Description The Paperblanks Sacred Tibetan Textiles Padma Journal in the Midi size is 5 x 7 inches and Smyth Sewn for durability. It has 144 lined pages of acid-free ivory 120 gsm paper, includes a memento pouch and a ribbon marker, and features an elastic band closure. Artistic, religious and cultural traditions unite in the handwoven fabrics of the Sacred Tibetan Textiles. For centuries, Muslim families in Varanasi, India, have practiced the art of hand-weaving silks to create cloths and vestments of sacred rituals. The city lies just twelve kilometers from the Buddhist pilgrimage site Sarnath, where the Buddha first gave his sermon upon becoming enlightened, and so Islamic, Buddhist and even Hindu practices have become woven together in the area. In Varanasi, the Kasim family has been practicing this meditative tradition for generations, passing down the knowledge and reverence of their ancestors. The fabrics reproduced on our covers come straight from the Kasim Silk Emporium and are an authentic expression of their cultural heritage. In these designs, created for Buddhist monasteries and the Dalai Lama, the weavers have portrayed the path to enlightenment, both in the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism represented by the pattern and in the brightness of the colors chosen. An expression of faith and spirituality, these brocade fabrics are both beautiful and highly symbolic, and the care that goes into each individual stitch is a visual example of the weaver's adherence to a sacred ritual. With the Sacred Tibetan Textiles series, Paperblanks pays tribute to the rich heritage of Indian hand-weaving and to the craftspeople who continue this devotional practice today. Paperblanks journals are made in China. We offer Free Shipping on all orders over $59 for US customers, and for orders over $250 for our Canadian customers.
