Tashi Norbu  in Hilversum , The Netherlands, gives tutorials on Tibetan Contemporary Art;

Depicting Buddha’s wisdom on canvases. 
Creating our own Buddhas, surrounded by Tibetan motives,
Mandalas, Angels and flying monks.
There was tibetan chanting ritual at the beginning of the session facilitated by Tashi and 
his Team, to invoke wellness, happiness and prosperity in  the whole environment and in the art works and to the participants of this beautiful Inspiring workshop. That we may learn and be inspired  of the buddha and bodhisatva nature in us.

I chose to draw a Pregnant bodhisatva with the Help of Tashi Norbu and His team.  The Pregnant Bodhisatva depicts on my recent experience, I was pregnant for 19 weeks and 5 days.  I had a Trisomy 18- edwards syndrome Pregnancy.  The baby's cells are affected with trisomy and most specially the  major organs of her body such as her brain and her heart ( Not to mention the rest of the organs) are heavily affected. The doctor told me and my husband, that babies who have trisomy 18 has a very low survival rate and if they survive they will be bound to machine that will help them keep alive and so much suffering from the child. When we found out, we were so devastated and dont know at first how to go from there after learning the diagnosis. It was not easy to be in the situation.  Then on Feb. 24, 2018 my beautiful Angele Lalitha Grace Tribaco Halleux was still born. She joined with the cosmos.  A lesson and experience of Letting go, Non Attachments, Unconditional and Genuine love. 
About my Trisomy pregnancy (Check my blog : http://www.chitantraflow.com/blog--articles/a-visitor-from-heavens)
 
In the drawing a pregnant Bodhisatva. flying monks and a meditating person in the astral world are depicted, Because we have that Bodhisatva and Buddha  in us pregnant with Infinite  possibilities, that is inherently loving, peaceful.

A visitor from Heavens

A Visitor from heavens, if only for a while A gift of love to be returned. We think of you and smile.
A Visitor from heavens, Accompanied by grace. Reminding of a better love and a better place. With Aching hearts and empty arms. We send you Angèle Lalitha Grace. It hurts so much to let you go, but we're so glad you came. We thank the divine for the short time was given, and now its time to say, we trust you to the Divine tender care. Held in the everlasting arms. With breaking Hearts and open hands, It hurts so much to let you go but we're so glad you came. You gave us a lot of joy even if it lasted so short. We want to spare you from suffering and pain. We are sending you to Angels, Fairies and Good Spirit of our Ancestors. You won't be alone. We will always remember your sweet, gentle energy and never forget your soul. Our hearts are joined together. 


"Everything is possible in the art work of Tashi Norbu. The modern thangkas and Buddhas of Tashi Norbu are often full of humor and very entertaining. Probably, more traditional ‘believers’ will not appreciate this artwork nor the modern icons that are part of it, because it’s not serious enough. The Dalai Lama as spiritual leader, however, often showed us that humor in Buddhism - in contrast to most other "religions"- is appreciated and is maybe even part of the Tibetan culture.
Tashi Norbu constantly seeks to explore the ways of western art that inspire him, in combination with Tibetan motifs and patterns. He tries to bring the energy of abstract expressionism in harmony with the meditative and reflective spirit of Buddhism." - www.tashinorbu.com

​Tashi Norbu is an independent -Tibetan born- contemporary artist with the Belgian citizenship and who lives and works in The Netherlands. He is educated as a traditional Tibetan thangka painter at the offices of the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India. He completed his art studies in the western world at the Saint Lucas Academy of Visual Arts in Ghent, Belgium.
In the mean time, Tashi Norbu, has developed into an all round and versatile contemporary artist. His art, however, still shows the fundamentals/basics of his background - Tibet and Buddhism - combined with strong influences from western art forms, western ideas and modern time's icons

