Prajwal Guruji's Visit to HK, Japan Meaningful

US Dance Mandal, HK Dance Mandal Join Forces  to Further Promote Charya Dance

Dr Rabin Man Shakya

(Amoghasiddhi and Arya Tara Charya dance by Dr Tina Ho and Prajwal Vajracharya in Hong Kong)

Portland, Aug 9 (Nepal Oregon News): Prajwal Vajracharya, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, founder of Dance Mandal Nepal and Dance Mandal USA was in Hong Kong for a two-week visit from July 26 - August 8, 2023. Going by the programs and  events during his Hong Kong visit organized by different HK organizations, it appeared that the US Dance Mandal and Hong Kong Dance Mandal joined forces in disseminating the value of Newar Buddhism and publicizing Newar Buddhist charya dances in Hong Kong. Prajwal Guruji's Hong Kong visit was marked by the further strengthening and consolidation of contacts and cooperation between US Dance Mandal and Hong Kong Dance Mandal.

An introduction and demonstration of Newar Buddhist Charya Nritya dances was organized on Friday, July 28, 2023 by the Alumni Association of Master of Arts Program in Religious Studies - Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK AAMARS).

On the occasion, Prajwal Vajracharya, a 35th generation Vajrayana priest, said that charya nritya is a Newar Vajrayana Buddhist ritual dance with a history going back to more than 1,000 years.

He said:"Charya nritya dances are performed by Newar Buddhist priests known as Vajracharyas  as part of their esoteric meditation, practices and rituals."

Prajwal, one of the seniormost Charya nritya gurus in the world, added :"Charya dance is a meditational dance that tells stories of the inner qualities and awakening of Buddhist deities."

Prajwal from the Dance Mandal USA and Sangha members from the Hong Kong Dance Mandal offered refuge prayer and sixteen offering Goddess dance.

Likewise, Avalokiteshvara and Prajnaparamita charya dances were presented by members of the Hong Kong Dance Mandal, whereas Prajwal Guruji performed Vajrasattva charya dance on the occasion.

The program of the demonstration of Charya nritya dances was organized at Kuan Yin Progress Society that belongs to Western Temple in Hong Kong. The program was attended by 70 Hong Kongers.

Likewise, an empowerment (Dikchha) and teaching on deity Padmanateshvara was organized by Hong Kong Dance Mandal on July 29, 2023 at Utpala Meditation Center in Hong Kong. The teaching and empowerment was conducted by Prajwal Guruji and was attended by 26 people.

Similarly, a Gurumandala Puja Teaching was organized on the premises of Hong Kong Buddhist Studies Association (HKBSA) on July 30 - Aug 6, 2023.

Speaking on the occasion, Prajwal Guruji said:"The Gurumandala Puja Vidhi purification ritual is the most common ritual practiced in Newar Vajrayana Buddhism in Nepal."

Touching on the history of Gurumandala Puja, Vajracharya who is a scholar on Newar Vajrayana Buddhism said the ritual has been passed down for 1,000 years. The Gurumandala is so important that without it there is no Mahayana, no Vajrayana in Nepal, he added. The workshop on Gurumandala Puja was participated in by 20 Hong Kong Buddhists.

Also, Mudra Yoga workshop was conducted by Prajwal Guruji for Hong Kong Sangha members on July 31,  2023. Similarly, Avalokiteshvara Sadhana was performed in Hong Kong for the Sangha members on Aug 1, 2023 to mark the Gun Punhi Full Moon Day. Basic Vajra Dance class 1 including refuge prayer and Avalokiteshvara sloka was conducted by the Guruji  on Aug 2 and Basic Vajra Dance class 2 including 16 offering Goddess dance was offered by the Guruji on Aug 3. All these events took place at Utpala Meditation Center in Hong Kong, and around 18 to 24 participants took part at these courses.

Aug 5 was the birthday of Dr Tina Ho, the leader of Hong Kong Dance Mandal. Prajwal Guruji, who is a priest from one of the Vajrayana Buddhist lineages of Nepal, performed Nine Planets puja ritual in the morning of that day on the occasion of Tina's birthday on the premises of Hong Kong Buddhist Studies Association.

Aug 5 is also Avalokiteshvara Day according to Chinese Lunar Calendar. To mark the Avalokiteshvara Day, a Charya Nritya dance program "Thousand Years Vajra Dances on Avalokiteshvara Night" was organized by Hong Kong Dance Mandal at Nada Sound Healing Center, Hong Kong.

