Embodied Wisdom: Himalayan Art Across Space and Time
We are excited to present our upcoming symposium, Embodied Wisdom: Himalayan Art Across Space and Time. First, a special exhibit titled True Perception II presents works created in a course in which students explore Buddhist thought through embodied, process‑based artistic practices. The exhibition foregrounds art as contemplative inquiry, inviting viewers into experiential encounters with mind, perception, and interdependence.
To gain an overview of this course, we invite you to read Caroline Vandenabeele’s reflections from a student’s perspective — read here.
In addition, we warmly invite you to join us for two special events:
Research, Translation, and Museology – Roundtable
Saturday, April 25, 2026
Time: 10 AM – 4 PM
Venue: RYI Classroom 103 and Online on Zoom
Heritage and Story Telling – Exploratory Session
Sunday, April 26, 2026
Time: 10 AM – 12:30 PM
Venue: RYI Classroom 103 and Online on Zoom
| Research, Translation, and Museology – Roundtable This roundtable discussion, titled “Research, Translation, and Museology”, will take place on Saturday, April 25th, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Rangjung Yeshe Institute in Kathmandu. This roundtable brings together scholars, curators, translators, teachers, and emerging researchers to explore how Buddhist textual traditions circulate today between research, translation, teaching, and museum practice. By bringing into dialogue perspectives from institutional museology, academic scholarship, traditional textual pedagogy, and manuscript-based research, the discussion will address how texts are interpreted, translated, contextualized, and presented across different settings. Confirmed participants include Swati Singh (Curator, Patna Museum); Swosti Kayastha (Patan Museum); and Sarad Kasa (Asa Archives), who will reflect on curatorial and museological approaches to Buddhist materials; Dr. Julia Stenzel and Dr. Maria Vasylieva, professors at RYI working in translation, philology, and textual interpretation; Lopon Jigme Kunsang Sherpa, representing traditional modes of textual transmission; Namila Bajracharya, an MA student engaging directly with manuscripts in her research; and Joe Larose, a Research Affiliate specializing in translation of Buddhist Sanskrit and Sanskrit Pedagogies. We very much hope the roundtable will foster a collaborative and collegial conversation across disciplines, opening new ways of thinking about the study and public presentation of Buddhist texts! |
| Exploratory Session – Heritage and Story Telling This exploratory session examines Buddhist art as a living expression of philosophy, practice, and cultural systems, rather than merely a production of objects. It asks what it means to sustain Buddhist art and artists today—for researchers, practitioners, institutions, and communities—when art is understood as a way of life rather than as material display. Confirmed participants include Meena Lama, Sojan Prajapati, and Abhishek Singh among others. The discussion engages key questions around authenticity, context, and meaning: What makes Buddhist art Buddhist? What is lost when art is preserved physically but removed from living practice? How do museums, markets, certification systems, and media shape—or distort—this tradition? Attention will also be given to emerging media such as digital storytelling and 3D sculpting, and how changes in medium affect transmission and meaning. Rather than seeking definitive answers, the session is conceived as an open inquiry into whether preserving Buddhist art is sufficient, or whether the deeper challenge lies in continuing to live it. |
Exhibit Dates: Friday, April 24 – Friday, May 1, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM NPT daily
We look forward to welcoming you to this celebration of art, heritage, and dialogue! Feel free to share this invitation with colleagues who may be interested. For any inquiries, contact us at admin@ryi.org
