Dr Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, Feb 3, 2021 (Nepal Oregon News): A regular weekly Dharani recitation was held in the zoom on Tuesday, Feb 2 2021 at Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara (NMM). Dharani and other mantras were chanted by Pundit Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya followed by other participants from different states of the USA and other countries.
Speaking on the occasion, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya informed the zoom participants that the Mahavihara has been organizing Dharani recitation in the zoom for over a year with the objective of publicizing the importance of Dharani.
Also, speaking on the occasion, Dr Miroj Shakya - who is an associate professor and co-chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of the West in Rosemead, California - said:"Dharani literature is one of the most important and most interesting aspects of Buddhism in general and Newah Buddhism in particular."
Expressing the view that the ancient roots of Dharani are still obscure, Dr Shakya said that their emergence may partly be connected to indigenous mantric lore that found its way first to Atharvaved and then to both early Bramhanic and Buddhist spell literature.
Throwing light on the historical importance of Dharani, Dr Shakya said that Dharani literature has existed for over two millennia in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition.
Typically used to prevent misfortune, remove obstacles, heal and protect, Dharani are also used in lifecycle rituals and other practices, Dr Shakya added.
Dr Shakya also discussed origin and evolution of Dharanis in India and Nepal and their widespread use by Nepalese Buddhist practitioners.
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Zoom Teaching on Singha Mukhi charya dance
Portland, Feb 7, 2021: A teaching on Singha Mukhi charya dance for Hong Kong Sangha students by Guru Prajwal Vajracharya was organized on the zoom on Saturday, Feb 6, 2021.
The Raga for this Charya song is Travali and Tala is Trihura, Pundit Vajracharya said speaking on the occasion.
During the zoom teaching, Prajwal threw light on the intricate and subtle meanings of the various mudras, gestures of hands, feet and body as well as meanings and significance of each finger in the charya dance.
Informing that Singha Mukhi is a mask dance, Prajwal said that the lion-faced Dakini is a secret form of Vajrayogini.
Singha Mukhi is red, fearless and very wrathful deity, emphasizing that enlightenment is not a a passionate state, but rather a state of wholeness in which one has access to all the energies and capacities of one's being, Guru Prajwal said.
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NMM firm to promote and preserve cultural values of Nepal, says Vajracharya
Portland, Feb 14, 2021: Promoting, preserving and protecting traditional and cultural values of Nepal in the USA are not easy work, but Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland is giving it a shot. Its establishment in 2009 in Portland has paved the way for Nepalese Portlanders and beyond to carry on with lots of lifecycle rituals and cultural ceremonies just like the way it is done in the Kathmandu valley.
Priest and co-founder of NMM Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya said this while addressing "e-heritage", a virtual conversation hosted by World Newah Organization, USA chapter on Saturday, Feb 13, 2021. The program was virtually attended by a number of people from different states of the USA, the UK, Canada, Hong Kong and Nepal.
Laying emphasis on the importance of preserving Newah Buddhist heritage, Prajwal said that Nritya Mandala Mahavihara which is the Foundation for Sacred Buddhist Art of Nepal, is dedicated to the preservation and protection of Charya nritya, and the related traditions of instruments and vocal music, choreography, and the crafts of making the masks, costumes and jewelry used in dances.
Many dignitaries and Dharma luminaries have visited the Mahavihara in the past like Dalai Lama's personal interpreter and Dalai Lama's teacher and many renowned Rinpoches etc, Prajwal said.
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Shree Panchami observed in Portland, USA with Naamsangiti chanting
Portland, Feb 17, 2021: Shree Panchami was observed on Tuesday, Feb 16, 2021 at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara (NMM) in Portland, USA with the chanting of Naamsangiti in the zoom.
15 people from Hong Kong, Canada, Oregon and California took part at the virtual program in which Naamsangiti was recited by Pundit Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya and followed by other participants.
Speaking on the occasion, co-founder of NMM Prajwal Vajracharya said that Shree Panchami is one of the important days for Newah Buddhists. Any of the rituals including lifecycle rituals like wedding can be performed on this day without looking for an auspicious day, added Prajwal saying that people visit Swoyambhu on the day of Shree Panchami to offer worship to Lord Manjushree.
He went on saying that Shree Panchami is also known as Manjushree Day among the Newah Buddhists.
Throwing light on the importance of Naamsangiti, Prajwal said that Naamsangiti is called Manjushreenaamsangiti. "The gist of Naamsangiti is that Manjushree Bodhisattva is the embodiment of all knowledge", Vajracharya added.
It is to be noted that Buddhists and Hindus offer worship to Lord Manjushree and Goddess Saraswoti on the day of Shree Panchami otherwise also known as Basant Panchami.
