Lord of the dance : the mani rimdu festival in tibet and nepal / Richard J. Kohn.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kohn, Richard J., 1948- author.

Series:

SUNY series in Buddhist studies

SUNY series in Buddhist Studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Buddhist dance--Nepal.

Buddhist dance.

Rnying-ma-pa (Sect)--Rituals.

Rnying-ma-pa (Sect).

Dance--Religious aspects--Buddhism.

Dance.

Tantric Buddhism--Rituals--Texts.

Tantric Buddhism.

Buddhism--Nepal--Steng-chen-dgon (Monastery : Thyangboche, Nepal)--Rituals.

Buddhism.

Mani Rimdu Festival.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xxxiv, 366 p. ) ill., 1 map ;

Place of Publication:

Albany, New York : State University of New York Press, [2001]

Summary:

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.

Contents:

Part I Orientations

2 Gods 9

3 Deity Yoga 31

4 Sworn Protectors 35

5 History: The Lord of the Dance Rituals 49

6 Tibetan Religious Dance 55

7 Officiants 63

Part II Days

8 Days 69

9 Day Zero: Exorcism 73

10 Day One: Site, Preparation, and Drawing the Mandala 87

11 Days Two to Four: Making the Ritual Objects 113

12 Day Five: Arranging the Ornaments 135

13 Days Six to Twelve: The Practice 141

14 Public Days 163

15 Day Thirteen: Dance Rehearsal 165

16 Day Fourteen: Empowerment 175

17 Day Fifteen: Masked Dance 185

18 Day Sixteen: Burnt Offering, Releasing the Borders, Erasing the Sand 237

19 Day Seventeen: Invitation to the River 251

21 Outline of Lord of the Dance/Union of the Blissful Text 265

22 Outline of Playful Ocean Text 269

23 Outline of Followers Text 275.

Notes:

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [333]-354) and index.

ISBN:

9780791491034

079149103X