The event dedicated to Avalokiteshvara  Day kicked off with Avalokiteshvara Vajra dance by  Dr Tina Ho, while White Tara Vajra dance was presented by Dr Eliza My Lau. Similarly, Tara Vajra dance was performed by Eliza Lau, Shira Chan, Patty Chan, Mary Lau while Vajrasattva Vajra dance was offered by Eleanor Li. Little later, Prajwal Guruji and Dr Tina Ho danced together the lovely and respectful Amoghasiddhi and Arya Tara Vajra dance. Kerry Ho and Sin Yin Leung gave a Vajra dance performance 'Manjushree'. Likewise,  Padmanateshvara Vajra dance was demonstrated by Ling Ling Lee, whereas Kurukulla Vajra dance was put on the stage by Saldon Wu. The event came to an end with Mahakala Vajra dance which was displayed by Prajwal Guruji, the teacher at the US Dance Mandal.

Furthermore, an advanced teaching on Saraswoti charya nritya was held on Aug 6-7. The advanced teaching on  Saraswoti charya nritya, which was organized at Utpala Meditation Center, Hong Kong for Sangha members of the Hong Kong Dance Mandal, was attended by 20 persons. The teaching was conducted by senior Charya Nritya guru Prajwal Vajracharya of the US Dance Mandal.

Moreover, during his stay in Hong Kong, Prajwal Guruji also visited Tsz Shan Monastery and Big Avalokiteshvara (July 31), Zhen Bao Museum and Dharmasthiti Group (Aug 2), Western Temple (Aug 3) and Big Buddha (Aug 4).

Meanwhile, Hong Kong Sangha members Dr Tina Ho, Dr Eliza My Lau, Patty Chan, Dickon Kong, Eleanor Li, John Liu, Mary Lau, Eliza Lok Yee, Kerry Ho, Sin Ying, Saldon Wu, Shira Chan have expressed their feelings of gratitude to Prajwal Guruji for his valuable teaching and charya nritya participation during his visit to Hong Kong.

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Group Ihi, Bratabandha Ceremonies, among Other Programs, Held during Prajwal Guruji's Japan Visit

Portland, Aug 30 (Nepal Oregon News): Prajwal Vajracharya, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara  was in Japan for about three weeks from Aug 10 to 29, 2023. Yuko Okomoto, a Japanese monk and first charya nritya dancer of Japan, coordinated Prajwal Guruji's visit to Japan. Yuko, who studied at CNAS Research Center at Tribhuvan University, is fluent in Nepali and Nepal Bhasa.

Just like in Hong Kong, a number of programs and events took place at different places in Japan during the Guruji's visit. And judging by various programs in Japan during his visit to the 'Land of the Rising Sun', it was very fruitful in further publicizing Newar Buddhism and charya nritya dances in Japan. 

Meanwhile, a program was organized at Wakasa Historical Museum at Wakasa, Fukui on Saturday, Aug 12, 2023. There was an exhibition of Vajra Dhatu and Dharma Dhatu Mandala at the museum. Speaking on the occasion, Prajwal Guruji said:"Vajra Dhatu is a metaphysical space inhabited by 53 deities including Pancha Buddhas -- Vairochana, Amitabha, Amoghasiddhi, Akshovya, Ratnasambhava, 16 Mahabodhisattvas, 16 Bhadrakalpa Bodhisattvas, 8 Offering Goddesses and 8 Dvarpalas."

Prajwal Guruju went on saying:"According to Newar Vajrayana Buddhism, the whole universe is moving about and revolving around the Vajradhatu's fundamental principles." 

Vajradhatu rituals and practices date back to thousands of years in Newar Vajrayana Buddhism, the Guruji added. The program at the Wakasa Historical Museum was attended by 50 people. During the program, Prajwal Guruji replied to various queries of the participants. Also, on the occasion, Prajwal presented Maha Vairochana and Mahakala charya dances whereas Yuko Okomoto performed Manjushree and Pancha Buddha charya dances.

Similarly, a workshop on Mudra and Charya Nritya was organized on Sunday, Aug 13, 2023 on the premises of Shere Space Hako at Takashima, Shiga. The workshop on Mudra and Charya Nritya was attended by 15 people. Addressing the Japanese guests, Prajwal Vajracharya said:"The Buddhist deities embody hand mudras for purity, power and wisdom. Applying the appropriate gesture can heal the organs, tissues, bones and nerves of the body."

"The Charya performer goes into a meditative state and lets his body flow in movements," added the veteran Charya nritya guru.

Prajwal Guruji and Yuko were scheduled to visit Osaka, but due to the approaching of typhoon No 17, they had to stop in Nishimajima, and the workshop that was planned for the next day had to be abruptly cancelled. However, charya nritya dances were performmed on the occasion. The Guruji offered Vajrasattva and Mahakala charya dances while Yuko Okomoto presented Lokeshvara and Vajrayogini charya dances.

