Tibetan monks are visiting artists in Saint Petersburg today. Artist Galina Tarasova is teaching them how to make paintings with her special technique for adults. The main part of this process, according to Galina, is achieving the connection with the artistic source of the Cosmos.

[Galina Tarasova, Artist]:
"When you become connected with something so tremendous, something inside you is silenced. This feeling cannot be compared with anything wordly, not the joy of material things, not even your first love."
 
Monk Tenzin admits that art was quite foreign to him before he started learning here. Now after his first painting, he feels confident. Positive thoughts helped him in learning the art of painting.

[Тenzin Damchoi, Monk]:
"It is very important to give yourself positive motivation to start the process, regardless of what you are doing: drawing or simply walking. If you do things with good intention, then the process is filled with kindness."
  
Today, the monks are visiting Saint Petersburg for the "Russia-India-Тibet" festival, where artist and event organizer Galina Tarasova is teaching master classes. The monks are building a mandala – a traditional Buddhist art piece – using colored sand.

[Zopa Otor Pinponche, Lama from the Drepun Goman Monastry]:
"There is an exchange happening here. We're sharing ancient sacred art from Tibet and other ancient knowledge with the Russian people."
 
For the monks, the importance of passing on these Tibetan cultural treasures is increased by the fact that back in Tibet their culture and religion is suppressed.

[Zopa Otor Pinponche, Lama from the Drepun Goman monastry]:
"Looking at the situation in Tibet, the human rights, such as religious freedom, are not fully protected. Because of this, we run into serious problems when it comes to preservation of our culture, especially Buddhism."

This is the Fourth international "Russia-India-Тibet" festival. Monks have already visited Moscow, Perm, and Kazan.

NTD, Saint Petersburg, Russia