On-line Teaching Program on Newar Vajrayana Buddhism Held
Rabin Man Shakya
 |
Portland, Feb 20 (Nepal Oregon News): An on-line teaching on Newar Vajrayana Buddhism was hosted by Hong Kong Buddhist Studies Association at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara , Portland, USA on Friday, Feb 20, 2026. The virtual teaching program was conducted by Prajwal Vajracharya, co-founder of the Mahavihara.
The remotely held presentation program which was participated by 25 people was focused on Vajrayana vis-a-vis Mahayana and Shravakayana.
The zoom participants included Dr Miranda Shaw, Dr Linda Iltis, Dr Tina Ho, Dr Eliza Lau, Kuon Hunt and others.
The program was an occasion for the participants to learn about different aspects and relevance of Newar Buddhism. The teaching presented a detailed and comprehensive description of Newar Vajrayana Buddhism that is practiced in the Kathmandu valley
for centuries.
Prajwal Guruji said:"Vajra means thunderbolt scepter and Yana means vehicle. A Vajra and a Bell are used by a Guvaju or a Vajracharya during rituals. A Vajracharya is a priest among the Newar communities of Nepal and a revered teacher who is highly attained in Vajrayana practices and rituals. Vajracharya means Vajra master. The Vajracharya is the highest ranking of the Newar castes that are born Buddhists. To become a professional and authentic Vajracharya, one must go through a number of rituals and Dikchhas ."
Prajwal Guruji added:"Without Shravakayana and Mahayana, there is no Vajrayana." Saying that in Vajrayana Buddhism, you need a teacher who performs rituals and Mantras, he stated that Newar Buddhists participate in special observances dedicated to various Buddhist deities for transforming their worldly and spiritual destinies."
Newar Vajrayana Buddhism, said the Guruji, is also known as Parivartanayana, Upayayana, Mantrayana, Tantrayana, Guhyayana, Diamondyana etc.
Prajwal Guruji, who is 35th generation Vajrayana priest, threw light elaborately on the lifecycle rituals in Newar Buddhism.
In Newar Buddhism, Prajwal Guruji said, the Vajra (thunderbolt scepter) and the Gan (bell) are the most fundamental ritual instruments, symbolizing the union of male/method and female/wisdom.
Prajwal Guruji further said:"The Vajra is held in the right hand and the bell in the left, together symbolizing the path to enlightenment and the indivisibility of all dualities."
Newar Vajracharyas use Vajra and Bell to represent the deity itself during religious rituals, said Prajwal Guruji adding:"These instruments are central to Tantric rituals."
Noting that Newar Buddhism features non-celibate house holder priests - mainly Vajracharyas - who inherit ritual roles through caste and family lineage, Prajwal Guruji stated that rituals and ceremonies are conducted within Bahas and Bahis.
Laying emphasis on importance of rituals in Newar Buddhism, Prajwal Guruji said:"This is a unique and richly layered tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism practiced by the Newar people of the Kathmandu valley in Nepal. It blends ancient Buddhist rituals with local customs, Sanskrit texts and a vibrant artistic heritage."
The Buddhist philosophy acknowledges that things are the way they are because of a complex web of causes and conditions, said the Guruji and stressed on the saying -- it is what it is.
The teaching dealt with lots of esoteric deities and how to visualize them.
During the remotely-held teaching, Prajwal Guruji explored the history of Newar Buddhism, discussed role of Mudra, Mantra and Tantra, and elaborated on Dasparamita and so on.
At the end of the zoom teaching, Prajwal Guruji answered to the queries of the participants.
----------------------------
Two-Day Workshop on 'Embodied Heart Sutra' Organized at Pure Land Farms in Topanga, CA
Portland, Feb 9, (Nepal Oregon News): A two-day workshop "Embodied Heart Sutra" was organized by Yangchenma Arts & Music at Pure Land Farms in Topanga, California. The two-day workshop which was conducted by Guruji Prajwal Vajracharya, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, was participated by ten people.
Prajwal Guruji dealt with linguistic and philosophical aspects of Prajnaparamita, saying that Prajnaparamita is a Sanskrit word for perfection of wisdom.
"Gate Gate Para Gate Para Sangate Bodhi Svaha" is the Prajnaparamita mantra which expresses the ideas of wisdom and interconnectedness that we do not exist independently but that we arise in dependence of the whole universe, Prajwal Guruji further explained.
Prajwal Guruji's teaching focused on how to bring Prajnaparamita in the body. During his Dharma talk, he explaned the importance and relevance of meditation, Mantra, Tantra and Sutras.
According to Prajwal Guruji, Indra, Vajrapani and Shariputra are profusely mentioned in Prajnaparamita Sutras. Shariputra asking questions and getting replies are relevant in Prajnaparamita Sutra.
Zeroing in on emptiness, he said:" In Buddhism, emptiness (sunyata) means that all phenomena , including ourselves , lack inherent, independent existence. Emptiness as potential is the key aspect of sunyata."
That being said, the Guruji added:"Lack of inherent existence, interdependence, not nothingness and the key to liberation are the essential components of the meaning of sunyata."
Prajwal Guruji's two-day retreat at Pure Land Farms also invited participants to explore Heart Sutra through sacred movements and embodied meditation.
Per Prajwal Guruji, in Charya dance, "we translate the profound teaching of emptiness into physical experience allowing insight to arise through the body, not just the intellect."
