Shambhala Nor Postal Services
"Green Tara"
2000
by Eric Whollem
edition of 100, plus ten artist's proofs
58 x 88mm.
58 x 88mm.
Copyright by the artist.
THE LEGENDS OF THE MAHASIDDHAS
Prototypes for the stamps of Shambhala Nor may be certain sets of cinderella
THE LEGENDS OF THE MAHASIDDHAS
Tara and the Sage Nagarjuna
Prajnaparamita, the Goddess Wisdom, was preserved for seven hundred years
in the preserves of Makara, the King of Sea Serpents. Tara at last rose from the
sea with the teachings of Prajnaparamita and gave these to Nagarjuna. This was
the beginning of Mahayana Buddhism.
This fantasy stamp from the land of Shambhala Nor depicts the artist's conception
of Green Tara.
In the border of the design is a mermaid, rendered repetitively in a decorative
fashion. Four golden fish can be seen near the 2 Rupee denomination. The two
golden fishes of enlightenment are one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols found in
Northern Buddhism.
BLUE TARA
Shambhala Nor Postal Services
2000
by Eric Whollem
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST
Tara the Mother of Compassion
Tara is considered by many Buddhists as the Mother of Buddha.
She is the personification of compassion. She ends all human
afflictions.
Other Taras also exist: White Tara, Red Tara, etc. In varying practices
other aspects of Tara have been outlined.
NAGARJUNA RECEIVING THE
PRAJNAPARAMITA TEACHINGS FROM
TARA RISING FROM THE WATERS
Shambhala Nor Postal Services
2000
by Eric Whollem
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST
The Oceanic Metaphor in Vajrayana Buddhism
Dalai Lama means literally 'Ocean Lama.' The Heavenworlds are conceived to
be oceanic by many Buddhists.
Thus Tara is related to Astarte and Atargatis and other memaid goddesses of
the world. Kuan Yin in China had a sea cave off the coast. She was originally
the goddess of fishermen. Mary means 'The Sea.' In Genesis she is called 'The
Face of the Deep.'
In the Lankavatara Sutra Tara is described as rising from the sea to give the
Goddess teachings to the sage Nagarjuna.
Tara and the Age of Aquarius
Tara literally means 'Star.'
As we enter the Aquarian Age the starry crown of the Water Bearer will become
more pronounced.
The waters of Aquarius are the waters of illumination.
In the border of the design is a mermaid, rendered repetitively in a decorative
fashion. Four golden fish can be seen near the 2 Rupee denomination. The two
golden fishes of enlightenment are one of the Eight Auspicious Symbols found in
Northern Buddhism.
BLUE TARA
Shambhala Nor Postal Services
2000
by Eric Whollem
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST
Tara the Mother of Compassion
Tara is considered by many Buddhists as the Mother of Buddha.
She is the personification of compassion. She ends all human
afflictions.
Other Taras also exist: White Tara, Red Tara, etc. In varying practices
other aspects of Tara have been outlined.
NAGARJUNA RECEIVING THE
PRAJNAPARAMITA TEACHINGS FROM
TARA RISING FROM THE WATERS
Shambhala Nor Postal Services
2000
by Eric Whollem
COPYRIGHT BY THE ARTIST
The Oceanic Metaphor in Vajrayana Buddhism
Dalai Lama means literally 'Ocean Lama.' The Heavenworlds are conceived to
be oceanic by many Buddhists.
Thus Tara is related to Astarte and Atargatis and other memaid goddesses of
the world. Kuan Yin in China had a sea cave off the coast. She was originally
the goddess of fishermen. Mary means 'The Sea.' In Genesis she is called 'The
Face of the Deep.'
In the Lankavatara Sutra Tara is described as rising from the sea to give the
Goddess teachings to the sage Nagarjuna.
Tara and the Age of Aquarius
Tara literally means 'Star.'
As we enter the Aquarian Age the starry crown of the Water Bearer will become
more pronounced.
