Lord of the Dance: The Mani Rimdu Festival in Tibet and Nepal (SUNY Series in Buddhist Studies)

This book describes a week-long Buddhist festival that is held in Tibet and Nepal. It provides a good picture of contemporary Buddhist life in the Himalayas. Part I Orientations -- Part II The Days. 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 Mandalas 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 Analyzes 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.--book Jacket. 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. Richard J. Kohn. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 333-354) And Index. 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.