Analysis of the Vessantara Jataka and the Miao Shan
Luna Kanalaft
Tutorial 2
Critically Reading a Religious Ritual
Thick Description: * Describe when the ritual takes place. Does it respond to some particular event? It is held at specific time of year? Is it held on a regular basis? Is it performed only when needed? * What causes a group of people to hold or sponsor this ritual? -most commonly used in Tibet as a rite for turning away demons
-lay people will ask a monk or lama to perform or advert a future danger * Describe the sequence of events in the ritual. * Describe the visual scene of the ritual. What are the colors and textures? Are there pieces of visual art used? What to the participants look like? Are there ritual objects involved?
-Buddha surrounds himself with the representation of 4 demons to at each side, statue of Buddha in middle (offerings in front), effigy facing buddha, back to effigy. * Is the entire group included in each event? Are there major and minor aspects of the ritual? It is held over many days? Only a few hours: held for a few hours, depending on the speed of the lama.
-lama performing the rite (may or may no be a monk)
-lama visualizes himself as Buddha seated in the middle of four demons. Lama(Buddha) host the demons, then agent who enters into a contract and then as their conqueror.
-visualizes a body of persons : avalokitesvara on right, 8 bodhisattvas + 8 monks on left.
-then visualizes goddess prajnaparamita (perfection of wisdom)at heart seated on a moon disk
-imagines moon disk in center of heart, then the letters of the heart sutra
-the letters of the sutra radiate both light and their own sound, serving as offerings to the Buddhas and bodhisattva: alleviate and purify the sufferings and purify all those gathered for thr performance of the rite as the lama contemplates the meaning of emptiness
-when recited the sutra standard offerings are made: ablution, flowers, incense, lamps,
Tutorial 2
Critically Reading a Religious Ritual
Thick Description: * Describe when the ritual takes place. Does it respond to some particular event? It is held at specific time of year? Is it held on a regular basis? Is it performed only when needed? * What causes a group of people to hold or sponsor this ritual? -most commonly used in Tibet as a rite for turning away demons
-lay people will ask a monk or lama to perform or advert a future danger * Describe the sequence of events in the ritual. * Describe the visual scene of the ritual. What are the colors and textures? Are there pieces of visual art used? What to the participants look like? Are there ritual objects involved?
-Buddha surrounds himself with the representation of 4 demons to at each side, statue of Buddha in middle (offerings in front), effigy facing buddha, back to effigy. * Is the entire group included in each event? Are there major and minor aspects of the ritual? It is held over many days? Only a few hours: held for a few hours, depending on the speed of the lama.
-lama performing the rite (may or may no be a monk)
-lama visualizes himself as Buddha seated in the middle of four demons. Lama(Buddha) host the demons, then agent who enters into a contract and then as their conqueror.
-visualizes a body of persons : avalokitesvara on right, 8 bodhisattvas + 8 monks on left.
-then visualizes goddess prajnaparamita (perfection of wisdom)at heart seated on a moon disk
-imagines moon disk in center of heart, then the letters of the heart sutra
-the letters of the sutra radiate both light and their own sound, serving as offerings to the Buddhas and bodhisattva: alleviate and purify the sufferings and purify all those gathered for thr performance of the rite as the lama contemplates the meaning of emptiness
-when recited the sutra standard offerings are made: ablution, flowers, incense, lamps,