Date: 20 Feb to 1 Mar 2020
Time: Specific time will follow
Venue: Paramita International Buddhist Centre, No. 7 Kandy Road, Kadugannawa, Sri Lanka
An amazing 11 day course from 20 feb to 1 march, 2020, that includes a 4 day sightseeing tour to the famous Buddhist pilgrim sites.
Organized by The Buddhist Library in Singapore – Buddhist Library Members get a S$200 discount
Registration is now opened! (Note: registration ends Oct 31, 2019)
In this Buddhist Art Retreat you will learn to draw & paint a Buddha (subject to be announced) according to the tradition of Buddhist Thangka (scroll painting).
This painting retreat is extra special, because it includes a sightseeing tour where we will visit the most beautiful Buddhist sites in Sri Lanka, and look at the ancient artwork, Buddha paintings and murals. Our own buddha drawing & painting practice will make this an even deeper experience and offers a better understanding of Buddhist art.
Participants will be coming from all over the world, and this course offers a wonderful opportunity to combine it with a longer vacation in Sri Lanka or elsewhere in Asia.
You can either choose to draw and color the Buddha with colored pencils or paint your drawing and learn how to work with the special thangka (tibetan scroll) painting techniques. Drawing and painting experience is not necessary, enthusiasm is!
You can also use this retreat to complete the thangka drawings and paintings that you’ve previously made in a course with Carmen.
Paramita International Buddhist Centremeditation-centre-sri-lanka
The painting course will be held at the Paramita International Buddhist Centre, in central Sri Lanka, a beautiful place to stay. You will share a room with another thangka student. More information can be found here under the pink bars.
Sightseeing tour to the most famous Buddhist sites
The sightseeing tour will be after the painting retreat, where you will stay in 3-star hotels, in double rooms (a single room is possible for a supplement). The complete schedule of the retreat and the sightseeing tour can be found here under the pink bars. At the bottom of the page some pictures of the places we will be visiting.
SIGHTSEEING TOUR SCHEDULE
In the morning coach along with guide will come to pick you up from Paramita Meditation Centre.
Leave to Anuradhapura.
Lunch at a local restaurant
Anuradhapura – Commanding a rich Sri Lankan heritage, Anuradhapura – one of the greatest and oldest civilizations in the world starring 113 kings & spanning over 1300 years in its peak – avows of being the greatest city of ancient Sri Lanka following its reign as the first capital. The sapphire of its crown is certainly the Sri Maha Bodhi – the sacred Bo sapling extracted from the tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment – standing more than 2200 years in its pride. Stroll through the sacred trails of the venerated city to adore the legacy that interweaves Ruwanweliseya – the gigantic dagoba resting alongside the Basawakkulama Tank – shading the Samadhi Buddha Statue & Isurumuniya Rock Temple that empower the culture, heritage and supremacy of arguably the strongest kingdom in Sri Lankan history.
Dinner and Overnight Stay at Anuradhapura
Breakfast at Hotel
Transfer to Polonnaruwa via Aukana
Aukana Buddha Statue – Standing up to a solid 40 feet over Anuradhapura the Aukana Buddha Statue – a creation of king Datusena – happens to be one of the foremost cultural & religious attractions in Sri Lanka spearheading fantastic proof of carvings that date back to
the 5th century. The standing Buddha statue chiseled out of a granite cliff with magnificently carved pleats of a robe worn over the left shoulder truly proves not only a subtle talent of a local stone mason, but also a masterpiece of a king who is still venerated by locals.
Transfer to Polonnaruwa
Lunch at a local restaurant
Polonnaruwa – Rising with the decline of Anuradhapura, the city of Polonnaruwa – medieval capital & crown jewel of King Parakramabahu I – remains superior proof of ancient culture & heritage blended with religious beliefs. Walk across its scattered walls of the World Heritage Site – blessed by stupas, resting Buddha statues, irrigation canals and fantastically carved Hindu sculptures – while observing the relic house – Watadage – which boasts of beautiful stone carvings. Take a close glance and you will realize a subtle Hindu influence on architecture and statues found in