Portland, March 28 (Nepal Oregon News): A virtual presentation by Guruji Prajwal Vajracharya on "Kaya, Vaka, Chitta in Newar Buddhism" was organized on Friday, March 28, 2025 by Hong Kong Buddhist Studies Association.
The online teaching on 'Kaya, Vaka, Chitta' was participated by 20 people including Dr Miranda Shaw, Dr Eliza Lau, Dr Tina Ho and Kuon Hunt.
The digital webinar on 'Kaya, Vaka, Chitta' kicked off with Prajwal Guruji chanting Padmanateshvara Mantra.
Prajwal Guruji, who is the 35th generation Vajracharya priest, related the iconography of Padmanateshvara with Kaya, Vaka and Chitta, as the dancing Bodhisattva has ten arms, and is holding the tools to help all sentient beings, dancing on top of a lotus flower.
Kaya is the form, how you see yourself with ten arms whereas Vaka is the speaking of the meaning of holding the tools and being adorned with beautiful garments and ornaments, representing what the Bodhisattva gives to the world -- unconditional compassion and kindness. The mind is the combination of body and speech, from which Padmanateshvara gives meaning and purpose of life through his being, Prajwal Guruji elaborated.
Kaya is the body, Vaka is the speech and Chitta is the mind, Prajwal Guruji reiterated and added that any Mudra that is made cannot be separated from Kaya, Vaka, Chitta. "Our every gesture and movement in dancing is connected with body, speech and mind," the Guruji went on saying.
Prajwal Guruji inspired students of the Hong Kong Dance Mandal and other participants with his teaching on how to embody the Kaya, Vaka, Chitta and how to awaken and connect through learning Kaya Mudra, Vaka Mudra and Chitta Mudra.
During the digital teaching, Prajwal Guruji focused on different kinds of Mudras, such as, Samaya Mudra, Karma Mudra, Dharma Mudra, Jnan Mudra, Aalingan Mudra etc. He also shed light on contributions made by prominent Buddhist scholars late Asha Kaji Vajracharya and late Ratna Kaji Vajracharya.
The remotely held presentation was an opportunity for the participants to learn and acquire knowledge about the relevance and importance of Kaya, Vaka and Chitta in the real life.
Underscoring the importance of Chakrasambhara Tantra, the noted Charya dance pedagogue also elucidated on Chakrasambhara initiation and Kala Chakra initiation.
Prajwal Guruji in a charismatic way discussed how certain movements and Mudras effect health and shared yogic exercises for healing of hands, feet and energy channels.
Talking about Mudra and Charya, Prajwal Guruji said:"Charya is a dance of the Mudras and a moving meditation which helps us develop a deeper understanding of Newar Vajrayana Buddhist deities."
Explaining that Kaya, Vaka, Chitta have connections with all kinds of meditations, Prajwal Guruji shared that there is no survival of human beings without Kaya, Vaka, Chitta.
During the online teaching, the Guruji made it clear that Charya dance is not just a dance, it is teaching, it is preaching as well as a philosophy yielding deep understanding and guidelines for moving forward in life.
Saying that Kaya, Vaka, Chitta are the way to achieve the enlightenment, the Guruji threw light on the connection of Kaya, Vaka, Chitta with the Charya Dance. The Guruji also demonstrated rare pictures of deities, Mudras, Charya Nritya postures, Charya Giti lyrics and scriptures on the occasion.
Each and every Sanskrit word in the lyrics of Charya Nritya giti contains deep philosophical value and intricate meaning, the Guruji added.
At the end of the online teaching, Prajwal Guruji answered to the questions raised by the participants.
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Newar Buddhist Temple in Portland, USA Marks Eighth World Newah Day with Events like Newah Bhoye, among Others
Portland, March 29 (Nepal Oregon News): Nritya Mandala Mahavihara -- the only one Newar Buddhist temple in USA -- marked the eighth World Newah Day (WND) with various events: Singing of Newah National Song, Introduction on 8th WND Short Slide Show, Interaction with American Pujaris of the Vihara, Recitation of Poems, Presentation on 'Activism of People in Nepal', Revival of Newah Traditional Games, Buddha Bhajan in Nepal Bhasa, Presentation on 'Nutritional Concept of Newah Bhoye and Health'.
However, most importantly, the main attraction of the Day was the Newah Jhwo Bhoye (a Newar feast tradition in which participants or guests are seated crosslegged on long mats). It was kind of a mini Newar food festival organized at the end of the program to mark the Day.
The Newah Jhwo Bhoye is organized every year at the Newar Buddhist temple in Portland to mark the annual World Newah Day. Newar and American guests sat crosslegged in a line, and Sangha volunteers served them Baji, Bhutee, Waaun Chaa, Chhoyela, Khasi La, Musyaa Palu, Wo, Cauli Tarkari, Achaar, Kha Ya La (Kawaf), Pukau (Bhuttan), Simpuu Kwaa, Aaloo Tama, Lain Kwa, Mee Kwa, Paun Kwa, Dhau, Sisa Busa, Maree, Brownies, Desserts, soft drinks and wine.
21 different kinds of Newah foods were served on traditional green Lapte plates.
