Dr Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): A 30-member US Buddhist pilgrimage tour to sacred sites in Nepal led by co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara and 35th generation Vajrayana priest Prajwal Vajracharya has been described and reported to be very favorable and successful.
Many US members of the pilgrimage to sacred sites in Nepal, who are also Sangha members of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, have described the visit as very amazing, memorable, fruitful and productive.
The two week pilgrimage took the team members not only to three historical cities of the Kathmandu valley -- Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, but to picturesque places like Chandragiri (15 minute ride in cable car) and Nagarkot.
The team members were also blessed in person by living Goddess Patan Kumari and living God Bhairav during their Nepal trip. Equally unforgettable moments for the team was their visit to Sankhu Vajrayogini and Guru Rinpoche cave in Pharping. Also, the team was lucky to meet Buddhist scholar Glenn Mullin in Kathmandu. Similarly, the team also called on Ani Choying, the famous Buddhist nun and singer.
The Buddhist delegation was welcomed at Nagarjun Institute in Lalitpur where they were honored by wrapping Khata on them. On the occasion, chief of the Nagarjun Institute Milan Shakya handed over 'Prajna Paramita --8,000 verses' to Prajwal Guruji.
However, the following are some remarkable events and functions organized during their trip in Nepal
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Participation at Swayambhu Gyan Mala Bhajan Khala
Kathmandu (Nepal Oregon News): Joshua Proto, Casey Redman, Ashley Low, Mario Mastrangelo, Adam Bidema took an active participation at Swayambhu Gyan Mala Bhajan Khala on Oct 13 - 15, 2022.
Buddha Bhajans like Lumbini Yatra, Basundhara, Najato, Tri Ratna Lumanka and Das Paramita were performed by pilgrimage team members together with other local members of the Swayambhu Gyan Mala Bhajan Khala.
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Pilgrimage Team Calls on Mahayogi Sridhar Rana Rinpoche
Kathmandu (Nepal Oregon News): The visiting US Buddhist pilgrimage team called on Mahayogi Sridhar SJB Rana Rinpoche on Monday, Oct 17, 2022 at Byoma Kusuma Buddhadharma Sangha in Kathmandu.
Mahayogi Sridhar Rana Rinpoche who was born in Kathmandu, Nepal in 1949 is the grandson of the then Rana prime minister late Padma SJB Rana.
All the 30 members of the pilgrimage team were present at the meeting with Ven Rinpoche.
In course of the visit, Prajwal Guruji acquired information about the ongoing activities at the Byoma Kusuma Buddhadharma Sangha. Discussions on the occasion were focused on various updates about the Newar Buddhist temple in Portland, USA.
Besides the Vajrayana tradition of Tibet and Nepal, Mahayogi Shridhar Rinpoche is a scholar of Chan and Zen Buddhism, Jodo Shinshu, Theravada tradition and the Abhidharma of Mahayana, Vaibhasika and Theravada, and has keen interest in both Zen and Theravada traditions.
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Prajwal Guruji Urges LBU to Include Sacred Buddhist Charya Dances in Its Curriculum
Kapilvastu (Nepal Oregon News): The pilgrimage team was in Lumbini for two days on Oct 21-22, 2022. The visit of the pilgrimage team to Lumbini was very important because it was here the Tathagata Gautam Buddha was born.
The members of the team were able to visit all important places and all the Mahaviharas of Lumbini.
Likewise, the pilgrimage team was also received by Manik Vajracharya who is the Dean at the Lumbini Buddhist University (LBU). It was Dean Vajracharya who took the huge Buddhist delegation members to all over the Lumbini Buddhist University.
During an interaction program with Dean Vajracharya, the members of the pilgrimage team were briefed about the academic activities of the University and its curriculum and courses of study. On the occasion, the team leader of the pilgrimage group Prajwal Vajracharya urged the LBU authority to include sacred Buddhist Charya dances in its curriculum.
