Artisan Stories
Meet one of the artisans we work with.
Karcheung Lama: Thangka painter, priest, entrepreneur
In early spring 1981 Lester Lamm, D.C. moved his family to Kathmandu to establish Nepal’s first chiropractic clinic. He rented a small two bedroom house inside a three-acre compound of four other dwellings rented to number of other families.
Late one evening, Dr. Lamm was awakened and requested to attend to one of the compound occupants who had fallen quite ill, a 26 year old man living in a single room. Over the ensuing weeks his condition eventually stabilized and he began to slowly recover. Unable to work during his illness, he fell behind on his rent and had to leave the compound.
About three months later, Dr. Lamm was awakened again by knocking on his door; it was the young man. He was warmly ushered in out of the darkness and tea was prepared. Over tea, the young man identified himself as Karcheung Lama and asked Dr. Lamm to accept something he had made as payment for his services. Dr. Lamm stated emphatically that no payment was expected. Nevertheless, Karcheung insisted that he repay the debt he had incurred; the issue was one of honor. Dr. Lamm graciously received the gift that had been wrapped up in newspaper. Inside was a painting of extraordinary beauty, a traditional Nepali thangka of the Medicine Buddha. The offering was far in excess of reasonable compensation, but Dr. Lamm was obliged to accept it. In an attempt to balance the scales, Dr. Lamm asked if he could commission Karcheung to paint others. Karcheung declined the invitation stating that he had to paint thangkas for another man because he owed him money. It was then that Karcheung revealed that he had painted the Medicine Buddha by candle light late at night after work hours.
Late one evening, Dr. Lamm was awakened and requested to attend to one of the compound occupants who had fallen quite ill, a 26 year old man living in a single room. Over the ensuing weeks his condition eventually stabilized and he began to slowly recover. Unable to work during his illness, he fell behind on his rent and had to leave the compound.
About three months later, Dr. Lamm was awakened again by knocking on his door; it was the young man. He was warmly ushered in out of the darkness and tea was prepared. Over tea, the young man identified himself as Karcheung Lama and asked Dr. Lamm to accept something he had made as payment for his services. Dr. Lamm stated emphatically that no payment was expected. Nevertheless, Karcheung insisted that he repay the debt he had incurred; the issue was one of honor. Dr. Lamm graciously received the gift that had been wrapped up in newspaper. Inside was a painting of extraordinary beauty, a traditional Nepali thangka of the Medicine Buddha. The offering was far in excess of reasonable compensation, but Dr. Lamm was obliged to accept it. In an attempt to balance the scales, Dr. Lamm asked if he could commission Karcheung to paint others. Karcheung declined the invitation stating that he had to paint thangkas for another man because he owed him money. It was then that Karcheung revealed that he had painted the Medicine Buddha by candle light late at night after work hours.
Dr. Lamm and Karcheung Lama playing Angry Birds in
Kathmandu, Nepal, Fall of 2011
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Over a second cup of tea it became increasingly evident that Karcheung had been hood-winked into bondage and could not escape. Dr. Lamm asked Karcheung if he would work for him if his debt was paid. Karcheung agreed that would be a wonderful solution, but declined because his debt was too great and he must accept his fate honorably. When asked how much his debt was, Karcheung disclosed that it was the equivalent of US$85.00. The following morning Dr. Lamm accompanied Karcheung to his work-place where his debt was paid in full, over loud and threatening protests from the “boss man.” That same afternoon Karcheung moved into the Lamm’s spare bedroom. Karcheung was informed that he no longer had to paint quickly or under duress. He was instructed to paint slowly and deliberately, allowing his artistry to dictate the product.
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This began a relationship that thrives today. Through this chance encounter with Karcheung, Dr. Lamm was introduced to others of the thangka art community in Kathmandu, a number of whom have garnered national recognition as first prize winners in the annual thangka painting competition. Dr. Lamm has one of the largest private collections of high-quality thangka art in the US. Karcheung has also prospered from this chance encounter: he owns a house and farmland in his mountain village; he became his village’s priest, presiding over ceremonies related to marriage, birth and death; he visited the US for six months in the 1990s to display his work at private showings; and he now operates his own thangka studio employing others to work for him.
