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The nuns perform an opening prayer before their performance at Roussell
Hall, Loyola University. The hats worn here are distinctive to Tibetan
nuns. |
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Three standing nuns perform a ritual purification ceremony offered to
all the Gurus, the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. This ritual bath purifies
negative karma and delusions for the participants and all sentient beings. |
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Costumed dance accompanied by long horns and percussion instruments.
The masked dancers in this picture perform the dance of Buddha Manjushri,
the one who embodies the enlightened wisdom of all the Buddhas. |
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Four masked nuns enact the dance of the Bodhisattvas a dance expressing
their activities of benefiting sentient beings. |
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A nun portrays Milarepa (1052-1135), a Tibetan poet and saint who
transmitted esoteric teachings. |
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The ascetic Milarepa seated next to a deer which points to his austere
life style. The deer was fleeing a hunter and his hound and Milarepa calms
the deer. |
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Milarepa, seated between the deer and the hound, bestows a blessing
upon the hunter who had tried to kill the deer and then Milarepa himself,
but now has been won over by his teaching. |
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Tibetan horn players lead the dance of the Dakinis. |
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The Dakini dance in progress. In ceremonial robes the nuns wear a
ritual headdress which bear a caligraphic script known as 'Lantsa'. |
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The Dakini dance in progress. Wearing their ceremonial robes the nuns
hold ceremonial bell symbolizing wisdom and a ceremonial sceptre (vajra)
symbolizing the fundamental unity of all things. |
