Supernatural Phenomena and The White Tara: A Vivid Representation of Divine Energy

By B.A. Crisp

A Thangka (also spelled Tangka, Thanka, or Tanka) is a traditional Tibetan Buddhist painting depicting deities, mandalas, scenes from the life of the Buddha, or spiritual figures.

Thangkas are highly valued as sacred objects and tools for meditation, ritual, and teaching.

Creating a Thangka is a deeply spiritual and technical process. Its creators undergo years of training to understand sacred geometry, symbolism, and proportion. They typically use traditional materials, such as mineral-based paints, to ensure that the colors remain vibrant and authentic hundreds of years into the future.

Each brushstroke is carefully considered, with a meditative quality brought into both the painting and the process. Sometimes the creators compose poems on the back of the canvas—but rarely is a true Thangka signed by the artist. This is considered ego-centric. A Thangka taking form is part of the nothingness or void of enlightenment where all potential exists. A Thangka is not owned but belongs to all.

White Tara, a revered deity in Tibetan Buddhism, is associated with compassion, healing, and long life. Known as the embodiment of purity and wisdom, she is considered a guardian with the power to protect energy wielders from physical and spiritual suffering. Her origins, history, and the beliefs around her, along with her depictions in ceremonial Thangkas, are steeped in spiritual symbolism.

When White Tara arrived in our home in the form of a large ceremonial Thangka, I was captivated by the serene beauty and calm radiance of her presence. Drawn to her timeless grace, I felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if I had known her essence long before.

Compelled by this feeling, I set out to explore her origins and understand the deeper meanings brushed into her image—a journey that seemed to resonate on a level beyond words. Consequently, I’d rescued her from the back room of a thrift store that was going out of business—the owners knew nothing about this White Tara or her story.

Origin and History

White Tara is believed to have originated within Tibetan Buddhism, although her origins trace back to the earlier Mahayana Buddhist traditions in India. She is viewed as a manifestation of the goddess Tara, who, according to legend, was born from a tear shed by the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig in Tibetan), the Buddha of Compassion. A Bodhisattva is an enlightened being who chooses to delay their own liberation (nirvana) to help others achieve enlightenment.

While Green Tara represents active compassion and worldly protection, White Tara embodies a more serene, motherly aspect, focusing on spiritual liberation and healing.

Symbolism and Beliefs

White Tara is depicted with seven eyes —three on her face and one on each palm and foot. These eyes represent her compassionate gaze, which sees the suffering of all sentient beings. Her body is often painted white, signifying purity, truth, and wisdom. Her seated lotus position, and calm expression, embody inner peace and a higher state of consciousness. Her graceful gestures, such as her open palm, symbolize her willingness to give blessings and protection. Her image is usually surrounded by floral patterns, particularly lotuses and other delicate details, each representing various aspects of Buddhist teachings.

The beliefs surrounding White Tara emphasize her ability to dispel fears, extend life, and provide peace to the mind and spirit. Many practitioners chant mantras, invoking her protection, compassion, and longevity.

Before use, a Thangka is consecrated by a lama or spiritual teacher, after which it can be displayed on a temple wall or in a household shrine. Practitioners meditate in front of White Tara Thangkas, visualizing her form as a means of connecting with energy, wisdom, and blessings.

Documented Stories of Apparitions & Spiritual Phenomena Associated with White Tara Thangkas

Various documented stories exist within Tibetan Buddhism where monks and laypeople report apparitions or spiritual phenomena associated with Thangkas, particularly those depicting White Tara.

Accounts of such manifestations are a well-known part of Buddhist lore, often passed down orally or recorded in spiritual texts.

For example, some practitioners have shared stories of sensing or seeing monks in robes around sacred Thangkas of White Tara during intense meditation sessions. There are accounts of monks feeling the comforting presence of “invisible” monks during such ceremonies, as though they were being watched over by their monastic ancestors.

In one such instance, a monk reported seeing faint apparitions of monks in traditional robes, seeming to chant silently alongside him, while he was meditating in front of a White Tara Thangka during a prayer session for a sick friend.

Although he admitted that the apparitions were only faintly visually distinct, he felt an overwhelming sense of peace and unity, which he interpreted as a sign of support from the sangha (enlightened group of beings who understand the nature of reality).

When my spirit monk manifested one night beside the Thangka, I was completely unprepared. There he stood, sideways in an orange robe draped over one bare arm, turning his head to look directly at me. I’d been snapping photos in the dark after watching a documentary about a woman in Michigan able to capture ‘otherworldly’ images on her camera.

A wave of energy washed over me; every hair on my skin stood on end. I let out a loud shriek and then fled the room. Shaking uncontrollably, I woke my husband from his deep sleep, who was none too pleased. I hadn’t been spiritually prepared to see a ghostly monk in our living room and spent some time afterward deeply disappointed by my fearful reaction. I’ve attached the unaltered and not AI-enhanced photo—you be the judge.

Monk Apparitions During Meditation

Now, I’m no longer frightened by the monk I’ve named Edo (meaning light). Other Tibetan monks have reported feeling the presence of their deceased teachers or enlightened beings who seem to provide guidance or encouragement. These apparitions are typically described as vivid yet peaceful, offering reassurance rather than fear.

These experiences are interpreted as manifestations of the deity’s blessing or as protective spirits responding to the ritual. In some cases, observers report witnessing subtle changes in the Thangka itself—such as a glow around the deity or a slight movement that feels alive. Such occurrences are believed to indicate that the deity’s spirit has temporarily inhabited the Thangka.

Particularly in Tibet, there are accounts of monks or lay devotees seeing the apparitions of revered teachers or lamas around Thangkas, especially soon after their passing. The lama’s spirit is believed to appear to give guidance or blessings.

For instance, it is said that some disciples have seen their teacher’s face superimposed over the deity on a Thangka, symbolizing the teacher’s union with the deity. In Tibetan Buddhist belief, such apparitions are signs that the teacher has attained a high level of realization and can choose to manifest at will to benefit their students.

Experiences of Visions and Auditory Phenomena

In rare cases, practitioners have reported seeing apparitions or hearing voices while meditating on a deity depicted in a Thangka. These visions are described as part of the mind’s interaction with the Thangka, perceived by the practitioner as an external event. The sounds or voices may offer guidance or mantras, encouraging the practitioner to continue their spiritual path.

Additionally, certain monasteries and temples are believed to house “miraculous” Thangkas that exhibit extraordinary properties.

Pilgrims and monks sometimes recount experiences where they felt profound peace or perceived subtle images around these Thangkas. Some Thangkas are thought to be imbued with blessings from generations of meditative practice, making them more likely to serve as focal points or portals for spiritual phenomena.

 Interpretation and Belief in Apparitions Around Thangkas

While such occurrences are considered real by many within the Tibetan Buddhist community, they are often understood by practitioners as manifestations of the mind’s innate spiritual capacity—such as the way Christians genuinely connect to Jesus through prayer or chanting. Perhaps it’s all One energy expressed differently through culturally accepted belief systems.

In Tibetan Buddhism, apparitions and other spiritual phenomena are sometimes seen as signs of a mind deeply attuned to divine energy within our Earth’s geo-electromagnetic fields, experiencing glimpses of realms beyond ordinary perception.

 I liken this to the way “clever men” (aka aboriginal shamans from the Australian Outback) submerse themselves into “Dreamtime” to connect with ancestors, divine beings, or to trade messages with other shamans across the desert.

These accounts serve as a reminder for me of the unseen dimensions of spiritual practice and the powerful role Thangkas can play as gateways to enlightened states of mind.