Also, the members of the visiting team demonstrated Charya dances to some of the monks and nuns studying at Lumbini Buddhist University.
Similarly, a refuge dance and 16-offering goddess dance were performed in front of the Maya Devi temple. On the occasion, charya dances Pancha Buddha, Lokeshwor and Green Tara were also performed by the members of the pilgrimage team.
Historical evidences have been found that Krakuchanda Buddha and Kanakmuni Buddha were also born in Lumbini area in Nepal. Guruji Prajwal and his team went to the sites of their birth to pay sacred homage to those Buddhas by performing Refuge and 16-offering dances.
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"Vajrayogini Empowerment Crucial to Newar Vajrayana Buddhism"
Kathmandu (Nepal Oregon News): Guruji Prajwal led the Bijeshwori charya dance along with the US pilgrimage team at the Bijeshwori temple in Kathmandu on Monday, Oct 24, 2022.
Guruji Prajwal said:"We had also magic ceremony at the Vajrayogini initiations. We had a wonderful and amazing way of celebrating the deity. My eldest brother Sarbagya Ratna Vajracharya did all the chanting and rituals during the Vajrayogini empowerment."
While performing rituals and chanting for deity, senior Gubhaju Sarbagya Ratna Vajracharya said that Vajrayogini empowerment is crucial to Newar Tantric Vajrayana Buddhism.
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Mha Puja Celebrations in Kathmandu
Kathmandu (Nepal Oregon News): The Buddhist pilgrimage team attended a Mha Puja celebration on the rooftop at the house of Dipendra Shakya at Mhayapi in Kathmandu on Wednesday, 26 Oct, 2022. Dipendra Shakya is the elder brother of Sangha member Uppa Shakya.
Mha Puja is a quintessential part of rich Newar culture. It is an interesting coincidence that Mha Puja, a part of Swanti Nakha is performed to purefy mind and body and is annually held on the day of new year celebrations of Nepal Sambat era.
The main highlight of Mha Puja is the worshipping of the Mandala to purify the body, soul and mind. Mha Puja literally means worship of the self.
All the Mha Puja rituals - worshipping Mandala, offering marigold flowers, jaki, colors (sinha) to Mandala, burning of wicks and dewa - were performed during the ceremony. Then, the pilgrimage team members were presented with hard-boiled egg, dried anchovy fish and 'ayela' (wine) which was poured down from a Newar style 'anti' into a small 'khola' and got refill three times in a row followed by a lavish Newar feast.
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Pilgrimage Team Visits Padma Kanya Campus
Kathmandu (Nepal Oregon News): The US Buddhist pilgrimage team visited Padma Kanya Campus under Tribhuvan University and its Dance Faculty in Kathmandu on Thursday, Oct 27, 2022.
On the occasion, Padma Kanya Campus Dance Faculty member Raju Shakya stressed on the need to update dance curriculum and threw light on how the Charya Nritya Buddhist dance tradition is taught in a university setting.
It is to be noted that a short biography of Prajwal Guruji was included in the MA level Charya dance study at the college. The Padma Kanya Campus Dance Faculty students on the occasion performed a Charya dance 'Nairatma'.
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Gurumandala Puja Rituals Performed at Swayambhu
Kathmandu (Nepal Oregon News): A Gurumandala Puja was ritualized at Swayambhu on Friday, Oct 28, 2022 by five members of the pilgrimage team previously trained in the Puja by Prajwal Guruji.
The participants of Gurumandala Puja at Swayambhu stupa were Gabriel Quitslund, Joshua Proto, Adam Bidema, Glenn Cueto and Rebecca Wing.
A set of Vajra and a bell and all other required ritual objects were used by Gurumandala Puja participants. Puja Sankalpa was also prepared for the participants. Saptavidhanuttara Puja Sadparmita, offering the Ratnamandala to the Gurus was also carried out.
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 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.
Probably, this kind of Gurumandala Puja performed by foreigners at Swayambhu stupa in Kathmandu must be the first one ever in Kathmandu, said Guruji Prajwal Vajracharya.