The waters of Aquarius are the waters of illumination.
History of Tibetan Postage Stamps
Tibet issued it's own postage stamps in 1912. They were valid for postage
only in Tibet. The last stamps were printed in 1950.
Some of the early stamps were carved from wood blocks and printed using
shiny enamel paint on various types of native paper.They had no perforations,
but had to be cut out of sheets with scissors. A few have been found with
pin hole perforations privately applied.
only in Tibet. The last stamps were printed in 1950.
Some of the early stamps were carved from wood blocks and printed using
shiny enamel paint on various types of native paper.They had no perforations,
but had to be cut out of sheets with scissors. A few have been found with
pin hole perforations privately applied.
The stamps of Shambhala Nor, of course, are not real Tibetan postage stamps,
but examples of Buddhist American Folk Art from the 21st Century. Nor are
my stamps faux Tuvan or Mongolian stamps. These lands also are included in
areas considered by theorists to be the location of Shambhala. Kazakhstan and
Kirghistan, both lands of the Altai, have issued stamps, commencing in the early
1990's. These lands, not to mention the desert lands of Sinkiang, are all areas
where we can conjecture a traditional site of Shambhala. Shambhala Nor is
my own myth within a myth. A Faux Postage Trek Through Central Asia and
the legends from the most remote crossroads of the ancient world.
my stamps faux Tuvan or Mongolian stamps. These lands also are included in
areas considered by theorists to be the location of Shambhala. Kazakhstan and
Kirghistan, both lands of the Altai, have issued stamps, commencing in the early
1990's. These lands, not to mention the desert lands of Sinkiang, are all areas
where we can conjecture a traditional site of Shambhala. Shambhala Nor is
my own myth within a myth. A Faux Postage Trek Through Central Asia and
the legends from the most remote crossroads of the ancient world.
Prototypes for the stamps of Shambhala Nor may be certain sets of cinderella
stamps from Tannu Tuva, which are popular among certain collectors. These
include exotic diamond shaped and triangular stamps. My fourty-fourth cousin,
Leon Numainville, of Little Rock, Arkansas, once gave me a set of these.
A Concise History of the Buddhist
Stamps of the Altai Country of Tannu Tuva
Tannu Tuva issued stamps with Lamaistic designs when they
printed their first postal issue in 1926. They were printed on
a lithographic press, gummed and perforated, on watermarked
paper.
In 1933 the first hammer and sickle emblems appeared on
Tuvan stamps, as the country secularized before becoming
an autonomous republic of the Soviet Union.
Their stamps are much less handcrafted than those of Tibet.
Inside Outer Mongolia
A Concise History of Metaphysical Stamp Issues
And the Vagaries of Changing Times
The stamps of Mongolia, another Lamaist Buddhist country,
also depicted Buddhist emblems on their early stamps. Most of
the stamps of Mongolia have been printed in Russia, as Mongolia
has been within the Soviet sphere of influence until recently.
Mongolian stamps have always maintained stylistic elements
that relate to their folk art: ornate scrollwork, etc. Often clouds
and mountains are depicted as they had been for hundreds of
years in Buddhist painting.
In subsequent years Mongolia has issued a large number of
stamps with Northern Lamaist Buddhist art. Even the Dalai
Lama, the Jetsons, and Jerry Garcia are on the government
issued stamps of Mongolia today.
_________
See my posts of stamps from Shambhala Nor on this link:
http://artblogericwhollem.blogspot.com/search/label/shambhala%20nor
BELOW IS MY FANTASY MAP
TO SHAMBHALA
(copyright by the artist)
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
BELOW IS MY FANTASY MAP
TO SHAMBHALA
(copyright by the artist)
CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
See my complete image gallery of Cinderella Stamps here:
For my posts on the Goddess view this link:
*
Artist stamps, artistamps, cinderella stamps, fantasy stamps, faux postage, mail art, micronation stamps by Eric Whollem; meditation Dakini; metaphystical art; goddess art.
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