The cham dance,
1,300-year-old mystic dances
Drikung Kagyu Tantric Mask Dance, also known as the Cham dance, is a traditional Tibetan Buddhist dance performed by monks at the Drikung Kagyu Rinchen Palri Monastery and other monasteries in the Drikung Kagyu tradition. The dance is a form of tantric practice, and it is believed to have spiritual and ceremonial significance. The monks who perform the dance wear traditional Tibetan monastic robes and masks that depict various figures from Tibetan Buddhist tantra, such as wrathful deities, dakinis, and protectors.
The masks are typically brightly colored and adorned with intricate designs, and they are made of materials such as wood, leather, and paint. The dance is performed to the accompaniment of traditional Tibetan musical instruments, such as long horns, cymbals, and drums, which are played by other monks. The music is typically fast-paced and energetic, and it creates a powerful and intense atmosphere for the dance.
Ritual dance performances occur on special days in the Tibetan calendar, particularly around the new year, and are an important way of transmitting the Dharma. When we witness a performance, we can observe how the lamas enact stories from the past with great care. Thus, we can learn to appreciate ritual dance as another skillful means within Vajrayana Buddhism.
The main instruments played to accompany the dances are the cymbals and drum, the long horn, the gyaling (Tibetan oboe), kangling (short horn), the white conch, the hand drum, bell, the silnyen (another type of cymbal), and the damaru, amongst others.
Why is the cham dance important to Tibetan Buddhists?
The cham dance is an important part of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual practice. It is rooted in cleansing and purification rituals that seek to bring harmony and balance to the body, mind, and spirit. According to historical records, it originated with the 8th century Mahasiddha Padmasambhava, an influential teacher of Vajrayana Buddhism who brought it to Tibet.
The movements of the cham dance are said to help connect worshippers with their divine nature, allowing them to draw closer to their ultimate realization of enlightenment. It has become a regular part of traditional Tibetan spiritual life for many centuries.