Gurumandala Puja is one of the oldest and most important rituals of Newar Vajrayana tradition.
Gurumandala Puja is an integral and indispensable part of the ritual life of Bajracharyas and Shakyas of the Kathmandu valley.
After the Gurumandala Puja, there was a Charya dance offering by the members of the pilgrimage team in the four directions at the Swayambhunath stupa.
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Itum Baha Greets US Pilgrimage Team with Charya Dances
Kathmanndu (Nepal Oregon News): Various Charya dances were performed at different Bahas and Bahis of Kathmandu by the members of the pilgrimage team led by Prajwal Guruji. Likewise, an amazing Charya Nritya program -- by Keshchandra Paravat Mahavihara Preservation Society in collaboration with Bajracharya Club -- was organized at Itum Baha, Kathmandu on Friday, Oct 28, 2022.
The program kicked off with refuge dance and 16-offering goddess dances. On the occasion, Charya dance 'Rakta Ganesh' was performed by Joshua Proto, Vajrayogini charya dance was offered by Karen Greenspan and Vajravarahi charya dance was presented by Alysha Pecore. From the Nepali side, Namami Shakya performed Avlokiteshvara charya dance while Green Tara charya dance was offered by Shristi Shakya.
A set of bell and Vajra were given away as souvenirs to all the Charya dancers during the event. Joshua, Karen and Alysha are students of Prajwal Guruji. Charya songs were vocalized by Swayambhu Shakya and Joshua Proto.
Auspicious Khatas were also wrapped on the members of the pilgrimage team on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara and senior Charya Guru Prajwal Vajracharya said that Charya is a Buddhist ritual dance with a history going back to more than 1,000 years. Portland Baha in the USA has been working very hard for last 13 years to preserve and promote Charya dances and Newar Buddhist rituals, Prajwal Guruji added.
Pragya Ratna Shakya, president of Keshchandra Paravat Mahavihara Preservation Society, spoke about the unparalleled contributions of Prajwal Guruji in preserving Buddhist rituals and traditions and promoting esoteric Charya dance in the USA and abroad.
Sharing their experience about the Charya dances, students of Prajwal Guruji stressed the need for its preservation and promotion. Four Paubha paintings created by artist Uttam Shakya (a member of Itum Baha Sarba Sangha) were also displayed on the occasion.
The Itum Baha program was attended over by more than 100 participants including the dignitaries like member-secretary of Lumbini Development Trust Sanu Raja Shakya, vice chancellor of Lumbini Buddhist University Hridaya Ratna Vajracharya, Buddhist scholar Bajra Raj Shakya and Sarju Bajracharya, president of Bajracharya Club and so on. The program was conducted by social worker Shailendra Bajracharya.
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Aksheswar Mahavihara Felicitates Robert Beer, Prajwal Guruji
Lalitpur (Nepal Oregon News): A felicitation and interaction program with famous writer on Buddhism Robert Beer (UK) and Charya Guru Prajwal Vajracharya was organized by Aksheswar Mahavihara Preservation Committee (AMPC) on Wednesday, Nov 2, 2022 at the Mahavihara, Pulchowk, Lalitpur, Nepal.
Certificates of Appreciation were handed over to Robert Beer and Prajwal Guruji. The certificate given to Prajwal Guruji mentioned:"This certificate is presented to internationally acclaimed Charya dancer Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya for his valuable contribution in Buddhist rituals and traditional Charya dance since several decades."
It added:"His tremendous contribution in this field has assisted to flourish this sacred dance and to spread Buddhism all around the world."
The certificate further said:"Hence we would like to heartily appreciate his high effort in uplifting the glory of this Tantric dance in higher level and also like to wish him for a good time ahead."
Similarly, Rajesh Shakya, president of AMPC honored the members of the US pilgrimage team by wrapping Khata on them.
