a treasure, or piled in holy places such as mani piles, temples, and practice caves, symbolizing piety and offerings to Buddhism.

A carrier for the spread of Buddhism: Tsa-tsa is an important medium for the spread of Tibetan Buddhist art and doctrines because of its small size, ease of making and carrying. Whether it is a Buddha statue, bodhisattva, guru image, or mantras such as the six-syllable mantra, tsa-tsa can condense and present complex religious connotations in the form of miniature sculptures, making it convenient for believers to visualize and praise at any time.

Spiritual sustenance and worship of sacred objects: Tsa-tsa is often regarded as a sacred object with spirituality, especially Tsa-tsa with ashes of eminent monks, Tibetan medicine or treasure powder (such as "medicine tsa" or "good karma mud"), which is believed to have special blessing power. Believers put it in a gawu (protective box) and wear it with them, or offer it in holy places, symbolizing the connection with Buddhism and divine protection.

Background of Lhuntse in Bhutan: Lhuntse in eastern Bhutan is an important area of ​​Tibetan Buddhism, and is a region with a deep influence of the Kagyu and Nyingma sects in Bhutan. The tsa tsa made locally may reflect Bhutan's unique religious art style and incorporate local cultural characteristics, such as the reverence for Guru Padmasambhava or Tsongkhapa. As a senior monk, Khenpo Gebo Rinpoche's tsa tsa may have special religious significance, such as being used in specific rituals (such as the Gelugpa's guru yoga) or as an object of visualization for believers to practice.

How to make tsa-tsa

The production process of tsa-tsa follows strict rituals and traditional techniques in Tibetan Buddhism. The following is a typical production process:

Mold making:

Making the mother: First, the art monk ("Lasuowa" in Tibetan) or professional craftsmen carve the "mother", which is the prototype exactly the same as the tsa-tsa pattern, usually made of copper, iron, pottery or wood. The mother must comply with the classic specifications such as the "Buddha's Sutra on the Measurement of Statue" to ensure the accuracy of the proportions and details of the Buddha statue.

Mold casting: Based on the mother, sand or press out a concave mold ("Tashgong" in Tibetan). Single-sided molds are used for relief tsa-tsa, double-sided molds are used for round tsa-tsa, and complex large tsa-tsa may require multiple molds for multiple pressings.

Clay preparation:

The main material of tsa-tsa is local soil. Ordinary tsa-tsa uses general clay, while exquisite tsa-tsa uses Aga soil (a kind of fine clay) or mixes in incense ash, paper pulp, Tibetan medicine, and even ashes of eminent monks, treasure powder, etc. to enhance its religious significance.

The clay material needs to be screened and stirred to ensure that the texture is uniform and soft, which is convenient for pressing and molding.

Pressing and molding:

Fill the soft clay into the mold and press it into a clay embryo to ensure that the pattern is clear. After pressing, tap the mold to demold the clay embryo.

The clay embryo after demolding needs to be air-dried or air-dried, and some tsa-tsa will be roasted to increase durability.

Post-processing:

Tsa-tsa can keep the original appearance of the plain clay, or it can be painted (monochrome or heavy color), coated with gold powder (mud gold tsa-tsa), or painted and gold powder at the same time to add a sense of magnificence.

The finished tsa-tsa needs to be blessed by a monk or master before it can become a spiritual religious holy object. The consecration ceremony usually includes chanting, blessing and sprinkling, so that the tsa-tsa has religious functions.

Possible characteristics of Khenpo Gebo Rinpoche:

As a Rinpoche (meaning "treasure", usually referring to a reincarnated monk, a learned person or an accomplished practitioner), the tsa tsa made by Khenpo Gebo Rinpoche may follow the rituals of the Gelug or Nyingma schools, emphasizing specific images (such as Tsongkhapa, Manjusri) or mantras (such as the six-syllable mantra).

If his tsa tsa is used for a specific ceremony or practice (such as the yoga picture of the Tushita Guru), it may incorporate detailed artistic designs and show the craftsmanship characteristics of the Longtse region of Bhutan, such as delicate carvings or unique use of colors.

Summary

In Tibetan Buddhism, tsa tsa is not only a work of art, but also a sacred object for accumulating merit, spreading doctrines and placing faith. The tsa tsa made by Khenpo Gebo Rinpoche in Longtse, Bhutan, carries the profound religious connotations of Tibetan Buddhism and may be used in specific rituals or as a medium for believers to practice. Its production method follows traditional craftsmanship, combined with local materials and rituals, reflecting the unique style of Tibetan Buddhism in Bhutan.