Publication
Imprint: Berkeley, California : She Writes Press, 2022. Edition: First edition. Responsibility: Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo. Physical: Text : 1 volume : xvi, 309 pages, [16] pages of plates : illustrations, 23 cm. Features: Includes appendix, glossary.
Call number
Biography / Rinch
ISBN
9781647420932
Original publication date
2022-08-23
Collections
CSS Library Notes
Description: What if you set out to travel the world and got sidetracked in a Himalayan sewing workshop? What if that sidetrack turned out to be your life’s path—your way home?
Part art book, part memoir, part spiritual travelogue, Threads of Awakening is a delightful and inspiring blend of adventure and introspection. Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo shares her experience as a California woman traveling to the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile in India to manage an economic development fund, only to wind up sewing pictures of Buddha instead. Through her remarkable journey, she discovered that a path is made by walking it—and that some of the best paths are made by walking off course.
For over 500 years, Tibetans have been creating sacred images from pieces of silk. Much rarer than paintings and sculptures, these stitched fabric thangkas are among Tibet’s finest artworks. Leslie studied this little-known textile art with two of its brightest living masters and let herself discover where curiosity and devotion can lead. In this book, she reveals the unique stitches of an ancient needlework tradition, introduces the Buddhist deities it depicts, and shares insights into the compassion, interdependence, and possibility they embody.
Table of Contents: Foreword / H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama
Introduction
Part one : fibers
Part two : threads
Part three : warp
Part four : weft
Part five : pieces
Part six : reverence
Part seven : Buddhas
FY2023 /
Part art book, part memoir, part spiritual travelogue, Threads of Awakening is a delightful and inspiring blend of adventure and introspection. Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo shares her experience as a California woman traveling to the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile in India to manage an economic development fund, only to wind up sewing pictures of Buddha instead. Through her remarkable journey, she discovered that a path is made by walking it—and that some of the best paths are made by walking off course.
For over 500 years, Tibetans have been creating sacred images from pieces of silk. Much rarer than paintings and sculptures, these stitched fabric thangkas are among Tibet’s finest artworks. Leslie studied this little-known textile art with two of its brightest living masters and let herself discover where curiosity and devotion can lead. In this book, she reveals the unique stitches of an ancient needlework tradition, introduces the Buddhist deities it depicts, and shares insights into the compassion, interdependence, and possibility they embody.
Table of Contents: Foreword / H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama
Introduction
Part one : fibers
Part two : threads
Part three : warp
Part four : weft
Part five : pieces
Part six : reverence
Part seven : Buddhas
FY2023 /
Physical description
xvi, 309 p.; 23 cm
Awards
Mind & Spirit Book Award (Finalist — 2023)
Description
What if you set out to travel the world and got sidetracked in a Himalayan sewing workshop? What if that sidetrack turned out to be your life's path-your way home? Part art book, part memoir, part spiritual travelogue, Threads of Awakening is a delightful and inspiring blend of adventure and introspection. Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo shares her experience as a California woman traveling to the seat of the Tibetan government-in-exile in India to manage an economic development fund, only to wind up sewing pictures of Buddha instead. Through her remarkable journey, she discovered that a path is made by walking it-and that some of the best paths are made by walking off course. For over 500 years, Tibetans have been creating sacred images from pieces of silk. Much rarer than paintings and sculptures, these stitched fabric thangkas are among Tibet's finest artworks. Leslie studied this little-known textile art with two of its brightest living masters and let herself discover where curiosity and devotion can lead. In this book, she reveals the unique stitches of an ancient needlework tradition, introduces the Buddhist deities it depicts, and shares insights into the compassion, interdependence, and possibility they embody.… (more)
Language
Original language
English
User reviews
LibraryThing member Scarlett_Rose
I wasn't sure which direction this book was going at first. There is a lot of back story leading up to what had attracted my interest in reading this book in the first place. I'm a fabric artist who has some indigenous Japanese ancestry in my multicultural heritage, so I was more focused on
The author did provide very detailed information on how she learned, explored and personally expresses this sacred textile art form. She clearly explains how she translated it to fit western culture so it could be taught to a worldwide audience. Having the Dalai Lama's permission certainly gave her legitimacy with her approach. I'm in the midst of a somewhat similar struggle and now I feel reassured that it is possible to achieve my own goal. So this book provided me with some inspiration in a very unexpected way.
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learning about the textile art aspect. I think I understand the deep autobiography part better now that I have finished the book.The author did provide very detailed information on how she learned, explored and personally expresses this sacred textile art form. She clearly explains how she translated it to fit western culture so it could be taught to a worldwide audience. Having the Dalai Lama's permission certainly gave her legitimacy with her approach. I'm in the midst of a somewhat similar struggle and now I feel reassured that it is possible to achieve my own goal. So this book provided me with some inspiration in a very unexpected way.
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LibraryThing member Crissouli
Threads of Awakening: An American Woman’s Journey into Tibet’s Sacred Textile Art.. is not just written, rather crafted by Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo..
This is not a book that you can settle down to read over a day or so. The detail in it is considerable, the author has crafted her memoirs
her ongoing study of this wonderful ‘textile language’.