The art of Tashi Norbu 
www.tashinorbu.com
Originally educated at the ‘court’ of the Dalai Lama as traditional thangka painter, the principles of thangka painting are still visible in the contemporary art of Tashi Norbu.
Tibetan thangkas - developed in 11th century in an oral culture - were used to teach and spread the Buddhist philosophy among the people and at the same time as an aid for meditation.
Thangkas visualized in an iconic way the story of Buddha and his enlightenment and stories about the gods. In modern times, probably a comic strip would be used to tell these stories.
Traveling lamas used these thangkas -which were most of the time scrolled paintings on cotton - to teach about Buddhism. When they arrived at a village, they unrolled a thangka and used it to illustrate their teachings.
Thangkas, Buddha paintings and -sculptures are following an exact grid of measurements and proportions to establish continuity and the correct transmission of figures. In original thangkas, the expression of the painter stayed invisible, because not the painter but the story needed to be in the center of the attention. That’s the reason that traditional thangkas are all anonymous.
In modern art however that is completely the opposite; the individual expression and signature of the artist is explicitly present and important, which can be seen on the art works of Tashi Norbu also.
Tashi Norbu tells in his contemporary paintings and collages the stories of Buddha and the Buddhist philosophy, but he also tells stories of modern life from a Buddhist point of view. His icons are modern icons in combination with traditional icons. Because he lives in Holland now, many Dutch icons are used in his paintings as well.
Many of his paintings and collages can be read as comic strips. The longer you look, the more you will discover: wooden shoes, tulips, windmills, traditional costumes, dolls, "Dear Kitty", cars, mobile phones, airplanes and laptops. Everything is possible in the art work of Tashi Norbu.
However, no matter how ‘wild’ the art work is, it is clear that it’s made by an artist who has learned the fundamentals of painting.
The modern thangkas and Buddhas of Tashi Norbu are often full of humor and very entertaining. Probably, more traditional ‘believers’ will not appreciate this artwork nor the modern icons that are part of it, because it’s not serious enough. The Dalai Lama as spiritual leader, however, often showed us that humor in Buddhism - in contrast to most other "religions"- is appreciated and is maybe even part of the Tibetan culture.
Tashi Norbu constantly seeks to explore the ways of western art that inspire him, in combination with Tibetan motifs and patterns. He tries to bring the energy of abstract expressionism in harmony with the meditative and reflective spirit of Buddhism.
Since 2007, Tashi Norbu lives in The Netherlands and has a studio in Wormer (9Pillars Contemporary Art Studio), close to Amsterdam. In 2008 he co-founded Tibet House Holland, an organization for Tibetan art and culture. In cooperation with the International Tibet Art Movement he organized in 2009 the Tibet Art Now exhibition in Amsterdam during the visit of the Dalai Lama. Tibet Art Now was an international art exhibition in which the Dalai Lama himself was also present in a subsection. The contemporary art works of Tashi Norbu formed the background at the Dalai Lama's lecture.

Thank you for the photos and Organizing this event by; dekoningin Team Hilversum
www.gebouwdekoningin.nl
There will be more workshops like this again happening in www.gebouwdekoningin.nl- Check for Updates

Its been exactly 1 month today Feb. 24 - March 24, 2018, That I gave birth to my first child and is a stillbirth of 19 weeks and 5 days. She was born with Full trisomy 18  and we lost her. 

When  I received the call from my midwife  on Jan. 26, 2018 , My world went upside down.  My Midwife informed me that my 12 week fetus has a high risk of Trisomy 18, according to my NIPT test ( Non Invasive Prenatal Screening Test). 

NIPT test ( Non Invasive Prenatal Screening Test). This screening test is recommended to pregnant women, specially to those who age 35 and above. 

Feb 6 , I had an amniocentesis prenatal diagnostic to verify the NIPT Test.  Amniocentesis, a process in which amniotic fluid is sampled using a hollow needle inserted into the uterus, to test diagnostically for abnormalities in the developing fetus. 48 hours after, Feb. 8 Doctors Confirmed that my fetus has full trisomy 18.  Me and my husband and family are devastated. Our Full of excitement turned into pain, fear and sadness. 

Trisomy 18- Trisomy 18, also known as Edwards syndrome, is a condition which is caused by a error in cell division, known as meiotic disjunction.  When this happens,  instead of the normal pair, an extra chromosome 18 results (a triple) in the developing baby and disrupts the normal pattern of development in significant ways that can be life-threatening, even before birth.  A Trisomy 18 error occurs in about 1 out of every 2500 pregnancies in the United States and 1 in 6000 live births.  The numbers of total births is much higher because it includes significant numbers of stillbirths that occur in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters of pregnancy.  Individuals with trisomy 18 often have slow growth before birth (intrauterine growth retardation) and a low birth weight. Affected individuals may have heart defects and abnormalities of other organs that develop before birth. Other features of trisomy 18 include a small, abnormally shaped head; a small jaw and mouth; and clenched fists with overlapping fingers due to the presence of several life-threatening medical problems, many individuals with trisomy 18 die before birth or within their first month. 5 to 10 % of children with this condition live past their first year. 

Sleepless nights thinking on what to do and so many other questions and thoughts. Pondering, feeling, connecting with the baby. Asking on what could be the best decision. 

