EPIC Cosmic Cham Dance

[DharmaDefender]

So I got a teaching a couple of days ago about the way Shiva totally destroys the universe with that cosmic dance of his, and then this article comes along! Except this ones not about Shiva and theres no destruction involved, just a really nice visual retelling about how our Protector came to be. This ones about the cham dance that recently took place in Nyemo Gyelche Monastery, Tibet.


http://www.dorjeshugden.com/all-articles/dharma-readings/dorje-shugden-cham-dance-in-tibet/

Which is brilliant because the CTA cant do squat to stop them since its out of their jurisdiction. I find it hilarious that all evidence of the Tibetan adminsitrations hypocrisy is being preserved by the Chinese not because their holy sites but because it irks the Tibetan administration. Like that 5th Dalai Lama chapel fer example. It wont be destroyed because its a tourist thing for the Chinese, sure but it also pisses off Dharamsala. Which is good news for us DS practitioners because it IS holy for us AND it means yet another piece of evidence to tell the CTA they should go fly a kite with that ban of theirs.

Sorry but this article has got me chuckling away just a bit. If the CTA were to shut up about Dorje Shugden and just get on with their autonomy movement, maybe the Chinese would feel less inclined to preserve that chapel and all of the DS monasteries which is such a thorn in Dharmasalas side.

[vajrastorm]

As this Cham sacred dance is a visual retelling of the history and lineage of Dorje Shugden, the source being the 'Sungbum' written by Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche, the details found in it and in the Sungbum are significant and important.

Important details in Sungbum include the accurate account of how Tulku Dragpa Gyeltsen arose as the supreme World Peace Dharma protector, Dorje Shugden.  Other important details are how the 5th Dalai Lama enthroned Dorje Shugden and apologized for the circumstances his ministers had created for him. Another important detail  is the building of the Dorje Shugden Chapel by the 5th Dalai Lama in Lhasa.It still exists today.Now it is being strenuously preserved by the Chinese for tourism.

Reading about all this and watching the Cham dance retell the story of how Dorje Shugden arose, one can no longer deny the fact that Dorje Shugden is an Enlightened Dharma Protector.

[Dondrup Shugden]

We study history of any event, country or a personality through written text and practice of traditions. Thank you ds.com for giving us such detail truth of the unbroken and enlightening lineage of Dorje Shugden.

The Cham dance is very powerful and performed for lay people who are illiterate and can learn through the media of dance which depicts the truth and history of Dorje Shudgen lineage.

The Thangkas are another record of such lineage.

It is wonderful that Nyemo Gyleche Monastery still maintains this traditional dance to keep the lineage of Dorje Shugden alive. Thank goodness it is in Tibet, China where the worship of Dorje Shugden is not Banned.

Thank you DS.com for such beautifully illustrated information that strongly enhance my belief in this enlightened Protector. A protector for all, above sects, traditions and religions. A Protector for ALL.

[Tenzin Malgyur]

The Cosmic Cham Dance is surely an effective way to educate the illiterate on the history of Dorje Shugden. When it is done in a such a grand and pompous way, the lay people who are not able to read will get the real picture of who Dorje Shugden is instead of hearing the non truths that the CTA is spreading. Surely the Tibetans in Cham can safely continue with their DS practice without any hassles from the Chinese government. Now, if only the Tibetans in exile can also enjoy the same religious freedom under the rule of CTA.

[Rihanna]

In Tibetan Buddhism, there are countless methods and rituals to dispel negative circumstances and ignorance which is the root cause of our sufferings. Cham dance, performed by specially trained Buddhist monks, is one of the obstacle-dispelling ritual. This dance balance spiritual energies, prevent negativity and increase the peace and harmony of the universe.

May all those who habitually engage in unwholesome actions against Dorje Shugden, namely CTA, and all the anti Dorje Shugden compulsive perpetrators , may their negative actions be cut and this profound practice pacifies all of their outer, inner and secret obstacles in whatever form they may arise.

[lotus1]

Thank you for sharing this precious and rare Cham dance. It is great to see the tradition is still preserved until now despite the ban. I pray that the ban will be lifted soonest so that more people will be able to attend this openly and freely.
Thank you also for sharing with us the lineage of Dorje Shugden in details via the lineage thangka. including the previous incarnations of Dorje Shugden, the lineage lamas who disseminated Dorje Shugden’s practice and Dorje Shugden’s entourage. If Dorje Shugden is a spirits, how would it be possible that there is a thangka of its lineage with all the Buddha and high lamas? From here, we can see clearly that Dorje Shugden is  Manjushri!

[DharmaSpace]

Dharma can be expressed in many many forms, some through articles or words, this way of presenting Dorje Shugden origins using dance is a very profound way to share the story of modern day Manjushri. I don't think it is confined to just a dance to let illiterate people to learn about Dorje Shugden, when it is expressed as a dance well there is a lot of focus, concentration, practice and knowledge that is invested into the the dance.

I see the Cham dance as the same level as how poetry is used to convey messages and knowledge across. If poetry is treated high level art form , why not the Cham Dance. May more Cham dance appear everywhere around the world and everyone be blessed by the Great Protector.