Through flowing movement, stillness, gesture and Mantra, the participants were guided to sense how form and emptiness are not separate, but continuously interwoven Prajnaparamita, the feminine embodiment of wisdom, is invoked as a living presence expressed through clarity, openness and fearless compassion.
Also, during the two-day workshop, giving details about the charya nritya 'Prajnaparamita', the Guruji said:"This Charya dance is named after the female Buddha -- Prajnaparamita devi. Prajnaparamita charya dance is one of the ancient classical charya dances of Newar Vajracharyas. This dance is performed especially as a devotion to Prajnaparamita devi."
Prajwal Guruji informed the participants of the workshop:"Raga for the Prajnaparamita nritya is Hindola and its Tala is Matha." The Guruji also demonstrated step-by-step the Mudra, finger and hand gestures of the charya dance dedicated to Prajnaparamita devi. Prajwal Guruji also performed the Prajnaparamita dance.
During the two-day discourse, Prajwal Guruji also chanted the Charya giti of Prajnaparamita and explained the participants about the meaning of the charya lyrics. Chant to Prajnaparamita begins with:"Biswo rupi sarba indriya sworupi/ triloka bhakta ati eka rupi//, the Guruji said qouting the lyrics.
At the end of the workshop on Embodied Heart Sutra on both days, Guruji Prajwal answered to the questions of the participants.
---------------------------
Vajravarahi is the Mother of All Dakinis, Says Vajracharya
Portland, Feb 15 (Nepal Oregon News): "Vajravarahi is the mother of all Dakinis. Vajravarahi is invoked to destroy enemies. She is one of the most important deities in Newar Vajrayana Buddhism."
Prajwal Vajracharya, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA, said this while conducting an on-line teaching on deity Vajravarahi and Empowerment. The remotely held program was hosted by Hong Kong Buddhist Studies Association on Saturday, Feb 14, 2026.
Prajwal Guruji reiterated:"Vajravarahi is the central deity in the Five Dakini Mandala. She is a deity of compassion, but when she is chased by evil creatures, she can hide under the ground, protecting herself with the help of her boar's mouth.
It is to be noted that for the practice of Sadhana of Vajravarahi, an initiation or empowerment (Dikchha) is always required.
During the teaching, Prajwal Guruji also conducted the fundamental movements and dance teaching. Charya Nritya teacher Prajwal demonstrated hand and finger mudra and showed methods of the dance 'Vajravarahi'. The teaching presented a detailed and comprehensive description of Vajravarahi charya nritya.
Prajwal Guruji went on saying:"Vajravarahi is the deity who can create good out of bad, who can move forward, transforming malice and malevolence into compassion and kindness.''
Prajwal Guruji added:"A wild boar's head is there on the right hand side of Vajravarahi's head or on the top of her head. Four to ten of her toddlers are fed from her breast simultaneously."
The Guruji continued:"There are a number of Charya gitis dedicated to Vajravarahi, In Newar Tantric Vajrayana Buddhismm, Vajravarahi is one of the most important female deity who protects Newar temples and buildings."
Throwing light on the iconography of the goddess Vajravarahi, Prajwal Guruji said:"Vajravarahi who is one of the manifestations of Vajrayogini, is red in color and stands on a reclining body of Bhairava in dancing posture."
Further elucidating on the female deity's iconography, the 35th generation Vajrayana priest said:"Vajravarahi holds a Kartri in her right hand on level of head and holds a Kapala filled with blood in her left. The deity carries a Khatvanga stick surmounted by three skulls. She wears a garland of fifty severed heads and various ornaments."
At the end of the on-line teaching, Guruji Prajwal answered to the questions raised by the zoom participants who are members of the Hong Kong Dance Mandal.
--------------------------
Matt Castagno, Clay Steinhilber Named New Pujaris for Vihara
Portland, Feb 28 (Nepal Oregon News): Matt Castagno and Clay Steinhilber have been named new Pujaris for morning rituals at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA.
Pujari is a voluntary position for performing morning rituals at the temple.
"Our Vihara has been doing daily Puja in the temple since its establishment in 2009 without missing a day," says Prajwal Vajracharya, Chief Pujari at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara.
Prajwal Guruji says:"Overtime some Pujaris have moved away or their circumstances have changed, so now there is vacancies for some days."
"If someone wants to learn to do the ritual, we will be training individuals one-in-one by appointment in the morning at 8 AM on weekdays and on weekends at 9 AM."
This is a voluntary opportunity. It is especially good for those who meditate and want to learn a different way of meditation by doing daily Puja, said the Guruji adding:"In the training, you will learn the meaning and significance of each element of the ritual."
The Guruji went on saying:"The Newar Vajrayana Buddhist rituals have been passed down from the 3rd century and is critical to the life of our Vihara."
"Maintaining this practice not only benefits the Vihara, but it also helps those who perform it to grow in their own spirituality," the Guruji said.
----------------------
Weekly Activities in Vihara Continue
In Febbruary, as usual and as always, Dharani chanting on zoom was conducted once a week every Tuesday. Similarly, Sadhana practice was held on each Wednesday evening. Likewise, the practice of singing Charya giti was performed in the mornings of every Friday. Manjushree Naamsangiti was chanted on zoom on the full-moon day of February.
(Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in USA)
----------------------------
"
No comments:
Post a Comment