​Thoughts, Mental impressions fleeting, Emotions changing, Tingling sensations, heart beats, then sound of breaths- Inhaling Exhaling..Felt nothing and yet everything. Subtleties of energy. Energy inside me, Two Polar opposites. Surrendering to the process of the here and now

In Awe of the birthing process. I did not know what to expect and I did not expect to give birth this soon. So I felt fear and after the whole process I felt magic and  a lot of emotion but most specially pain of separation and  part of me died. 

Right now, slowly healing and getting back my energy.  All is well. Trusting the journey.  Allowing it to be, accepting and embracing the process of the experience. And Transmuting my Fear and Suffering into joy and just by being. 

                               A visitor from Heavens

A Visitor from heavens, if only for a while A gift of love to be returned. We think of you and smile.
A Visitor from heavens, Accompanied by grace. Reminding of a better love and a better place. With Aching hearts and empty arms. We send you Angèle Lalitha Grace. It hurts so much to let you go, but we're so glad you came. We thank the divine for the short time was given, and now its time to say, we trust you to the Divine tender care. Held in the everlasting arms. With breaking Hearts and open hands, It hurts so much to let you go but we're so glad you came. You gave us a lot of joy even if it lasted so short. We want to spare you from suffering and pain. We are sending you to Angels, Fairies and Good Spirit of our Ancestors. You won't be alone. We will always remember your sweet, gentle energy and never forget your soul. Our hearts are joined together. 

                      Hello Good Bye! 

You and I have barely met
And I just dont want to let go of you yet.
Hello, Goodbye
I'll see you on the other side, Sweet child of mine. 
I'll see you on the other side.

And I hold your tiny hand in mine, for the hardest thing I've ever had to face.
Heaven calls for you before it calls me
When you get there save me a place.
A place where I can share your smile.
And I can hold you for more than just a while.

Hello goodbye, I'll see you on the other side. 

Om Namaha,

Giselle
​

Because we instinctively know that nature is good for us on many levels, it's not unusual to feel powerfully drawn to it.

In this modern age, we spend so much time indoors, focused on the busyness of our lives and disconnected from the earth. But much of what we truly need can only be found under the naked sky, alongside tall trees, on open plains, or in the sound of running water. Spending time in nature allows us to commune with other living beings and to find comfort in the nurturing embrace of Mother Earth. You can't help but experience a different sense of self while walking in a wood or traversing a mountainside. Being in nature connects us to the earth, grounding us as we walk, unhindered by concrete, upon her. Surrounded by other living beings, both bigger and smaller than we are, we remember that human beings are simply one form of life in this vast universe. 

Because we instinctively know that nature is good for us on many levels, it's not unusual to feel powerfully drawn to it. Even if you live in a city or find it difficult to travel to a forest or the countryside, there are a myriad ways to reconnect with nature. When you step out of your door each morning, pause for a minute and close your eyes long enough to let your senses absorb your surroundings. Listen and breathe deeply, until you hear the wind rustling through branches, smell rain on damp grass, and see the reflection of leaves brushing up against windowpanes. If you have time, crouch down and closely examine any nearby grass and soil. The sights, sounds, smells, and sensations we experience that are part of nature can remind us of all the gifts Mother Earth grants us each day. 

Spending time connecting with nature nourishes the soul, reminds you that you are never truly alone, and renews you by attuning you to the earth's natural rhythms. Taking a walk under the stars or feeling the wind on your face may be all it takes for you to reconnect with nature. Remember, you are as much a part of nature as are the leaves on a tree or water bubbling in a brook. ​

Getting Lost in Morocco was fun. Me and My Husband went to visit this beautiful country last March 2014 ( yes, I know!  This blog should be publish Years Back,Without further ado,  Now I have more time to make videos and bring my focus and some energy on my Writing Craft.  So Here I am writing. So Today, I decided to publish few Captured Moments of our travel in Morocco. Maybe I might get you inspired to visit this Awesome Country!

Visiting Morocco has been a dream of mine . I’ve always wanted to ride a camel, see the desert, explore maze-like medinas, and drink tea with Berbers. And Next thing I know It Manifest! Yes! Infinite Possibilities does exist! Just Believe in it.  As I stood overlooking the Sahara , marveling at the rhythmic, undulating dunes of the desert, I realized that my dream had come true. For 1 month, Me and My Husband visited 10 cities and towns - combined , Around Morocco. Morocco, a North African country bordering the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, is distinguished by its Berber, Arabian and European cultural influences. Marrakesh’s walled medina, a maze like medieval quarter, offers entertainment in its Djemaa el-Fna square and souks (marketplaces) selling traditional ceramics, jewelry and metal lanterns. The capital Rabat’s Kasbah of the Udayas is a 12th-century royal fort overlooking the water.

