The monks of Gaden Ngari Monastery

[cubanmiamiboy]

“Beings whose organs have suffered, Lifespan exhausted or declined, beset by vicissitude, Abandoned by gods, hated by relatives, …

Under mutual strife, decline in wealth

Under fear, destitute, under evil days ‘and constellations…

These are washed away, and purified…”

(From the Vajravidharan Dharani, Kagyur: Tantras: Vol. ‘ma’, 16)

Yesterday I had an amazing experience going to see the performance of the Tibetan monks of the Gaden Ngari Monastery of Tibet at the Colony Theater in South Beach. The Performance, a national tour, is called “Wisdom&Happiness”. It was very powerful, and at the end, they sold some arts and crafts made by them- (everything soooo inexpensive)-to support the Tibetan cause, which I do. -(I got me some CD’s of their meditation and a nice bracelet). Here is the program, which even included some dancing.

PROGRAM:

1. Tentue Yultrue: Healing: Group, environment, on the basis of Vajravidharan.

2. Dagjug: Self-generation of Vajra Bhairav. Related to Manjushri. Originator: Mahasidha Lalita Vajra. Highest Yoga Tantra. Propagated in Tibet in 10th century by the translator Ra Lotsawa (b. 1017). Anecdote against all forms of death and obstacles in life. (Original source: Tengyur: Vols. ‘bhi’, ‘mi’. 45, 46)

3. Sacred Black Hat Dance. Originating with Lhalung Paldor (9th century), one of the twenty five chief disciples of Padmsabhava, the Zhanag or Sacred Black hat dance is a symbolic act. The dancer, usually a spiritual master, through appropriate techniques, takes on the mental attributes of a fully enlightened beings. And in this heightened state of awareness, execute steps and movements and gestures purifying the inner life of the viewers and their physical environment.

4. Kangso: Rite for the fulfillment of commitments. On the basis of Mahakala, the manifestation of Avaloketeswara in the form of Dharmapala or Protector of Righteousness. Brings the patron and practitioner closer to the concerned Dharmapala, and hence to enlightenment, by rejuvenating ethical, moral and interpersonal relationship lapses in one’s life. Removes obstacles and helps to succeed in rightful undertakings.

5. Choed: Cutting off. Dagzin Tsarchoed text. Source: The Prajnaparamita sutras, especially the Heart Sutra. Technique developed by Machig Labdron (1103-1201 A.D.). Helps to see the true nature of the world, and removing fear and misconceptions thereby, expedites progress in one’s spiritual life.

6. Tsoepa. Tibetan monastic debate. Based on reason and dialectics. This life is one brief moment in the long cycle of life and death that continues till one breaks the bonds of a limited existence in Samsara and become Buddha. The mind trained in virtue, common sense and reason becomes the path for this great journey. With the words of the Buddha and dialectics as the twin tools of inquiry, Tibetan monastic debate sharpens the mind to look within oneself and the world without blinkers, and helps progress along the path without wasting time. It is action-packed, it is spiritual, and it is hilarious.

7. Yak Dance. A very cute portrayal of a buffalo dance by twomonks in a giant animal costume.

8. Dedication Prayer. After every meaningful endeavor, a dedication is worthwhile. It preserves and multiplies the effect of the virtue. Let us relax, take stock of the program, and dedicate our merit and ours, towards the happiness of all sentient beings on this planet.

Best Regards:

[dirac]

Thank you for telling us about this. It sounds fascinating. I'll have to see if the tour will be in my neck of the woods, if I haven't missed them already.