For decades now, our family, Edda & Hans-Juergen Reichelt with our daughter Rebecca, have been enthralled admirers and collectors of Thangkas, the fascinating art of Lamaism, probably the most exquisite sacred art in all the world.

In the early 1970’s, H.-J. Reichelt travelled widely in Asia, including Nepal, from where he returned with his first Thangkas. These were the first of a collection which has since grown to remarkable dimensions. Since their marriage, Edda has shared his fascination for Thangka art, and their daughter, quite naturally, grew up with it.

Even as a child, Hans-Jürgen felt a powerful affinity toward Tibet and its religious and political head of state, the Dalai Lama.  Thus, it is not surprising that he dreamed of an audience with His Holiness. In 1993 an article appeared in a regional newspaper printed in Bremen, Germany, with the headline: "An audience with the Dalai Lama is his fondest wish".

Ultimately, this life-long desire was fulfilled. In May of 1998 he and several friends were granted a private audience with His Holiness, the 14. Dalai Lama (see photo with dedication; H.-J. Reichelt second from right).

Only a few days before, he had been received by the Kuten, Ven. Thupten Ngodup, Nechung Oracle, the State Oracle of Tibet (see photos with dedication; the Kuten is also the Abbot of the Nechung Monastery, correct: Nechung Dorje Drayangling Monastery)

In September of 2001, H.-J. Reichelt was granted a private audience with His Holiness, the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Ogyen Thinley Dorjee (see photo).

Prior to this and also later, Reichelt’s travels repeatedly led him to Dharamsala, where he found friends among the Tibetans there, one of them a former long-time member of the Tibetan exile parliament, Norbu Dharguay, who, on the occasion of a visit to Germany, presented him with the Tibetan greeting and introduction for this website.
As early as 1994, during a convention in Hannover, Germany, Hans-Jürgen and Rebecca became acquainted with Prof. Dr. Samdhong Rinpoche, President of the Tibetan Exile Parliament (see photos; with Daughter Rebecca, H.-J. Reichelt first from right).





Thus, a great many dreams have been fulfilled. We have been privileged to meet with truly wonderful and unique people from the cultural sphere out of which this splendid sacred art originated.
The proceeds from the sale of Thangkas go toward financing sponsorships for young Tibetan monks at the Nechung Monastery in Dharamsala. (see photos)


In addition to this, support is given organizations providing a home and care for children in Nepal (The Direct Help Foundation, see link), as well as to needy Nepalese families.

Over the years, the Reichelts have organized numerous Thangka exhibitions, mostly in Germany. On the occasion of the World’s Fair: EXPO 2000, in Hannover, one was presented at the Vien-Giac Monastery Pagoda, official external exhibition site of the EXPO 2000. Thangka exhibition venues beyond Germany’s borders have included Holland, Switzerland, and the U.S. (Walton, New York, Fall 1998).

H.-J. Reichelt is a member of “Tibet-Initiative, Germany, e.V. “ and of “ Ganden Shedrub Ling, Society for Tibetan Culture and Buddhism, e.V.“ , Auetal, as he, like so many others, feels especially touched by the sad fate of Tibet and acknowledges a strong bond with its people and their culture.

Thus, we have lived for many years not from, but quite intensively with the art of Tibetan Buddhism, and cannot envision a life without it. It is our heart-felt wish to share the enjoyment of this art and its spiritual power with others.