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Chwammo and Thayepa Lan Handed Over to Prajwal Guruji
Kathmandu (Nepal Oregon News): Mettagaar, a local Buddhist organization of Kathmandu, honored Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya by handing over Thayepa Lan (Traditional Newar Dress for the Seniormost Personality) amid a function organized here in Kathmandu.
Chief of Mettagaar Shanta Ratna Shakya also handed over a Chwammo to Prajwal on the same occasion. A Chwammo is a Vajrayana Buddhist ritual object that is used during the chanting of Dasparamita (Dan Balen) in front of the Kwa Pah Dyo (Lord Buddha) at a Mahavihara.
The program to honor the co-founder of Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara was held on Thursday, Nov 3, 2022 in front of a big idol of Lord Buddha on the premises of Purna Kaji Shakya's house at Tahachal in Kathmandu.
Welcoming Prajwal at the program, Mettagaar chief Shakya threw light on the contributions of Prajwal for promotion of Charya dance and Newar Vajrayana Buddhism abroad.
Sheel Prarthana and Buddha Puja was also performed on the occasion. Sangha Ratna Shakya, general secretary of Shakya Mahavihara Association stressed the need for preservation and promotion of Newar Vajrayana Buddhism.
Mettagaar chief Shakya who is the father of Portland's Sangha member Naveena Shakya visited Portland, USA in 2018. Shakya also attended the Ninth Anniversary ceremony of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara held in Portland in November, 2018.
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Dharma Talk on Kwa Pah Dyo at Itum Baha
Kathmandu (Nepal Oregon News): A Dharma talk on chanting and rituals to Kwa Pah Dyo (Lord Buddha) by Buddhist scholar Prajwal Vajracharya was organized at Keshchandra Mahavihara on Thursday, Nov 3, 2022.
Underscoring the importance of ritual practice, Prajwal, a 35th-generation Vajracharya priest, said that ritual and chanting is a meditation which is an ancient technology that has been used for thousands of years by people wishing to deepen their spiritual understanding and grow on the spiritual path.
During the Dharma talk, Buddhist scholar and ritual master Prajwal not only threw light on procedures of rituals and chantings at Kwa Pah Dyo, but also focused on the meaning and significance of the chantings like Dasparamita and Bandeshree.
Prajwal also shed light on the various aspects of Toranas and window carvings at the Buddhist Mahaviharas.
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US Team Pays a Visit to JGO Nepal Buddhist Association
Kathmandu (Nepal Oregon News): The US Buddhist delegation led by Prajwal Guruji paid a visit to JGO Nepal Buddhist Association, (South Korea) in Kathmandu on Saturday, Nov 5, 2022. An interaction was held with its chief priest Dr Nabin Vajracharya.
Guruju Dr Nabin Vajracharya is a priest, scholar and researcher of Newar Buddhism. About 200 people gathered at the interaction with the visiting US Buddhist delegation.
Guruju Nabin Vajracharya, who holds a Ph D degree in Buddhism from Uiduk University of South Korea, is also the international coordinator of Nepal Traditional Buddhist Association's central office.
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Interaction Program at Bajracharya Club
Kathmandu (Nepal Oregon News): Bajracharya Club organized an interaction program in honor of the visiting US Buddhist pilgrimage team on Saturday, Nov 5 at its office at Tahachal, Kathmandu.
About 40 people including academics and diplomats were present during the program.
Sacred Khata was wrapped on Prajwal Guruji, Joshua Proto, Adam Bidema and Taye Desesa. Also, a small Chaitya replica was presented to Prajwal Guruji by Bajracharya Club's president Sarju Vajracharya.
During the interaction, Prajwal Guruji spoke about the importance and relevance of Buddha Dharma while other team members shared their experience about Nepal visit.
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Pan Bwona Bhoye: Death Anniversary Dinner in Kathmandu
Kathmandu (Nepal Oregon News):The first death anniversary dinner (Dakila -- Pan Bwona Bhoye) to commemorate demise of two brothers of Prajwal Guruji -- late Gautam Ratna Vajracharya and late Mahendra Ratna Vajracharya -- was organized on Monday, Nov 7, 2022 in Kathmandu.
