Dr Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, Jan 2, 2021 (Nepal Oregon News): The Nepalese Buddhist temple in Portland - Nritya Mandala Mahavihara (NMM) - bade farewell to 2020 and greeted the new year 2021 by performing and chanting Gurumandala Puja on Friday, Jan 1, 2021.
Very limited number of people joined the Puja - which was conducted by Mahavihara's priest and co-founder Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya - for purifying and reviving the old energy of the previous year and for overcoming obstacles and opening up fresh new potential through the annual New Years's purification ritual at the Mahavihara because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Mandatory social distancing, covering of face and other pandemic guidelines were strictly followed during the New Year purification puja at the Portland Baha. This kind of New Year purification puja is chanted at the Mahavihara once every year, says Guruju Prajwal. The Puja helps you to move forward with new vigour and enthusiasm all year along, he adds.
The participants at the New Year purification puja were: Joshua Proto, Anna Shustrova, Naveena Shakya, Alexei Dobry, Gabriel Quitslund and Dr Rabin Man Shakya. Besides the limited number of participants because of ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the religious program was participated by 15 other people on the zoom from Oregon, California, Hong Kong and Nepal.
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Cultural significance of Bura-Buri Janko stressed
Portland, Jan 9, 2021: A virtual talk on 'Bura-Buri Janko (Bhimratharohan - Honoring Old Age Ritual Ceremony in Nepal' by Hom Shrestha, a Ph D student in Canada, was organized by Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara on Friday, Jan 8, 2021.
Speaking on the occasion, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Prajwal Vajracharya said:"When a man or woman turns 77 years, 7 months, 7days and 7 hours, there is a special ceremony to perform. The celebration may also be held for a couple when either the husband or wife reaches that age."
The Bhimratha observance calls on the goddess of long life - Usnisavijaya - to purify karma and bestow the blessings of good health and a long life span, Prajwal added.
Kuon Hunt, member of the Board of Directors of the NMM gave a short introduction of Hom Shrestha on the occasion.
Hom Shrestha, a Ph D scholar doing research on Bura-Buri Janko at Laurentian University in Canada, speaking on the occasion threw light on the cultural and traditional significance of Bura-Buri Janko.
Highlighting on the historical and cultural background of Bura-Buri Janko, Shrestha said that Bhimratharohan is an important part of the lifecycle ritual of a human being.
The virtual interaction on Bura-Buri Janko was attended by 15 participants from the USA, Hongkong and Canada. Prof. Dr Linda Iltis of University of Washington was also among the participants. The talk was followed by an interaction between Hom and participants.
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Vajracharya stresses need for preservation of Nepal's ancient heritage
Portland, Jan 10, 2021: Ancient temples and stupas in the Kathmandu valley are important parts of Nepal's national heritage. It is so painful to say that many of the historical monuments are in the dilapidated condition and many have been stolen away.
Nritya Mandala Mahavihara's (NMM) co-founder Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya said this during a virtual presentation 'e-heritage' organized by World Newah Organization (WNO), USA chapter on Saturday, Jan 9, 2021.
Vajracharya, during the live virtual presentation, said that Nepalese traditions like Rice Feeding Ceremony, Ihi, Bara Tayegu, Chuda Karma, Brata Bandha, Ihipa and Bhimratharohan are important lifecycle events which have so much meaning.
Dwelling on the rich historical heritage of Nepal, he said it is the spirituality that helped to create so many unique and intricate masterpieces of arts and culture in the past.
In his talk, Vajracharya, who is also a scholar of Newar Vajrayana Buddhism, confirmed Nritya Mandala Mahavihara's readiness, as always, to get involved as much as possible in matters concerning preservation of Charya dance, lifecycle rituals and festivals of the Newah people.
In fact, the NMM's contribution for preserving and promoting Nepalese Buddhist heritage and rituals in the USA is known to everyone in the Nepalese community in America and beyond.
Prior to the virtual talk, Pramesh Shrestha of the World Newah Organization (WNO), USA chapter gave a short introduction of pundit Vajracharya who is also the director of Heritage Division, WNO, USA chapter.
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Zoom Teaching on Vasundhara
Portland, Jan 24, 2021: In what have been commendable and praiseworthy activities, a zoom teaching on Vasundhara was organized by Hong Kong Sangha on January 23, 2021 followed by a Vasundhara weekly celebration.
