Celestial Gallery [Hardcover]

Ian A. Baker (Author), Romio Shrestha (Illustrator), Robert A.F. Thurman (Afterword), Deepak Chopra (Foreword)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0935112596 | ISBN-13: 978-0935112597 | Publication Date: January 1, 2000 | Edition: 1st

Boldly reinterpreting the age-old Tibetan and Nepalese art form known as Thangka, Celestial Gallery offers beautifully detailed representations of mandalas, or celestial spheres. Simply gazing upon the mandalas is meant to inspire in the viewer a heightened state of intention and clarity. Master painter Romio Shrestha and his team of artisan monks have created postmodern versions of these enlightened Buddha realms from hand-ground malachite, lapis, marigolds, and other rare substances. Painted at times with a mere three hairs from the tail of a cat, these multifaceted scenes of otherworldly deities are rich with hauntingly powerful detail. Depictions of White Tara, Green Tara, the Medicine Buddha, and many other celestial beings invite and inspire meditation and reflection.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"As archetypal expressions of liberated vision, the paintings ultimately mirror our innermost potential:the possibility of total spiritual freedom, or enlightenment." -- Deepak Chopra --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

*A two-foot-tall collection of Tibetan mandala scroll paintings reproduced from works found in museums, galleries, and private collections worldwide. *Features 39 beautifully rendered full-color illustrations. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Callaway; 1st edition (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0935112596
• ISBN-13: 978-0935112597
• Product Dimensions: 26.8 x 17.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,195,532 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars full color mandala paintings; sacred energy for your home, November 30, 2000

By 

"monadi" (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celestial Gallery (Hardcover)

A large format (approx. 18 inches by 24 inches) book filled with the most beautifully painted mandala paintings of White Tara, Green Tara, Medicine Buddha, Healing Buddha, and many other powerful Tibetan Buddhist images, the impact of this book is simply overwhelming in its rich color and detail. The meaning and significance of each sacred figure is described with care, and any one of these full-page brilliantly reproduced color paintings would be perfect to frame and hang in your home or office (if you can possibly bear to cut this book up!).

Celestial Gallery is really the most beautiful book I have ever seen. Congratulations to Calloway Books for producing this ambitious book. Energy radiates from every powerful page.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Personal Favorite Priceless Book!, April 26, 2002

By 

Charles Wildbank (Westhampton Beach, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celestial Gallery (Hardcover)

Someone suggested I purchase this book, so I ordered it through Amazon.com but had never anticipated its magnificence! For one thing, it is HUGE and a work of art! I have had this for a year now and I still treasure it. One afternoon, I had a Buddhist monk as guest and remembered to show this intricately jeweled book to him. We had a wonderful hour together going over the illumined detail on these pages of mandalas. Who is this wonderful artist Romio Shrestha, we thought? The text especially written by Deepak Chopra for this large book throughoutits chapters in large print make for a nice tapestry of inspired thought-sharing and insight into the Wheel of Life and Man's dual nature. This is a real museum piece and well worth the price tag!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular!, February 25, 2001

By 

Brian Cole (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celestial Gallery (Hardcover)

Spectacular! A masterpiece of contemporary Buddhist Tantric Art. The detail of these images are incredible, I have seen nothing-comparable even among the traditional Tibetan paintings. Kudos to the artists and authors for a visual feast! I would trade all my coveted Buddhist paintings (Thankas) for just one contained in this volume.