More than 600 guests, friends and relatives were offered Dakila dinner. Some members of the pilgrimage team also attended the Dakila dinner.
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Prajwal Guruji and His Team Leave for Pilgrimage to Sacred Sites in Nepal
Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): A fifteen member US Buddhist team led by 35th generation Vajrayana priest and co-founder of Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara (NMM) Prajwal Vajracharya left USA for Kathmandu on Oct 10, 2022 for a pilgrimage to sacred sites in Nepal.
The Buddhist team led by Prajwal is to visit ancient and medieval temples of the Kathmandu valley, Buddha's birthplace in Lumbini and recieve Vajrayogini empowerment.
The US Buddhist team visiting Nepal include, among others, NMM Sangha members Joshua Proto, Gabriel Quitslund, Adam Bidema, Ashley Low, Casey Redman, Mario Mastrangelo and Stormi Hoebelheinrich. The team also includes Prajwal's charya dance student and journalist Karen Greenspan from New York.
Similarly, representatives of Hong Kong Dance Mandal Simone, Rebecca, Jennifer, Teresa and Wincy have also left Hong Kong for Kathmandu for joining the pilgrimage to sacred sites in Nepal.
The Buddhist team led by Prajwal is to perform sacred Charya dances at various temple sites and Mahaviharas of Kathmandu. Likewise, the US Buddhist team members are also scheduled to perform Gurumandala Puja rituals at Swayambhu stupa. The team also plans to visit the dance faculty of Padma Kanya Campus in Kathmandu.
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Dinner Reception on the Eve of Pilgrimage to Nepal
Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): Prajwal Vajracharya, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara hosted a dinner reception on Saturday, Oct 8, 2022 on the eve of pilgrimage to sacred sites in Nepal. October 8 is also the birthday of Guruji Prajwal Vajracharya.
The dinner reception was attended by 40 Nepalese and American guests. Among them were the Sangha members of the Mahavihara, representatives of Nepali Association of Oregon (NAO) and Nepal Oregon News.
On the occasion, Daya Shakya, president of NAO, came up with a special slide show presentation on "Daya's recent Nepal visit". Daya was in Nepal recently from July 28 to August 31, 2022 for Salanpaa at Itumbahal, Kathmandu -- once in life time event.
Speaking on the occasion, Daya threw light on Itum Baha activities, its historical significance, Gunla festivities, Nitya Puja at the Itum Baha, and interaction with Itum Baha activists.
Daya stressed on the need to work for preservation of ancient sites like Itum Baha and informed that there are 18 Vajrayana Buddhist Mahaviharas in Kathmandu alone. Itum Baha is the largest Mahavihara among them. Itum Baha is rich with ancient heritages, he added.
Furthermore, he said that in Portland, there are many Shakyas and Vajracharyas who belong to one of these Mahaviharas in the Kathmandu valley.
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Sheegha Punhi Observed by Chanting Naamsangiti
Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): Sheegha Punhi (Kojagrata Purnima) was observed this month by Hong Kong Dance Mandal by reciting Manjushree Naamsangiti in the zoom on Sunday, Oct 9, 2022 owing to the departure of 15 member US Dance Mandal pilgrimage to sacred sites in Nepal.
In Vajrayana Buddhism, Manjushree Naamsangiti is one of the most important preachings of Shakya Muni Tathagata. It consists of 167 verses and mantra sentences. Naamsangiti is the quintessence of Buddhism because it summarizes all the Buddha's teachings.
Nritya Mandala Mahavihara has been organizing Manjushree Naamsangiti Recitation on every full moon day of the month since July, 2020. Also, Naamsangiti is recited daily at the Mahavihara during the month of Gunla (Nepal Sambat Lunar Calendar).
(Rabin Man Shakya is a Newah journalist in USA)
