Restore Shechen Frescos!
Exquisite frescos, painted under the attentive supervision of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, covered the walls of Shechen Monastery’s main temple in Nepal for decades. The 2015 earthquake badly damaged the temple, and the walls cracked and became unsafe. They have since been rebuilt, but sadly, none of the frescos could be saved.
The frescos were based on a text written by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo with additional figures added by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. They were the only existing murals to depict the great masters of different Tibetan Buddhist lineages. This inclusive and non-sectarian approach was distinctive to Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He personally gave instructions on every aspect of the frescos – postures of the lineage masters, the implements they held, their facial expressions, the way they looked, if they were thin or fat, and so on.
In the past four years the temple has been rebuilt and the main walls reinforced. The time has come to recreate the paintings. Fortunately we still have photographs of the original frescos and the master artist (Konchog Ladrepa) who painted them is still alive!
Shechen’s Tsering Art School graduates together with Konchog-la will undertake the delicate process of repainting the frescos in the Karma Gadri style, exactly as they were before.
“Building a temple or stupa, publishing Dharma texts, and painting thangkas or frescos are all ways of accumulating merit. We believe there is liberation through seeing, so just by seeing the paintings thousands will benefit and connect to the Dharma.”
~Rabjam Rinpoche, Abbot of Shechen Monastery
The frescos depict hundreds of teachers and deities. Any of them including the walls and panels can be co-sponsored . This is a unique opportunity, either as a group or an individual, to participate in restoring these precious paintings.
See below to choose the images and payment. A check mark indicates that there is at least one sponsor for this image. We encourage people to co-sponsor images in order to help us raise the funds needed to complete the fresco project. This means there may be more than one sponsor per image.
Large Central Figures $600 USD each
48” X 38” (122cm X 96.5cm)
Four Kings $600 USD each or $2000 USD set of four
Smaller Figures $300 USD each
22” X 18” (56cm X 46cm)
Deities $300 USD each
22” X 18” (56cm X 46cm)
Protectors $300 USD each
22” X 18” (56cm X 46cm)
North Wall $18,000 USD
20’9” X 52’11” (6.32m X 16.12m)
The North Wall depicts the central figures of Sachen Kunga Wangpo, Marpa, Jowa Atisha, Je Tsongkhapa, and Shechen Gyaltsab Rinpoche. Smaller figures include Milarepa, Saraha, Tilopa, Gampopa, Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye, 16th Karmapa Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, Birupa, Nagarjuna , Loter Wangpo, and Asanga.
East Wall $25,000 USD
20’9” X 62’10” (6.32m X 19.5m)
This wall has the most figures. Central figures include Shechen Gyaltsab Gyurme Namgyal (the teacher of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche), Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye, Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Gonpo Lhekden, and 2nd Rabjam Gyurme Kunzang Namgyal. Smaller figures include the 10th Trungpa Rinpoche, the 3rd Dodrup Chen Jigme Tenpei Nyima, Mipham, and Togden Shakya Shri.
Your gift ensures that these beautiful frescos will adorn the temple walls again, preserving the authentic tradition of the sacred art of Tibet and the history of the lineages.
Help us complete this project and fulfill the vast vision of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
Just imagine – by sponsoring even a section of the frescos, you can contribute to something that will bring good to so many beings.
~Rabjam Rinpoche
Donate in HK$ 港元
To make a a general donation toward the Frescos Restoration Project , please click this DONATE button. Please note that if you are donating toward a particular figure you sponsorship is NOT exclusive, as that price is kept low so that many people can participate. The actual cost of the whole fresco project is $125,000. As of June 1, we have raised $60,000.
More information about Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, the Shechen Monastery, Rabjam Rinpoche, and the frescos can be found HERE. Biographies of lineage teachers are available on TREASURY OF LIVES.
For further information about the frescos and other Shechen projects contact thankyou@shechen.org