Teaching on Gurumandala Puja Concludes at Newar Buddhist Temple in Portland, America
Dr Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, Nov 8 (Nepal Oregon News): A week long teaching on Gurumandala Puja concluded at Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland on Tuesday Nov 5, 2019. The teaching on Gurumandala Puja was conducted by priest and co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Prajwal Vajracharya.
The participants of the Gurumandala Performance Teaching were Nepalese as well as American, Russian and Japanese Buddhists: Helen Appell, Yuko Okomoto, Anna Shustrova, Anastasia Roderick, Aleksei Dobry, Joshua Proto, Leson Baker, Gabriel Quitslund, Uppa Shakya, Dina Shakya and Naveena Shakya.
The teaching on Gurumandala Puja consisted of both the practical and theoretical aspects of the Puja. A Vajra, a set of bells (gan) and all other required ritual objects were also used by the participants during the teaching. Puja Sankalpa was also prepared. Saptavidhanuttara Puja Sadparmita, offering the Ratnamandala to the Gurus was also carried out.
It is to be noted that Gurumandala Puja ritual is one of the oldest and most important rituals of Newar Vajrayana tradition.
Some of the prime concerns or benefits of Gurumandala Puja are: It teaches you to go to the right path in life, to become spiritually perfect, to bring physical wellness, to give teacher-like feeling to one's own body and to aim for attaining Nirvana, said Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya replying to a question asked by Nepal Oregon News.
The objective of the teaching is not only to familiarize the participants with the rituals of the Gurumandala Puja, but also to provide them information and study about the lines of chanting and ritualization of strotas of Gurumandala Puja, Prajwal went on saying.
A whole set of book on Gurumandala Puja printed in Sanskrit and English (together with meaning of strotas in English) was provided to each participant.
Probably, this kind of teaching to enhance and disseminate the value of Gurumandala Puja in Portland, USA must be the first one ever in the West, says Prajwal.
Gurumandala Puja starts with paying homage to the Gurus and finishes up with Lokapalabali Puja. Gurumandala Puja consists of three different words: Guru, Mandala and Puja. Guru means a teacher, Mandala refers to a circle and Puja denotes a worship.
Thus, in the broader sense, Guru refers to the Buddhas, the Dharma and the Sangha while Mandala's meaning goes beyond the body, speech and mind of oneself whereas Puja means rituals and worshipping. Therefore, Gurumandala Puja can broadly be defined as the worshipping of the body, speech and mind for attaining Nirvana.
Gurumandala Puja is an integral and indispensable part of the ritual life of Bajracharyas and Shakyas of the Kathmandu valley. Gurumandala Puja is offered by Newah Buddhists (the Bajracharyas and the Shakyas) every morning.
In his book "Guru, Mandala Wa Gurumandala" (Kathmandu, Nepal Sambat 1124), Yagyamanpati Bajracharya says:"The concept of Gurumandala is abysmal. Gurumandala is assumed as indispensable practice. During any kind of worshipping, Gurumandala rituals are sine quo non." (page 16).
Likewise, in his book "Vajrayana Charya Ye Guru Mandala Puja Ya Rahasya" (Lalitpur, 2003 AD), Mahishwor Raj Bajracharya states:"According to Buddhist philosophy, Vajrayana is a progressive path moving forward under the Mahayana. Vajrayana's means are Tantra, Mantra and Yog Charya and its trail blazer is a Bajracharya. That means a Bajracharya is the teacher of Vajrayana, and all the devotees who follow this path are Mahayanis." (page 2).
Further, Bajracharya says:"The Bajracharyas as teachers lead the Mahayanis to the path of Nirvana as per Vajrayana rituals. This ritual process is started first of all by Gurumandala - Charya." (page 2).
(Nepal Oregon News writer Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in USA)
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