Tashi Delek!

Welcome! Thank you for visiting!

I've called myself a Buddhist for about 30 years now. But, it wasn't until I met my teacher, Geshe Jinpa Sonam, that I found a home and the beginning of what I consider to be a life-changing practice. Lharampa Geshe Jinpa Sonam is the spiritual director of the Indiana Buddhist Center in Indianapolis, IN.

Jewel Tree of Tibet / Mantras in Wood - is the fruition of an idea I've had for several years. What I wanted to do was to incorporate the time I spend earning a livihood with doing something I really love doing and earning enough extra to help support Geshe Jinpa and IBC. At least 25% of any profit earned from this website or from my woodworking endeavors will go to this cause.

I've had many diverse careers in my life so far...and, here I am on the cusp of still another! I originally designed mantras in wood when I decided to try to give the written word the same precious meaning to Westerners as it has to Tibetans. Jewel Tree (of Tibet) is another project in which I am striving to give people the opportunity to create a personal reminder of all the teachers who have inspired them along the path of enlightenment. Because it is my belief that we are all on the path to enlightenment, I believe we all can use...that we all actually need...reminders of that path as we go about our daily business. His Holiness, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, says it best:

All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness ... the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.

The great scholar and author, Robert Thurman, reminds us that we don't necessarily have to be "religious" to understand and live that message. Therefore, I'm offering my handiwork for sale on this site. I hope you love viewing it as much as I love making it. Please use the links above to explore this site.

JoAnn Bush
Knightstown, IN