Likewise, a workshop on Newar Buddhism and Charya Nritya was organized on Sunday, Aug 20, 2023 at Hoya Hoya Studio in Tokyo. Throwing light on the Charya nritya, Prajwal Guruji said:"Charya nritya, a unique Newar Buddhist dance dating back a thousand years, uses the physical body as a vehicle for liberating the mind." In charya,singing is the mantra and dancing is the meditation, the Guruji added.

Meanwhile, a Homa puja was conducted by Prajwal Guruji at Nikko Shuryamao Temple in Kanuma city on Monday, Aug 21, 2023. On the occasion, Prajwal Guruji empowered eight Japanese monks with the Dikchha of Rakta Ganesha by performing Homa Puja. It is in this Japanese temple that esoteric Ganesh has been worshipped for centuries. That is why the Japanese monks were given Rakta Ganesha empowerment as per Newar Vajrayana traditions. In the mean time, on Thursday, Aug 22, a teaching on Newar Vajrayana Buddhism, Mudra, Deity Yoga was also conducted by Prajwal Guruji at a huge Buddha temple in Kanagawa.

A Newar Buddhist 'Chiva Dyo' stupa was consecrated by Buddhist scholar and ritual master late Ratna Kaji Vajracharya (father of Prajwal Guruji) on the premises of Nagoya Shibashi in 1989. Prajwal Guruji visited the Chiva Dyo in Nagoya and attended a luncheon with Guru Kawayashi. Besides, Mr Koujiyaba, who is associated with Kyoto Buddhist University as a cultural anthropologist (especially in Asian Music Studies) also came to pay a courtesy call to Prajwal Guruji and Yuko. On the occasion, discussions were held about consecration of a Buddha Murti (donated by Yuko) on the same premises in memory of noted Pauva artist late Gautam Vajracharya (Prajwal's elder brother).

Furthermore, on Friday, Aug 25, Prajwal Guruji was in Shizuoka city for couple of days. The Guruji visited various ancient and medieval temples in Shizuoka. Besides, a dance exchange program was organized on Saturday, Aug 26 at a Buddhist temple in Shizuoka  which was built 1300 years ago. The city of Shizuoka is also known as second Kyoto. Manjushree, Pancha Buddha, Rakta Ganesha and Mahakala charya dances were presented on the occasion. By the same token, the Japanese dancers also presented their native dances, which according to Prajwal Guruji, were performed in the form of Boddhisattvas just like Newar Buddhist charya dances.

Meanwhile, a group Ihi and Bratabandha ceremony was organized by Newa International Forum Japan (NIFJ) at Solmari Restaurant, Shin Okubo, Tokyo on Monday, Aug 27. Six girls from Newar community attended the Ihi ceremony while a bratabandha ceremony for two Newar boys was also held in Tokyo. Both Ihi and Bratabandha ceremonies were ritualized by Prajwal Vajracharya, a 35th generation Vajrayana priest and chief pujari at Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA.

(Nepalese Ambassador to Japan Durga Bahadur Subedi, Prajwal Vajracharya and others pose for a group photo at the end of Group Ihi and Bratabandha ceremony in Tokyo organized by Newa International Forum Japan)

It was a historic event for Newar community in Tokyo because it was the first group Ihi and Bratabandha ceremony solemnized by an authentic Newar Buddhist  priest and ritual master. The ceremony was attended by more than 100 Newar community  members, and the chief guest on the occasion was Nepalese Ambassador to Japan His Excellency Durga Bahadur Subedi.

Extending congratulations to the participants and organizers of the cultural and traditional ceremony on behalf of the Embassy as well as on behalf of the Nepal government, Ambassador  Subedi stressed on the need for unity within diversity among Nepalese people of different ethnic backgrounds.

Speaking on the occasion, Guruji Prajwal Vajracharya said that Ihi, Bara Tayegu, Bratabandha and Chudakarma etc which are  important part of lifecycle rituals, have been in practice since hundreds of years.

Ambassador Subedi, on the occasion, handed over certificate of appreciation to Guruji Prajwal and Japanese monk Yuko Okamoto on behalf of NIFJ. The Ambassador also gave away certificates to the Ihi girls and Bratabandha boys.

The certificate of appreciation handed over to Prajwal Guruji states:"This certificate is given to Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, Buddhist monk, Charya Nritya Guru and traditional Nepali Nritya Guru for his invaluable contribution to the field of  Nepali Traditional Dance Culture, Charya Nritya and sacred Buddhist practices."

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Gunla Dharma being Celebrated

Nritya Mandala Mahavihara is celebrating a month-long Gunla Dharma by reciting Naamsangiti everyday in the zoom for the whole month of Gunla in the Nepal Sambat era. This year, the month-long Gunla  Dharma kicked off on August 17 and is being wrapped up on September 16.

(Rabin Man Shakya is a Newar journalist in the USA)