Item: Teacher (Lama) - Jamyang Kyentse Wangpo

The Three Manjushri Embodiments: Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, Jamgon Kongtrul and Choggyur Lingpa. The group known as the Three Embodiments of Manjushri.

At the center is Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo with the right hand extended across the knee, palm up, holding a vajra scepter and the stem of a flower blossom supporting a vase. The left hand is in the lap cradling a bell while holding the stem of a flower blossom rising above the left shoulder supporting a sword and book. Attired in the garb of a fully ordained monk, he wears a pandita hat with three rings representing the accomplishment of having learned all of the three components of the Buddhist Tripitaka.

At the top center is Orange Manjushri, peaceful in appearance, holding upraised in the right hand a sword of wisdom and in the left a stem of a flower blossom supporting a book. He sits in vajra posture surrounded rays of light

At the lower left is Jamgon Kongtrul with the two hands at the heart performing the teaching gesture, grasping the stems of two flower blossoms supporting above the shoulder on the proper right a sword and book and on the left a vase (often topped with a yungdrung symbol). Attired in the garb of a fully ordained monk, he wears atop the head a pandita hat with an unusually narrow peak. The three horizontal rings represent the accomplishment of having completely studied the three components of the Buddhist Tripitaka.

At the lower right is Choggyur Lingpa is depicted with long black hair falling across the shoulders, along with the right hand raised holding the stem of a white flower blossom supporting a sword and book - emblems of wisdom. The left hand placed in the lap supports a treasure casket signifying the holder as a Treasure Revealer (Terton) of the Nyingma Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. The head is adorned with a lotus hat common to the Nyingma tradition. Attired in the colourful long sleeved garments of a layman, he also wears a white lower robe which is often an indication of a lay practitioner belonging to a hereditary line of Nyingma Mantradharins (ngagpa).

Jeff Watt 2-2011