Serenity
Enshrined: Tibetan Master Artist
TINLEY CHOJOR
by Ross Rice
When I asked Tinley if he would try to return to his homeland,
he shook his head. He seems to have found peace in the community
of KTD, who genuinely revere and appreciate him, and has some
good doctors nearby to keep an eye on him. He chuckles, and
says he’ll stay put and “enjoy being a ‘Woodstock
artist,’” visit his daughter in California occasionally,
and maintain the visual needs of KTD. Despite the immense
difficulties of his long and fruitful life, he sustains the
serenity of a true master, with his infectious smile, beige
cap and paint-spattered pants. After saying goodbye, I can’t
help but feel incredibly blessed to have met this amazing
and unique individual as I descend back into the world of
samsara in my dingy Neon. It’s a beautiful day in the
Catskills of New York. I really hope he liked the cookies.
Tinley’s life is far too rich and complex a story
to properly express in this miniaturized magazine format.
Fortunately, a book about him will soon be coming out: Opening
the Eye Of the Buddha: The Life and Work of Tinley Chojor,
Master of Tibetan Architectural Painting and Decorative Arts,
by Louise Light and Claire Pullinger. Guests are welcome to
visit Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, please call ahead at 845.679.5906,
or the website at www.kagyu.org for appropriate times. (A
small donation is greatly appreciated.) For more about the
flight of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, please see Martin Scorsese’s
movie Kundun.
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