Nyen-sen
In a tapestry of various instrumental sounds, the monks invoke creative awareness within themselves and the audience. They enhance the spirit of goodness in the environment as a prelude to the performance of Sacred Music Sacred Dance.
Sha-nak Gar-cham
The purpose of this ancient dance is to eliminate negative energies and hindrances. The implements held by the dancers symbolize the transcendence of false ego-identification on the outer (the environment), inner (the emotions) and the secret(the subtle body-mind link) levels. Their movements symbolize the joy and freedom of seeing reality in its true nature.
The Black Hat Dance was originally performed in 9th century Tibet in response to an evil king, Lang Darma. Lang Darma was a greedy, power-hungry ruler who attempted to drain Tibet of Buddhism. He destroyed hundreds of stupas and monasteries, and forced hundreds of monks and nuns to disrobe. The happy, peaceful people of Tibet were miserable under the shadow of King Lang Darma. A great and devoted practitioner, Lhalung Pal Dorji, was determined to subdue the evil King. After performing the appropriate spiritual rites, he went to Lhasa wearing a black hat and a long black cloak in which he concealed a bow and arrow. There he danced in front of the King in an attempt to portray the suffering of the Tibetan people under his rule. Feeling great compassion toward the King, who was going to suffer immensely as a consequence of the sins he was committing against his people, Lhalung Pal Dorji shot an arrow at the heart of Lang Darma. The king was dead on the spot. Peace and harmony was restored in Tibet. Present day performances of the Black Hat Dance are intended to abolish obstacles and restore faith in the dharma for those who witness the dance. The performances to this day require the same ritual preparation and concentration on compassion as was required originally by Lhalung Pal Dorji. It is believed that the faithful who observe the dance will be cleared of both inner and outer obstacles.
Kha-dro
Four dancers, symbolizing the natural elements and the ultimate wisdoms, together with three musicians, invoke the sounds and movements of the Celestial Travelers, the mystical beings from another dimension whose blessings strengthen the forces of life and light. These beings visit our world in times of stress and danger, bringing with them the positive energy that inspires harmony and peace.
The dance of the dakini is very famous in Tibetan culture and is deeply entrenched in the religious history of Tibet. It is especially important to perform the Dakini dance when offering a long life puja to one's Root Guru. In this case, it is envisioned that one's Guru, who helps eliminate the suffering of and brings peace to all sentient beings, is secretly invited by dakinis from the four directions to join them in their pure land. The practitioner prays to a multitude of deities and protectors, asking them to ensure the long life of their Guru. They plead with the master not to go to the pure land and to continue to live in this imperfect world, full of sorrow and suffering, which needs him more than the world of the dakinis. They remind him that they need him to show them the right path to achieving happiness and eliminating suffering. Toward the end of the dance, the guru relents and gives up any thought of going to the Pure Land and vowing to remain to help all suffering beings. The spiritual disciple also requests, through offerings and ritual prayers, to have the opportunity to reach the beautiful land of the dakinis.
Dur-dak Gar-cham
intended to remind the world of the impermanence nature of all livings. Of the liberating and balancing impact of an awareness of this reality, two monks appear as the forces of goodness manifest as Cemetery Lord. Through the dance they will express sixteen different emotions of our life which resembles changes or importance with our existence. These are Dharmapala or "Protectors of Truths." In Yamantaka practice, there is description about these protectors with eight different cemeteries.
Yak-Cham
When the human world enters into a mode of balanced and wholesome living, all life forms rejoice, including those of the animal kingdom. This is represented here by the ecstatic dance of the yak, the animal unique to central Asia and symbolic of the Tibetan spirit of rugged strength and playfulness. Along with 'Yak' one will so see the "Yak-Boy" who herd the yaks on green-pastures hills.
Choed
The practice of Choed (literal: "to cut off") is a ritual of stoppage or cutting ignorance. Choed was first discovered in the eleventh century by a young female tantric practitioner named Machig Labdon. Buddhists believe that the fundamental causes of one's suffering lie in the subconscious mental realm of the mind of each and every individual. These causes, in turn, have their origin in the mistaken understanding and grasping of the 'I' or ego. Buddhists believe that the self does exist, but not in the manner held by the unquestioning mind. The purpose of Choed is to cut through mental obstructions (by cutting one's ignorance, anger, and attachment), bring mental clarity, and inspire the practitioner to behave selflessly through lessening one's obsession with one's ego.
Choed is equally practiced in all the schools of Tibetan Buddhism, often with short and inspiring poetic songs chanted in melodious vocal tunes accompanied by the simple music of a bell, hand drum, and femur flute. The ritual is most often performed in environments such as burial grounds, crematoriums, high mountains, rocky hills, and in areas where tragedy is frequent, such as a crossroads.
Dialectical Debate Demonstration
The path to freedom requires wisdom, which can only be achieved through the deep questioning of one's beliefs by both oneself and others. Tibetan Monastic Colleges employ the system of dialectical debate as part of the routine of study for the monks. It is used to dispel doubt and to acquire deep understanding of the subjects being studied.
Liberation, in the highest sense, is attained through the fusion of the intellect and intuition. The path to freedom requires wisdom, which can only be achieved through the deep questioning of one's beliefs by both oneself and others. Tibetan Monastic Colleges employ the system of dialectical debate as part of the routine of study for the monks. It is used to dispel doubt and to acquire deep understanding of the subjects being studied. The student is encouraged to question everything related to the topic being discussed (as was also done by both Plato and Aristotle in ancient Greece). It is invaluable in sharpening one's wit and testing one's intellectual powers and understanding of Dharma.
Dedication Prayer
It is traditional belief that whenever we performs a positive deeds, we create a positive energy. Dedication is a way to preserve all the positive energy, so it is not wasted by our anger.