The wonderful illustrations, especially of the appliqués and traditions, invite the reader into a world of patience, and attention to detail, while the respect of the religious practices that are the foundation of the thangkas, binds all. I loved the intricacies of the thangkas, especially the lotus flowers.
Many thanks to Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo for such a colourful and inspirational experience. Thanks also for admitting that she has enough fabric to last several lifetimes… I feel a lot better when looking at my stash now.
I can see myself revisiting this book time and time again..
This is not a book that you can settle down to read over a day or so. The detail in it is considerable, the author has crafted her memoirs
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beautifully, from her first impression and her desire to learn how to create “thanka” Tibetan textile art or tanka/thangka, toher ongoing study of this wonderful ‘textile language’.
The wonderful illustrations, especially of the appliqués and traditions, invite the reader into a world of patience, and attention to detail, while the respect of the religious practices that are the foundation of the thangkas, binds all. I loved the intricacies of the thangkas, especially the lotus flowers.
Many thanks to Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo for such a colourful and inspirational experience. Thanks also for admitting that she has enough fabric to last several lifetimes… I feel a lot better when looking at my stash now.
I can see myself revisiting this book time and time again..
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LibraryThing member Caesia
I have always been interested in textiles and needlework and developed a fascination in things Tibetan after reading The Skull Mantra by Eliot Pattison (and all subsequent books about Shan Tao Yun).
I was therefore excited to read see this book!
There is a short historical overview outlining how and
I found that there is a gentle balance between the autobiographical elements of Leslie’s story and information about Dharmsala, Buddhism and appliqué textiles, as well as quite a few photographs. I did gain an understanding clear of how and why Leslie ended up as a thangka appliqué apprentice. I would have liked to find out a bit more about why she left Dharmsala and the impact her time there had on her future decisions. She outlines what I think must be a couple of decades of her life after Dharmsala in what felt like two paragraphs. Similarly, there is a feeling that she only provides a broad brush outlining her spiritual journey and the spiritual aspects of her work after her initial time in Dharmsala.
Overall an enjoyable informative read even though I wanted to have learnt more about both the author and the people she worked with in Dharmsala.
I was therefore excited to read see this book!
There is a short historical overview outlining how and
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why the Dalai Llama and other Tibetans ended up in exile which does provide a good context for the book which outlines the author’s arrival in Dharmsala and how she began an apprenticeship in appliqué thangkas.I found that there is a gentle balance between the autobiographical elements of Leslie’s story and information about Dharmsala, Buddhism and appliqué textiles, as well as quite a few photographs. I did gain an understanding clear of how and why Leslie ended up as a thangka appliqué apprentice. I would have liked to find out a bit more about why she left Dharmsala and the impact her time there had on her future decisions. She outlines what I think must be a couple of decades of her life after Dharmsala in what felt like two paragraphs. Similarly, there is a feeling that she only provides a broad brush outlining her spiritual journey and the spiritual aspects of her work after her initial time in Dharmsala.
Overall an enjoyable informative read even though I wanted to have learnt more about both the author and the people she worked with in Dharmsala.
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LibraryThing member Sleader1992
I received a copy of this book for free through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program. This in no way impacted this review.
I picked up this book because of my interest in needle arts and wanting to learn more about traditional practices and arts from around the world, and I am so glad that I
The author seamlessly joins her story with the teachings, both in relation to Buddhism and just in life in general, that she learned during her life in India, and with the culture of Dharamsala.
This book is superbly written and has piqued my interest in learning more about Eastern history, Buddhism, and creative practices in different religions in general.
I would highly recommend this to anyone that is interested in Buddhism, textile/needle arts, Tibetan cultures, memoirs, or just very well written books to read this as it is simply phenominal.
I picked up this book because of my interest in needle arts and wanting to learn more about traditional practices and arts from around the world, and I am so glad that I
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did. The author seamlessly joins her story with the teachings, both in relation to Buddhism and just in life in general, that she learned during her life in India, and with the culture of Dharamsala.
This book is superbly written and has piqued my interest in learning more about Eastern history, Buddhism, and creative practices in different religions in general.
I would highly recommend this to anyone that is interested in Buddhism, textile/needle arts, Tibetan cultures, memoirs, or just very well written books to read this as it is simply phenominal.
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LibraryThing member Paul_Houson
This book is a wonderful introduction to the Tibetan tapestry--its' construction and meanings. The detail in the second half is a weaver's treasure of how to instructions. Even though this is not my area of art interest, I found the information fascinating nevertheless and it gave me a great
From a practical standpoint, I would skip the life story and go right to the artist portion.
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appreciation of this media. From a practical standpoint, I would skip the life story and go right to the artist portion.
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LibraryThing member AmyLarchuk
For me, the title and synopsis were misleading. I was expecting a mechanical study of the process of making Tibetan design textiles from fabric. Instead, Threads of Awakening: An American Woman’s Journey into Tibet’s Sacred Textile Art is a memoir of the author’s journey toward enlightenment,
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from the germ of possibility in middle school, to a more practical plan in business school, to a full-blown adventure as an adult and moving to Kashmir, an area where Tibetans could live outside of China’s martial takeover of Tibet. The forward of the book is written by the Dalai Lama himself. Show Less
LibraryThing member KarenLeBlanc
I am a fiber artist so I really enjoyed reading this ebook. Thank you!