His Holiness Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, discusses the origins and diversity of torma shapes and colors for the film Torma: The Ancient Art of Tibetan Butter Sculpture. Filmed in Bodhgaya, India, in 2008-09 by cinematographers Ko Jung-Fa and Cynthia Chao.
Posts Tagged ‘Bodhgaya’
His Holiness, the 17th Karmapa Discusses Torma Shapes and Colors
Posted in tormas, Kagyu Monlam, 17th Karmapa, Kagyu Lineage, Bodhgaya, Buddha, Ogyen Tinley Dorje, India, Film, Buddhism, torma photo, Monlam Chenmo, Tibet, Butter Sculpture, tagged tormas, Bodhgaya, 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, India, Butter sculpture, tantra on May 24, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Making Wax Butter in Bodhgaya, Part 4
Posted in Uncategorized, tormas, Kagyu Monlam, 17th Karmapa, Kagyu Lineage, Bodhgaya, Ogyen Tinley Dorje, India, Film, Buddhism, Monlam Chenmo, Tibet, Butter Sculpture, tagged Kagyu Monlam, tormas, Bodhgaya, India, Butter sculpture, monks, nuns on May 15, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Monks and nuns worked hard to prepare the materials necessary for making butter sculptures for the International Kagyu Monlam in Bodhgaya, India. This footage was shot in 2008 by Ko Jung-Fa and Cynthia Chao and depicts the fourth stage in the laborious four-part process of preparing wax butter for sculpting butter tormas.
After the pastry margarine is thoroughly kneaded into the wax butter, oil colors are added to create the color palette.
Making Wax Butter in Bodhgaya, Part 3
Posted in Uncategorized, tormas, Kagyu Monlam, 17th Karmapa, Kagyu Lineage, Bodhgaya, India, Film, Buddhism, Monlam Chenmo, Butter Sculpture, tagged Kagyu Monlam, tormas, Bodhgaya, India, Butter sculpture, monks on May 14, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Monks and nuns worked hard to prepare the materials necessary for making butter sculptures for the International Kagyu Monlam in Bodhgaya, India. This footage was shot in 2008 by Ko Jung-Fa and depicts the third stage in the laborious four-part process of preparing wax butter for sculpting butter tormas.
After the wax butter (or margarine) mixture has been thoroughly kneaded, a new element is introduced: pastry margarine. This is added to the wax butter mix to refine the texture of the final product. The pastry margarine must be vigorously kneaded into the wax butter until completely blended.
The Great Aspiration
Posted in 17th Karmapa, Bodhgaya, Buddhism, Kagyu Lineage, Kagyu Monlam, Monlam Chenmo, Ogyen Tinley Dorje, tagged 17th Karmapa, Bodhgaya, India, Monlam Chenmo, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, The Great Aspiration, Tibetan Buddhism on May 9, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
My favorite part of the Kagyu Monlam daily program in Bodhgaya is when His Holiness, the 17th Karmapa puts on his Black Hat and recites the Monlam Chenmo, or the Great Aspiration. This is a profound prayer written by the 7th Karmapa, Chodrak Gyamtso. Here is an excerpt:
“May all the deaf in all world-realms acquire the ears of the devas.
May the blind acquire the pure eyes of the devas.
May the mute gain eloquent speech.
May the insane gain sanity.
May every person gain a good appearance, eloquent speech, brilliant intelligence, and all praiseworthy qualities….”
“May I be like a father, a mother, a friend, a relative, and a king for all beings. Like medicine, food, clothing, and so forth; like earth, water, fire, air and space, may I become a support for the lives of all beings.”
–The Kagyu Monlam Book
A Compilation for Recitation
View a brief clip of His Holiness reciting this prayer:
Glimpses of Bodhgaya
Posted in 17th Karmapa, Bodhgaya, Buddha, India, Mahabodhi Stupa, Ogyen Tinley Dorje, tagged 17th Karmapa, Bodhgaya, Buddha statue, Mahabodhi Stupa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, torma film on May 1, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Take a brief tour of Bodhgaya, India. This short was filmed in the winter of 2008-09 and the sights depicted include the Mahabodhi Stupa and surrounding park, Mucalinda Lake, the Buddha statue near the Japanese Temple, Shechen Monastery, and the Thai Temple. Photography: Ko Jung-Fa; Music courtesy of Kevin MacLeod.