Morocco – “the Magreb” or “the West” – is an ancient kingdom that lies at a Magical crossroads of culture, language and history, from the azure waters of the Mediterranean coast, to the stunning peaks of the high Atlas Mountains, on to the breathtaking trackless ocean of ruby sand called the Sahara, Morocco boasts a majestic, and amazingly varied, geography.

This physical richness is perfectly complimented by a melding of culture and language :  Spanish, French, Moorish and Portuguese influences mingle with the indigenous Berber , Bedouin and Toureg nomads as well as peoples from deeper into equatorial Africa.  The Music, Dance, Spirituality, Art, Architecture, Cuisine and Language that makes you feel like you travelled back in time. Caravans carrying precious spices and jewels. Proud nomadic Berber tribes, fierce Toureg natives – the fabled “Blue Men” of the desert. Unrivaled hospitality. Staggering power and natural beauty of Morocco. Check My Video Below. Blissful Moments of getting lost in the right direction. 

The four agreements inspired by Don Miguel Ruiz. Is one of the good tool I use in my Life/ yoga Journey. I became aware of this good tool from an audio book shared by my brother to me year 2003, It gave me Inspiration and a very good reminder to the soul. Since then, I kept on reminding myself all the time. Yes there are times (couple of times) I fail on the agreements. but at least I always try my best everyday to remind myself and cultivate it. It is not easy and it takes discipline and taming the mind and spirit to be in align of this frequency. All through the years of practicing this agreements I have noticed a lot of changes in my life everytime I apply this agreement. I used to be all the time nervous and a little bit fearful In Life and with the help of this 4 agreements it makes me understand things, situations and people more easily from the heart space. It actually help open my heart and my mind more. I am continually learning and taming my monkey mind. I surrender to the process of transformation And change. An evolution from the heart space.
 
Thoughts on 4 agreements from Don Miguel Ruiz. 

1. Be impeccable with your words.

For me, impeccability with words means being kind to your Words and at the same time Honest to yourself and to others. Being kind with words should bring truth to your authentic self and to others. Speak from your heart with compassion. It should bring clarity, truth, and at the same time kindness and understanding. Which means, before you utter words you should consider if it is helpful, true and kind. where proper communication should be express in a compassionate, understanding way, and most importantly it comes from the heart space. It should benefits both the communicator and receiver in an understanding and compassionate way. 

2. Always do your best. 

Always do your best all day everyday in every aspect in your life. Even if no one appreciate or see the good things you have done for the people, still do your best. I believe that doing your best everyday whether in your job, relationships and In Daily challenges in life will bring real contentment in life and it builds discipline to your mind, body and soul. So I keep doing my best everyday. It may not be perfect and that is fine at least I do my best even if no one recognize the effort.

3. Don't make assumption. 

Don't make assumptions. It is easy to assume coz it does not take any effort to do so, just to feed the mind with quick answers so most people assumes. But the trap is it clouds you from the truth. Always do your best to not assume. For example, we always have this first impressions with everyone we meet and sometimes we even hear feeds backs from one person. And most people judge easily and most of the time they judge base on their projections from themselves. It is always better, to give the person a benefit of the doubt. Don't close your heart right away basing on other persons perception, experience it yourself. It does not mean to act like naive but reserve some open heart and open mind. If we always assume on things, situation and people we can't go that deep down the rabbit hole coz you are being to safe and clinging on to your safety bubble just to be safe on what your mind dictates you. Listen to your heart. The heart does not trick you the mind can trick you. So follow your heart and observe from the heart space. Be an ultimate observer with understanding and compassion. Assumptions is one of the root cause of conflicts. So always do your best not to assume, find out the truth yourself. 

4. Don't take anything personally.

Not taking things personally is the hardest one. Whether good things and bad things happens don't take it personally. Because taking things personally can lead you to self destruction. Always take things as they are with no attachments. Do not label your experience or situations. 

Yoga is a comprehensive holistic approach to health, happiness, and wellbeing. Rather than just addressing the physical body, yoga ascertains that there are indeed five bodies, five layers of self or being, that must be addressed for overall healing to take place.

koshas, meaning “sheaths” or “layers,”. Starting from the outermost layer and moving through the layers to the core of the self, each body is made up of increasingly subtler degrees of energy: from the physical body, to the energetic body, to the mental body, to the wisdom body, and finally, to the bliss body. These layers are interwoven, interrelated, and interactive—what happens on one level affects all layers of the body.

