According to the Tibetan calendar, today marks a tsechu, the 10th day of the lunar month, traditionally dedicated to honoring teachers and gurus. Many Tibetan Buddhists observe this day in reverence for Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, the figure credited with transmitting Buddhism from India to Tibet in the eighth century. Each monthly tsechu commemorates one of Padmasambhava’s eight manifestations. This month honors Pema Gyalpo, or “Lotus King,” a form that recalls Padmasambhava’s legendary origins as the “Lotus-Born” teacher and his role as a virtuous ruler and guide. This striking thangka visualizes Padmasambhava’s ability to manifest in many forms. Repeating figures appear throughout the background, while at center Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, is flanked by two manifestations of Padmasambhava. On the right, Pema Gyalpo holds a mirror to his heart and a small drum, symbols of the luminous nature of the mind and the skillful enactment of the Buddha’s ...