Equally remarkable and worth mentioning event of the Day was the playing of Newah traditional games 'Lon daa - ya, Khaau daa - ya' and 'Ekandhala' which are on the verge of extiction.
Daya Shakya, patron of the World Newah Organization (WNO) made a presentation on 'Introduction on 8th WND Short Slide Show'. His talk presented a detailed and comprehensive description on the history and activities of the WNO established in 2011 by the London declaration, and its decision in 2017 to observe the last Saturday of the month of March as World Newah Day.
Further, during an interaction with the American Pujaris of the Vihara, Adam Bidema, Anastasia Roderick, Anna Shustrova, Joshua Proto and Teya Desesa shared their experience performing daily Nitya Puja rituals at the Vihara.
A Buddha Bhajan 'Vasundhara' was beautifully rendered in Nepal Bhasa by Sangha members Joshua Proto and Adam Bidema.
Moreover, on the occasion, Sangha member and temple pujari Naveena Shakya recited a poem entitled 'Destination', reiterating the relevance and importance of Newah movement whereas Sangha member and temple pujari Adam Bidema made a presentation 'Activism of People in Nepal' applauding the role of Vihara in promoting Newar Buddhism in USA.
Former president of Nepali Association of Oregon Ganga Sharma recited a poem by David Hargreave entitled 'Language Lesson' which was then translated in Nepal Bhasa for the audience by Daya Shakya.
Co-founder of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Prajwal Vajracharya expressed his happiness that the World Newah Day is celebrated at the Vihara every year and extended his gratitude to the Sangha members and community members for actively participating at the World Newah Day in Portland, USA.
Secretary of the Nepali Association of Oregon (NAO) Punam Glee emphasized Vihara's role as important in the Nepali community and informed that a program dedicated to celebration of Bikram Sambat New Year is to be organized in Corvallis, Oregon soon.
Finally, taking the floor, Portland's noted chef Bikram Vaidya shed light on nutritional concept of Newah Bhoye and its health benefits.
The program in Portland dedicated to eighth World Newah Day was attended by about 80 people: Sangha members of the Vihara and community members including representatives of Nepali Association of Oregon (NAO), Nepa Chhen, a non-profit organization and Nepal Oregon News.
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Prajwal Guruji Performs 'Vajrasattva' Charya Dance at Nepal Rising Seattle's Annual Gala Fundraiser 2025
Portland, March 22 (Nepal Oregon News): Prajwal Vajracharya -- a ritual master of both the Charya dance tradition and other ritual forms performed by the Newar Vajrayana lineage -- performed a beautiful 'Vajrasattva' charya dance at Annual Gala Fundraiser 2025 hosted by Nepal Rising at Swedish Club, Seattle on Saturday, March 22, 2025.
Vajrasattva means 'Adamantine Being' meaning pure, stainless, incapable of destruction or diminishment. Vajrasattva is identified with ultimate, formless state of Buddhahood, and represents the essence of all Buddhas. The purpose of meditating on Vajrasattva is to fully purify all negative Karma, mind, states and motivations.
Vajrasattva is peaceful in appearance, white in color, with one face and two hands, seated in Vajra posture. The proper right hand holds an upright gold Vajra at the level of heart. The left hand holds a Vajra- handled bell turned up at the left hip.
Apart from classical Charya Nritya 'Vajrasattva', there were also other musical performances at the fundraiser event: musical performance by Subhas Prajapati and Lhakpa Sherpa, Kumari dance by Surakshya Pandey and a group Nepali folk dance.
Nepal Rising's annual gala fundraiser was addressed by Dr Mimi Gardner Gates (Mother of Bill Gates), Amy Carter (late president Jimmy Carter's daughter), Bikram Vaidya (a renowned chef), Dr Roshan R. Shrestha (Deputy Director, Water Sanitation and Hygiene, Gates Foundation, Seattle) among others.
Nepal Rising is a global diaspora engagement platform working for post-quake relief, rebuilding and resilience of communities in Nepal. Nepal Rising is a campaign administered by Daayitwa US, a registered non-profit organization in the US.
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Macha Janko Rituals Held at Vihara
Portland, March 1 (Nepal Oregon News): A Macha Janko (rice feeding ceremony) for a little girl Inigo Ash, daughter of Nick Ash and Dipa Malakar, was ritualized by chief pujari Prajwal Vajracharya at the temple of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara on Saturday, March 1, 2025.
Pasni, Macha Janko or Anna Prasana is an important life cycle ritual in Nepal in which a child is fed rice for the first time.
During the Macha Janko, a Mandala was drawn and Gurumandala Puja was performed by Prajwal Guruji. The Guruji used a variety of mantras, repeated offerings of the five elements in the form of flowers, fruit, rice, incense, water and candle light, as well as ritual objects to complete Macha Janko ceremony.
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Weekly Activities in Vihara Continue
In March, as usual and as always, Dharani chanting on zoom was conducted every Tuesday evening. Similarly, Sadhana practice and Buddha Bhajan singing practice were held on each Wednesday evening. Likewise, the practice of singing Charya giti was performed in the mornings of every Friday. Naamsangiti chanting was conducted once a month on every Full Moon Day of the Month.
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