Threads of Awakening: An American Woman's Journey into Tibet's Sacred Textile Art

Threads of Awakening is a memoir that tells the story of a California woman who travels to India to manage an economic development fund and ends up sewing pictures of Buddha instead. She discovers that a path is made by walking it and that some of the best paths are made by walking off course. The book includes 49 full-color photos and a foreword by the Dalai Lama.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 23 August 2022
Publisher: She Writes Press

Threads of Awakening is a captivating blend of adventure, memoir, and spiritual exploration, written by Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo. The book takes readers on a journey as the author travels to the Tibetan government-in-exile in India to manage an economic development fund, only to find herself engrossed in a Himalayan sewing workshop. What initially began as a sidetrack turned out to be a profound and transformative experience that led her back to her true calling.

Part art book, part memoir, and part spiritual travelogue, Threads of Awakening offers a delightful and inspiring exploration of life's unexpected turns. Through her remarkable journey, Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo shares her experiences as a California woman who ventures into the heart of the Tibetan exile community in India. Her mission was to oversee an economic development fund, but fate had other plans. Instead, she found herself immersed in the world of sewing, creating intricate pictures of Buddha using traditional techniques passed down through generations.

As she delved deeper into this little-known textile art, Leslie discovered that a path is not always linear and that some of the most rewarding journeys are those that take us off course. She studied under the guidance of two of the brightest living masters of Tibetan thangka, a form of sacred image-making using pieces of silk stitched together. Through her dedication and curiosity, Leslie unraveled the intricate stitches and the Buddhist deities they depict, gaining insights into the compassion, interdependence, and limitless possibilities that these images embody.

Threads of Awakening is not only a visual feast but also a profound meditation on the human spirit and the transformative power of curiosity. The book includes 49 full-color photographs that capture the beauty and intricacy of the thangkas, as well as a foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who shares his admiration for Leslie's work and its significance in promoting understanding between different cultures.

In conclusion, Threads of Awakening is a must-read for anyone who seeks adventure, introspection, and a deeper understanding of the world. Through Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo's remarkable journey, we are reminded that life is a tapestry of unexpected twists and turns, and that it is through our willingness to explore and embrace the unknown that we find our way home.

Weight: 496g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781647420932