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 more than 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.
Includes 49 full-color photos and a foreword by the Dalai Lama.
Industry Reviews
2023 Sarton Awards Shortlist: Memoir
2023 Living Now Book Awards Gold Evergreen Medalist in World Peace
2022 Readers' Favorite Book Awards Finalist in Non-Fiction (Art/Photography)
"Threads of Awakening reveals the intricacies and richness of the
appliquéeacute;eacute; tradition. I am sure it will enhance appreciation for our
unique artistic traditions."
-His Holiness the Dalai Lama
". . . the narrative threads . . . weave together in a sensitive work
that considers Rinchen-Wongmo's difficulties navigating Tibetan culture
in her quest to learn a new art. . . . Along the way, it effectively
delves into the Buddhist thought that she incorporated into her
worldview."
-Kirkus Reviews
“Readers interested in Tibetan culture and Buddhist spiritual practices will find this book of interest.”
—Library Journal
“Deeply personal, learned, and genuine, this is a beautiful memoir of spiritual self-discovery.”
—Susan Piver, New York Times best-selling author of The Four Noble Truths of Love: Buddhist Wisdom for Modern Relationships
“At first glance, it seemed as if this book might be yet another
travelogue, with adventures into India and a dip into Buddhist
culture. How wrong I was. It is a deeply moving story of how one woman’s
decision to help the Tibetan refugees in India led to a lifetime’s work
of creation in one of the finest and rarest art traditions. . . . An
absolute delight to read.”
—Reedsy Discovery
“Threads of Awakening is an illuminating window into the world of
pieced brocade thangkas. Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo is, to my knowledge, the
first American woman to master this exquisite artistic tradition, and
also the first to write extensively on it. We are fortunate to reap the
fruits of her endeavors!”
—Glenn H. Mullin, author of Female Buddhas and four more books on Tibetan Buddhist art
“Threads of Awakening not only fulfills a critical gap in the
recorded literature and preservation of traditional Tibetan appliqué
thangkas—it is also sure to enrapture, delight, and inspire you!”
—Pema Namdol Thaye, traditional Tibetan architect, artist, author, and art educator
“Part travelogue, part spiritual biography, and part artistic chronicle, Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo’s Threads of Awakening
is an eloquent work that is both adventure and homecoming;
transformational and grounding . . . her personable and insightful
presentation stimulates introspection about our own journeys, whatever
they may be.”
—Buddhistdoor Global
“All of us are granted the same twenty-four-hour day. But great memoirs
show us how much life we can pack into every moment if our heart says
yes. Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo, whose name means ‘precious, empowered
woman,’ did just that. She came upon a group stitching sacred Tibetan
tapestries in India and stayed to become the first Western woman trained
to make them. Her story takes us deep into the art and culture she
embraced. But just as importantly, Leslie provides a luminous lesson on
what she calls ‘the experience of traveling off course to a wondrous
life.’”
—Barbara Cornell, Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist and librarian
“I was genuinely moved by Leslie’s courage and compassion as she pursued
her dreams. Perhaps one of the most moving moments of the book is her
