A THANGKA is a Tibetan Buddhist painting on fabric that emerged from the great wall murals of very early Buddhism. Thangkas are done on either cotton or silk appliqué, mounted on ornate silk textiles similar to Chinese scroll art, and covered with sheer silk fabric that is folded up when the painting is displayed. They are normally pictures of Buddha, Buddhist deities, scenes from Buddhist life and the mandala (a geometric spiritual guidance tool).