[Big Uncle]

By the way, the Cham dance is not just an artistic telling of Dorje Shugden's tale. It is a ritual performed as a dance. The monks are trained specific yogic moves through the dance and the purpose is to tap into Dorje Shugden's mandala into order to clear obstacles of the monastery and especially those who view the dance. Hence, the dance is not merely a spectacle and is more like a puja. People may not understand the full import of what that means but this doesn't stop the cham dance to plants seeds of wrathful Manjushri in their minds and also to clear some obstacles for them. It is incredible that this tradition still exists and I am glad that the monastery are performing it and in that way, preserving this great tradition.

[dondrup]

It is an irony that while His Holiness Dalai Lama and Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) had put in great effort to ban Dorje Shugden on Earth, we observe that the tradition of Dorje Shugden in Tibet is flourishing! The Chinese Government is doing a fine job of preserving the Dorje Shugden tradition like this cham dance at the Nyemo Gyelche Monastery. The Chinese Government is not so stupid as to preserve Dorje Shugden practices if they are harmful.
 
CTA,  put your effort to improve the wellbeing of the Tibetans in exile than wasting the public funds in enforcing the ban.

[icy]

How nice to be able to organise this cham dance to travel the world to bless people and also to introduce Dorje Shugden to them. This is part of Tibetan culture and heritage that must be preserved.

Long Live Dorje Shugden!

[dsiluvu]

By the way, the Cham dance is not just an artistic telling of Dorje Shugden's tale. It is a ritual performed as a dance. The monks are trained specific yogic moves through the dance and the purpose is to tap into Dorje Shugden's mandala into order to clear obstacles of the monastery and especially those who view the dance. Hence, the dance is not merely a spectacle and is more like a puja. People may not understand the full import of what that means but this doesn't stop the cham dance to plants seeds of wrathful Manjushri in their minds and also to clear some obstacles for them. It is incredible that this tradition still exists and I am glad that the monastery are performing it and in that way, preserving this great tradition.

Well I got to agree with you there Big Uncle that it is in a way good that Tibet has allowed Dorje Shugden chapels, monasteries and activities to continue due to the political rivalry with HHDL and the CTA. It is unfortunate but it is better than no Dharma being preserved at all.

Yes the cham dance is not merely just for entertainment it is literally an expression of how Dorje Shugden came about and even how the 5th Dalai Lama apologised to Dorje Shugden. That part will never be told by the CTA and hidden from the world.

I like what the article said about our protector which is a World Peace Protector assisting all other lineage as well:

Dorje Shugden and his entourage of thirty-two deities are all depicted in this Cham dance as a World Peace Protector who will assist anyone of the Nyingma, Sakya, Gelug, Kagyu traditions. In fact Dorje Shugden will assist anyone of any background even non-Buddhists. As Dorje Shugden is a fully enlightened being propitiated by over 4 million adherents within Tibet and on the outside, this unique Cham dance is something to be seen. It would be worth anyone’s efforts to contact this monastery to join in the audience to witness a spiritual spectacle of cultural and religious Cham on the beginnings of a Dharma Protector whose influence and blessings continue to grow.   

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This is something worth preserving, and I hope more is will be well preserved. It would be excellent if these monks were invited to teach others and pass down this rare lineage.

[pgdharma]

The Cham dance is very powerful and through the dance which depicts the truth of Dorje Shugden, it is an effective way to educate lay people who are illiterate to understand the history and lineage of Dorje Shugden. The dance is very sacred and may it leave a karmic imprint in the minds of those who witness it. May they understand the truth and not be blinded by the false accusation by the CTA that Dorje Shugden is a spirit.

It is good that this tradition is still preserved and that the monastery is still practicing this dance. May the ban be lifted soon.

Thank you to ds.com for your strong devotion and hard work to always provide clear logical information about Dorje Shugden.

[maricisun]

The Cham Dance is indeed very powerful as it tells the story of how Dorje Shugden came about. And the best part is the CTA cannot do a thing about it. And the chapel built by the 5th Dalai Lama is still well preserved shows that Dorje Shugden is an Enlighten Being. Otherwise it would have been long demolished if DS is a spirit.
More people should be exposed to this and support the lifting of the ban soonest possible.

[RedLantern]

The incredible  Cham Dance .An invitation to experience our oneness , to experience a calling for greater compassion in life to improve one's life .A powerful message to being something greater and inspiration.
Many people are not aware of this unique dance depicting Dorje Shugden.

[Tenzin K]

It always so nice to see the lineage practice of Lord Shugden continue and being preserved. The Cham dance is the proof of the continuity of the practice which shows the story of the Lord Shugden come about.  It will be great if all monastery and center that practices Lord Shugden to play the Cham dance as a yearly event to educate the people and also a tradition to preserve the lineage. Lor Shugden practice are indirectly being preserve by the chinese due to the political reason. Yes Dharma should not be part of politic but in this case i see it in the good way from Chinese and it will grow even bigger in this massive population country.