Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, Dec 4 (Nepal Oregon News): The auspicious marriage ceremony of Guruju Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara and Teya De Sesa took place on Sunday, Dec 3, 2023 at Pureland Farms in California. The wedding ceremony was solemnized by Tibetan Lama Dr Nida Chenagtsang.
About 40 people attended the nuptial ceremony at the Pureland Farms and 40 people witnessed the ceremony on the zoom. Co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Helen Appell, Prof Dr Miranda Shaw, Dr Tina Ho and journalist Karen Greenspan were among them.
Relatives of Teya: her father and brother, and board member of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Kuon Hunt spoke on the occasion and wished happiness and prosperity to the newly married couple.
All the guests at the wedding ceremony including the Sangha members of Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara wrapped auspicious Khata on Teya and Prajwal Guruju.
Also, on the occasion, Sangha members Corinne Nakamura-Rybak, Anastasia Roderick and Crystal Marie James offered auspicious Sixteen Offering Goddess Dance Mudra, also known as Sodasha Lasya in Sanskrit.
Nepal Oregon News extends sincere and hearty congratulations to the newly wed couple and wishes them blissful conjugal life.
Earlier, on the day of wedding, Guruji Prajwal Vajracharya put forward a proposal for matrimony with Teya at the kitchen of the Pureland Farms in California.
With Prajwal and Teya, it was a case of love at first sight at the kitchen of the Pureland Farms several months ago.
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Virtual Teaching on 'Pancha Tara' Charya Nritya Organized
Portland, Dec 24 (Nepal Oregon News): A teaching and presentation on Pancha Tara Charya Nritya on the zoom was organized on Saturday, Dec 23, 2023 by Hong Kong Buddhist Studies Association (HKBSA).
The teaching on Pancha Tara was conducted by Guruji Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, a 35th generation Vajrayana priest and co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara.
Majority of the virtual participants for the teaching on 'Pancha Tara' were the Sangha members of the Hong Kong Dance Mandal.
18 people including Nritya Mandala Mahavihara's co-founder Helen Appell, journalist Karen Greenspan, Audrey Mazur and Dr Tina Ho took part at the remotely-held teaching while six Sangha members of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara were present in person at the Portland Baha temple during the teaching.
There are 108 Taras according to Newar Vajrayana Buddhism, Guruji Prajwal Vajracharya said and added that 21 of them are prominent ones. The Guruji also shed light on Bhrukuti Tara, Lochana, Mamaki, Vajradhatveshvari and other Taras.
Pronouncing the Tara mantra, "Om Tare Tutare Ture Svaha", Prajwal Guruji expressed the view that Taras are important deities in Newar Vajrayana Buddhism.
Prajwal Guruji's teaching zeroed in on Arya Tara (Green Tara) who is usually depicted as a compassionate being ready to step down from her lotus throne to offer comfort and protection from all of the sufferings the sentient beings experience in the world.
The teaching presented a detailed and comprehensive description of Pancha Tara and threw light on various aspects of Green, White, Yellow, Blue and Red Taras.
"In Sanskrit, the name Tara means star. Tara brings forth life and she is the Great Compassionate Mother, and embodiment of wisdom and the Great Protectress," the Guruji told the virtual participants.
The remotely-held teaching by Prajwal Guruji also dealt with the interrelationship between the Pancha Tara and the Pancha Buddha.
Giving details about the Charya Nritya 'Pancha Tara', the Guruji said:"In the Charya Giti 'Pancha Tara', the Raga is Nata and the Tala is Jati. This Nritya can be performed by one dancer or five dancers."
During the teaching, the Charya Giti on 'Pancha Tara' was chanted by Prajwal Guruji. The Guruji also demonstrated the 'Pancha Tara' charya nritya for the zoom participants.
At the end of the teaching, Prajwal Guruji answered to a number of queries of the participants. When Prajwal Guruji was asked to throw light on the importance of Taras, he went on to say that the Taras are the female Bodhisattvas of compassionate activities, the supreme mothers and collective manifestation of the enlightened activity of all the Buddhas.
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Christmas Celebration at Corinne's House in SE Portland
Portland, Dec 26 (Nepal Oregon News): Corinne Nakamura-Rybak, a board member of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara and her husband John Rybak, an active Sangha member hosted a Christmas dinner at their residence in Southeast Portland on Monday, Dec 25, 2023.
Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, co-founder of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland and his wife Teya De Sesa and John's mom also attended the Christmas dinner. Sangha members Gabriel Quitslund, Aniruddha Shakya, Naveena Shakya and others were also present on the occasion.
The Christmas party, which was an amazing and fun-filled event, was not just wining and dining, it was also an opportunity for friendly interaction among attendees.
The party attendees and children had an opportunity to play a game called "Watch Your Mouth" as well as table-tennis (ping pong) in the basement.
Today more than ever, Christmas has become a world wide celebration, a celebration observed by Christians as well as non-Christians all over the world. Kudos to Corinne and John for organizing the event.
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