A beautiful and intricate Vasundhara dance was offered by a Hong Kong Sangha member on the zoom. During the Vasundhara week, an art workshop on Vasundhara coloring was also organized in Hong Kong.
During the teaching on Vasundhara, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Prajwal Vajracharya threw light on the cultural aspects of Nepal's Vasundhara and mandala of Vasundhara.
Laying emphasis on the importance and meaning of the mudras of the Vajra dance of Vasundhara , Prajwal also said that the Vasundhara Bodhisattva has three faces and six arms, holding different Dharma objects in her hands and possessing different abilities.
Newah Buddhists believe that Vasundhara's worship brings wealth and stability. Vasundhara is like the mother who bred the earth and cultivated our hearts. She is also a Bodhisattva with great compassion, Prajwal added.
Zoom teaching on Vasundhara was participated by 25 people from the USA, Hongkong and Canada.
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Dharani recitation contributing to preservation of heritage
Portland, Jan 27, 2021: A regular Dharani recitation was held on Tuesday, Jan 26, 2021 by the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara on the zoom. In the beginning, Guru Bandana was chanted by Guruju Prajwal Vajracharya.
After that, Graha Dasha ya Paath, Saptavidhan Puja - The Seven Limb Prayer (from the Bhadracharya desana), Dharani (Buddha, Bodhisattva's Mantra and Dharanipada) recitation and Prajnaparamita Hridayam Sutra were chanted by Prajwal Guruju and other participants.
There is no doubt that NMM's Dharani recitation - which is the only one chanting program of this kind in the West - has proved to be a significant leap forward in contributing to the preservation of heritage.
Earlier, speaking about Dharma awareness among the youth, pundit Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya stressed the need for parent's encouragemment and involvement in inculcating the value of Dharma on youth's mind.
Throwing light on the role of Dharma in the everyday life of human beings, pundit Vajracharya added that it can help in many ways to reduce the impact of stress and pressure of life.
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Sadhana practice brings positive changes in life
Portland, Jan 28, 2021: At a time when the whole world is bogged down in coronavirus crisis and so many countries are facing tumultuous political and economic dilemma, more and more people in the world are bracing for meditation, yoga and Sadhana.
Sadhana practice brings positive changes in life and it has lots of benefits for mental as well as physical health. Sadhana is also performed for attaining detachment from worldly things. Sadhana is a Sanskrit word that means spiritual exercise. Sadhana is a spiritual practice in which the practitioner invokes divinity, identifying and absorbing it into himself - the primary form of meditation in Vajrayana Buddhism.
Sadhana practice is one of the many activities which has continuously been conducted by Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara for last several years.
Likewise, a regular Sadhana practice was also held in the zoom on Wednesday, Jan 27 at the NMM in Portland. Twelve people from Oregon, California, Hong Kong and Canada participated at the Sadhana practice in the zoom.
Speaking on the occasion, before the beginning of Sadhana practice, pundit Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya threw light on the importance of Chakra in Sadhana.
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Naamsangiti - one of the most important preachings of Lord Buddha, says Vajracharya
Portland, Jan 29, 2021: "In Vajrayana Buddhism, Manjushree Naamsangiti is one of the most important preachings of Shakya Muni Tathagata. It consists of 167 verses and mantra sentences," pundit Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, co-founder of Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara (NMM) said at a Naamsangiti recitation ritual in the zoom organized on Thursday, Jan 28, 2021 to mark the Full Moon Day.
15 people from Canada, Hongkong, Nepal, California and Oregon took part at the Naamsangiti recitation ritual. through the zoom.
It is to be noted that NMM has been organizing Manjushree Naamsangiti recitation on every full moon day of the month since July of the last year. Also, Naamsangiti is recited daily at the Mahavihara during the whole month of Gunla (Nepal Sambat Lunar Calendar).
At a time when a lot of heritage, historical and religious scriptures are on the verge of extinction, disseminating the sacred tantras and preachings is essential to keep them alive, said Prajwal Vajracharya adding,"That's why NMM is dedicated to promote and preserve these sacred things."
(Nepal Oregon News writer Rabin Man Shakya is a Newah journalist in USA)
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