Lord of the Dance

Richard J. Kohn

Description

Richard Kohn's book transports the reader to the high Himalayas for an in-depth look at the inner workings of the three-week long Mani Rimdu festival. This event encapsulates the breadth and depth of the Himalayan Buddhist experience, from the profound practices of Great Perfection meditation to the worship of the gods of the neighboring mountains. The festival uses archaic material as well as prayers written by contemporary lamas, and it entails the preparation of numerous works of ritual art such as man'd'alas constructed of colored sand and sculptures of barley flour and colored butter called tormas. Two days of public performance, a day of spiritual empowerment, and a day of masked dance complete the festival.

A description of Mani Rimdu from beginning to end, Lord of the Dance goes on to consider the structure of Tibetan ritual and its place within the history of South and Central Asian religions. In addition, the author discusses ritual as an art form and analyses the transformation of a textual tradition into performance art. Through the small window of the Himalayan festival, the book overlooks the vast horizon of the Buddhist experience.

List of Tables
List of Illustrations
Foreword Matthew T. Kapstein
Preface
Sources and Methodology
Abbreviation Key

Part I. Orientations
1. Introduction
2. The Gods
3. Deity Yoga
4. The Sworn Protectors
5. History: The Lord of the Dance Rituals
6. Tibetan Religious Dance
7. The Of

Part II. The Days
8. The Days
9. Day Zero: Exorcism
10. Day One: Site, Preparation, and Drawing the Mandala
11. Days Two to Four: Making the Ritual Objects
12. Day Five: Arranging the Ornaments
13. Days Six to Twelve: The Practice
14. The Public Days
15. Day Thirteen: Dance Rehearsal
16. Day Fourteen: Empowerment
17. Day Fifteen: Masked Dance
18. Day Sixteen: Burnt Offering, Releasing the Borders, Erasing the Sand
19. Day Seventeen: Invitation to the River

Part III. In Conclusion

20. Epilogue
21. Outline of Lord of the Dance/ Union of the Blissful Text
22. Outline of Playful Ocean Text
23. Outline of Followers Text

Notes
Bibliography
Index

Sujets

• Religion
• Christianisme
• East Asian religions
• Buddhism
• Worship

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 31 mai 2001
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791491034
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Lord of the Dance

SUNY Series in Buddhist Studies

Matthew Kapstein, Editor

Lord of the Dance

The Mani Rimdu Festival in Tibet and Nepal

Richard J. Kohn

State University of New York Press

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2001 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207

Production by Michael Haggett Marketing by Patrick Durocher

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Kohn, Richard J., 1948– Lord of the dance : the Mani Rimdu Festival in Tibet and Nepal / Richard J. Kohn. p. cm. — (SUNY series in Buddhist studies) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-4891-6 (alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7914-4892-4 (pbk : alk. paper) 1. Mani Rimdu Festival. 2. Buddhism—Nepal—Steng-chen-dgon (Monastery : Thyångboche, Nepal)—Rituals. 3. Dance—Religious aspects—Buddhism. 4. Tantric Buddhism—Rituals—Texts. 5. Rñiñ-ma-pa (Sect)—Rituals. I. Title. II. Series.

BQ5720.M28 K64 2001 294.3'436'095496—dc21

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

00-055622

To Jack

This page intentionally left blank.

Contents

List of Tables List of Illustrations ForewordMatthew T. Kapstein Preface Sources and Methodology Abbreviation Key Part I Orientations 1 Introduction 2 The Gods 3 Deity Yoga 4 The Sworn Protectors 5 History: The Lord of the Dance Rituals 6 Tibetan Religious Dance 7 The Officiants Part II The Days 8 The Days 9 Day Zero: Exorcism 10 Day One: Site, Preparation, and Drawing the Ma®Ôala 11 Days Two to Four: Making the Ritual Objects 12 Day Five: Arranging the Ornaments 13 Days Six to Twelve: The Practice 14 The Public Days 15 Day Thirteen: Dance Rehearsal 16 Day Fourteen: Empowerment 17 Day Fifteen: Masked Dance 18 Day Sixteen: Burnt Offering, Releasing the Borders, Erasing the Sand 19 Day Seventeen: Invitation to the River

vii

ix xiii xvii xxi xxv xxxiii

3 9 31 35 49 55 63

69 73 87 113 135 141 163 165 175 185

237 251

viii

C ONTENTS

Part III In Conclusion 20 Epilogue 21 Outline of Lord of the Dance / Union of the Blissful Text 22 Outline ofPlayful Ocean Text 23 Outline ofFollowers Text

Notes Bibliography Index

259 265 269 275

277 333 355

Part I

Tables

The Passions Purified The Four Shingon Emblems The Four Sorceresses Animal-Headed Goddesses of the Four Doors The Goddesses of Direction The Eight Sorceresses of the Holy Places in the Book of the Dead Typology of the Great Protectors Protector Ritual Schedule The Followers Mani Rimdu Schedule Washing theLingka Tormas Used in Mani Rimdu Protector Tormas Followers Tormas The Five Buddha Families The Three Aspects of the Highest Unelaborated Empowerment Dance and Its Rituals Protector Dance at Different Monasteries Protector Dance Masks and Props Liberation Dances Compared

i

x

ix

22 24 24 26 27

27 42 47 47 70 76 122 128 131 153

155 187 209 210 230

This page intentionally left blank.