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Zoom teaching on Vajravarahi dance
Portland, Feb 21, 2021: Prajwal Vajracharya, who is a versatile Charya nritya guru, has trained the people with Charya dance in all the continents of the world.
A teaching on Vajravarahi Charya dance by Pundit Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in the zoom was organized for the Hong Kong Sangha students on Saturday, Feb 20, 2021.
15 participants took part at the Charya dance training in the zoom.
In Newah Buddhism, Vajravarahi is one of the most important female deity who protects Newah temples and buildings. Varahi refers to any of the four boar-headed deities who preside over the Kathmandu valley.
Pundit Vajracharya said:"Vajravarahi is always in the center of Nepal Mandala. A wild boar's head is there on the right side of Vajravarahi's head or on the top of her head. Four to ten of her toddlers are fed with her breast simultaneously."
Vajravarahi is the deity of compassion. But when she was chased by evil creatures, she would hide under the ground, protected herself with the help of her boar's mouth. She is the deity who can make things good out of bad, Prajwal said.
Vajravarahi is the mother of all Dakinis and she is invoked to destroy enemies, Prajwal went on saying. She is the Dakini who can move ahead transforming malice and malevolence into compassion and kindness, he added.
On the occasion, Prof Dr Miranda Shaw from California also expressed her views on Vajravarahi.
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"Manjushree Bodhisattva's roar awakens the world"
Portland, Feb 21, 2021: A talk on "Manjushree Bodhisattva's roar awakens the world" was organized on Saturday, Feb 20, 2021 in the zoom by Hong Kong Buddhist Studies Association. First half of the talk was conducted by Dr Tina Ho of the Hong Kong Sangha while second half was addressed by Pundit Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara.
About 35 people from USA, Hong Kong, Germany and Canada took part at the virtual program. On the occasion, Dr Tina Ho, while making a brilliant presentation, said that Manjushree is one of the most important iconic figures in the Mahayana Buddhism and is also known as the Bodhisattva of great wisdom.
Manjushree's wisdom captures the essence of esoteric Buddhist texts like Manjushreemulkalpa and Manjushreenaamsangiti, Dr Ho went on saying.
Dr Ho also added:"Manjushree leads the devotees to understand the core of the Vimalakirti Sutra's non-dual method."
Through visual pictures and many exquisite icons, the zoom participants were able to get an overview of Manjushree's appearance in different cultural areas.
Addressing the zoom meeting, Prajwal Vajracharya of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara said:"Lord Manjushree is the Bodhisattva of wisdom, and holds a sword in his right hand to cut off delusion, and a Prajnaparamita text in his left hand."
Prajwal expressed the view that just like Lord Buddha was born in Nepal, Lord Manjushree was one of the most powerful icons who always strengthened cordial ties between China and Nepal since the ancient times.
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Anna Shustrova's Charya dances at Portland's NMM
Portland, Feb 22, 2021: A solo Charya dance of Anna Shustrova, a Sangha member was organized at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara (NMM) in Portland on Sunday, Feb 21, 2021. Sunday was also Anna's birthday which was celebrated at the Mahavihara with face covering, with limited number of people, social distancing and other pandemic guidelines. The birthday was ritualized by Guruju Prajwal. Anna's Charya dance was watched by 30 people in the zoom.
The program kicked off with the Refuge Dance performed by Prajwal Vajracharya, Joshua Proto and Anna Shustrova. On the occasion, Anna presented three dances: (1) White Tara (2) Vajravarahi dakini dance and (3) Singhamukhi dance (dakini with lion-face).
Sangha member Joshua Proto sang Charya giti very skillfully for the dances and also played Taa (two little cymbals), while Kanta Dub Dub (Damaru) was played for the dances intermittently by Prajwal Vajracharya.
The Charya dances performed by Anna was beautiful and fascinating, and were able to reflect the stories of the inner qualities and awakening of Buddhist deities.
Addressing the zoom viewers, Prajwal Vajracharya underlined the importance of Charya dance in Newah Buddhism.
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Immerse yourself in dance, prayer and radiant health
Portland, Feb 29, 2021: "Motivation is very important factor in Charya dancing. You do not practice Charya as a form of entertainment. You do Charya as a form of spiritual movement, as meditation, as prayer, as sadhana."
Prajwal Vajracharya of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara said this during a virtual talk on "Immerse yourself in dance, prayer and radiant health" organized in the zoom by Tara Dhatu, New York on Feb 28, 2021.
Charya dance itself is considered as meditation. Charya is a process of immersing yourself in dance, spirituality and prayer, Prajwal added.
Tara Dhatu is a non-profit organization, an international community, and a sacred vehicle for the liberation of all beings. Tara Dhatu is dedicated to the inspiration and uplifting of humanity through the spiritual arts of music, meditation, prayer and service.
(Rabin Man Shakya is a Newah journalist in USA)
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