Meditation in Motion, Footprints to the Sublime

Museo di Arte e Cultura Orientale, Arcidosso, Italy
September 27, 2019, through May 31, 2020

https://www.macomuseum.org/

The exhibition Meditation in Motion moves from the origin of dance in Tantric Buddhism, with the consecration of Samye Monastery in Tibet by Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century, and revisits the sacred dances of other “Treasure Revealers” (terton) who have translated their experiences from a vision into meditative practices.

Many of these “Treasure Dances” originating over the past 1,200 years are still practiced today in Bhutan, India, Nepal, and China, in the provinces of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Sichuan and Qinghai. Dances from each of the Vajrayana orders are displayed, and teachings from Tibetan Masters regarding the profundity of the underpinnings of Dance in Buddhism are shown

Core of Culture director Joseph Houseal stands in the galleries of Meditation in Motion, Footsteps to the Sublime, next to a goenkhang door from the altar room of the most ferocious protective deities, and a Black Hat sorcerer’s hat. A large photo image by Herbert Migdoll of a dancing monk wearing a Black Hat hangs next to the installation.

The exhibit goes further, to represent the Tibetan Dzogchen Master Chogyal Namkhai Norbu, who has continued this ancient visionary tradition in the West through his Vajra Dances, which were transmitted to him in a series of lucid dreams received during the 1990s, and have taken root in communities across the globe.
‍
The exhibition concludes with an overview of the Khaita Joyful Dances project also created by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu. “Khaita” means “Harmony in Space”. “Kha” means “space or sky”. “Ta” means “melody”.

Come see the range of dances in Tibet’s spiritual and secular traditions, and experience dance as a meditative yoga.