Six Dharmas of Naropa Ceremony and Book

An exhibition of 12 selected photos that were captured at Palpung Monastery in the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Region during the Six Dharmas of Naropa ceremony in 2019. There is now a collection of 25 images in an 11" x 17" book for anyone to bring this esoteric and rarely witnessed ceremony into their homes. This ceremony is seen by very few locals, let alone by the outside and foreign world. With the current state of political affairs, this ceremony among others, may not exist someday in the near future.

$45 for local pickup at my Front Street Studio in Dayton Ohio
$55 includes shipping within the US and can purchase by using Venmo or Paypal. Please include the mailing address. Venmo: @Eleanor-Moseman
PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/WanderCyclist/
$58 at https://www.etsy.com/listing/1339254006/six-dharmas-of-naropa-book?ref=listings_manager_grid

Supporting my work and projects helps me afford to continue my dedication to these precarious regions and disappearing cultures. By liking this video, following my channel, sharing the video, and purchasing this book help fund future books, exhibitions of archives, my Tibetan language studies, and research.

On the 15th day and first full moon of the Lunar New Year, the Six Dharmas of Naropa ceremony is performed at Palpung Monastery located in the eastern region of the Tibetan Plateau. Historically this day coincides with the eve of Chunga Choepa (the Butter Lamp Festival) that celebrates the victory of Sakyamuni Buddha over his opponents in a religious debate. This ceremony signifies the end of the “Practitioner of Six Dharmas of Tummo”; a three-year, three-month, three-day monastic retreat performed by the monks of the monastery. The monks conclude the retreat by exiting their dormitories in the mountains to return to the monastery where they will continue their studies and practice.

Palpung Monastery’s origin dates back to the 12th century, the monastery was officially founded in 1727 and continues to have a great influence over the region. The Palpung Monastery has survived the Cultural Revolution, and a number of fires that destroyed most of the monastery and relics. Over several centuries esoteric religious Buddhist practices and rituals have been retained and passed on through the studies of the monastery’s monks.

On the eve of the 15th day of the Lunar calendar, the monks chant in the monastery and eventually reside to a small room where local Tibetans can observe, pray, pay their respects and make offerings to the monks and monastery. The monks have disrobed from their traditional burgundy cloths and wear a simple white cloth to cover their bodies as they chant throughout the night. Graduating from the burgundy cloths, the white robes represent the meditation practice of “Tummo”, or “Inner Fire Meditation”, and brings the practitioner closer to enlightenment. These monks are recognizing light as their essence and will generate a clear white light throughout their lifetime, ending the wait for death and accepting the union and oneness with divine nature in this current lifetime. (To come closer to ending their cycle of Samsara.)

During centuries past, the monks would retreat to the caves of Babang where they would meditate in solitude behind walls of stone, wood, and mud. Locals would climb up the mountains after the three-year, three-month, three-day retreat and tear down the walls to allow the monks to exit and return to the monastery where they would live out their remaining days. Now, during more modern times, this ritual is represented by an activity at the rear entrance of the monastery.

Close to midnight, villagers are pushed out of the monastery and the monks bar the doors shut from the inside. In a reenactment of the ancient tradition, the locals will crowd at the doors and beat on it until sunrise. By the first light of day, the doors have been broken open, the villagers enter, and the monks conclude their chants to make a single kora - a clockwise procession around the monastery. The kora is led by horn players and flag bearers. Locals line the edge of the procession to pay tribute and honor the men that have concluded years of solitude and devotion to the teachings of the Buddha. The monks march slowly while chanting deeply. Despite frigid temperatures, the monks who are wearing only a single white cloth, show no signs of discomfort.

There is still very little known about this ritual as it’s rarely seen and understood by the outside world. With my close connections and access, I plan to return as soon as that part of the world opens back up to the world.

Filming and Editing by Ryan Taylor https://www.ryanltaylor.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/@ryanltaylorphoto

Видео Six Dharmas of Naropa Ceremony and Book канала Eleanor Moseman: Visual Storyteller