Therefore, we cannot neglect the more subtle aspects of our beings. If complete happiness and total wellbeing is what we are after, we must pay attention to and care for all layers of our beings.The Five Koshas

As we begin to explore the koshas below, you’ll notice that they map out an inward journey, from the periphery of the body and arriving at the very essence of who you are.

1. Physical Body

We begin at the outermost layer, the physical body (organs, bones, muscle tissue, and skin), known as the annamaya kosha in yoga. Anna means “food” or “physical matter” and maya means “made of.” We are the most familiar with our annamaya kosha—the experience of our physical body in yoga.

2. Energy Body

Sheathed by the physical layer, the energetic body is called the pranamaya kosha and is composed of the body’s subtle life-force energy prana, also known as chi in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

The animating force behind every atom, cell, organ, and body system, prana coordinates every physiological activity, from the pumping of the heart to the elimination of waste.

Imbalances or blocks within this energetic body greatly affect the overall function of the physical body. What’s more, the body’s subtle energy greatly influences the state of the mind, which is the next layer of self. Prana is closely related to the breath—you receive prana upon the air you breathe.

When breath is shallow and sporadic, your prana is also erratic. Unstable pranic energy causes the mind to become agitated and the body’s various systems irregular. Smooth out the breath, and prana becomes more stable, the mind gets calmer, and all the body’s living systems function more optimally.

If you’re interested in working with your vital energy, yogic breathing practices known as pranayama exercises, increase and regulate prana in the body.

3. Mental Body

The third layer corresponds to your mind, emotions, and nervous system—expressed as streams of thoughts, feelings, and sensations, and is known as the manomaya kosha, from manas, which means “mind” or “thought processes.”

Many of us have an overactive manomaya kosha that wears on our nervous system and plays out through our emotions. Yoga helps calm our minds and soothe our nervous systems, allowing you to recover from the effects of stress and fatigue on your third body.

Your mental body is also where we experience the five senses. It’s the sheath that allows us to receive, absorb, and process input from the world around us, governing our automatic responses and reflexes. When you go on autopilot and zone out, you’re operating from your manomaya kosha.

4. Wisdom Body

You begin working with the first three bodies as soon as you start practicing yoga.

Coordinating your breath with your movement brings you present on your mat—synchronizing your physical, energetic, and mental bodies. However, the next layer, your wisdom body, takes a little more internal awareness that is cultivated over time.

Beneath the constant stream of thoughts, feelings, and sensations (the processing, thinking, and reactive mind), lies an inner knowing and higher intelligence in your wisdom body, which is called the vijnanamaya kosha, from vijnana, or “intellect.”

Your intuition, conscience, and the reflective aspects of your consciousness are all part of your wisdom body. Here, we develop our awareness and deeper insight into the nature of who we are and how we relate to the world around us.

The practice of yoga helps quiet the mental body so that our wisdom body can be heard and begin to guide us. One simple way to start working with your vijnanamaya kosha is to simply pay attention to any sensations or pulsations taking place internally throughout your practice.

For example, after a Bridge Pose or backbend, once you’re back down on your mat, close your eyes, feel the sensations taking place on the inside, and become aware of your heartbeat.

5. Bliss Body

The deepest layer of our being is the core of our existence, known as the anandamaya kosha, from ananda, which means “bliss.” Often referred to as your highest self or spirit, your bliss body is where you experience the unbounded freedom, expanse, and joyousness of your true nature.

Connection with this kosha is like coming home. There’s a sense of peace and connectedness during which time ceases to exist and your consciousness expands beyond the limits of your body.

While most people aren’t even aware of this aspect of their being, chances are you’ve experienced glimpses of your anandamaya kosha throughout your life.

Holding your newborn child or looking into your lover’s eyes, you may have dropped from conscious awareness and into your radiant bliss body. You might have also touched upon it while losing yourself in a painting, poem, film, story, or song, or perhaps while giving a speech or performance.

I dip in and out of my bliss body when I’m teaching yoga. Without having to involve my thinking mind, wisdom, directions, and insights pour out of me and fifteen minutes can go by in the blink of an eye.

Integrating the Five Bodies

All five layers of self are interconnected and dependent on one another. If the body is tense, the breath is shallow, the mind is irritated, and wisdom and joy are absent.

If there’s disconnect from spirit, indicating a weak bliss body, there’s disharmony on all layers. On the other hand, when you’re perfectly in tune with your bliss body, joy and peace permeate all aspects of who you are.

The practice and philosophical application of yoga into our everyday life help bring all the koshas—body, breath, mind, wisdom, and spirit—into harmony, promoting overall health and bringing you closer to self-realization and an absolute fullness of being.  
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Information about Koshas: Books and article Research Gathered