During the recent Mandarava retreat held at Dzamling Gar, Tenerife, Chögyal Namkhai Norbu spoke briefly about the importance of one of the Khaita dances, Tashi Monlam. We publish a transcription of his words about the song as well as a translation from the Tibetan and a link to the video of the dance.
TASHI MONLAM, Metren 3, Group 6, number 3.
[…] With the invocation, the intention is very important. When we finish practice not only do we dedicate with the invocation, but if we have any kind of good intention, our movements, everything, can also be practice. When we are dancing ordinary dances, for example, we are dealing with the practice of presence [so] it becomes a very important practice. We are not sitting and chanting mantras or mudras, and for that reason most people do not think that it is practice, and [consider that] it is only worldly dance. But we dance a little differently from someone dancing in an ordinary way and that is why I always ask for Tashi Monlam when we finish dancing. You should learn its meaning. It says that with this merit we dedicate so that relatively we will have no earthquakes, disasters, or conflicts of elements etc. We have all these kinds of problems and we dedicate so that everything will become harmonious and also [that] everybody will be happy and feel good. This is a dedication and that is why we dance it at the end [of a session of Khaita].
When we sit and say: “Now we do the dedication”, and chant with these words saying: OM DHARE DHARE…”, we consider that we are dedicating”. [But] when I say: “We will dance Tashi Monlam”, no one seriously thinks that it is a dedication. You should learn a little. There are different ways of practicing, not only in a formal way like they do in a monastery.
Chögyal Namkhai Norbu
Dzamling Gar, Tenerife, February 19, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Tashi Monlam – Invocation of Fortune
Today, in this fortunate day
In this fortunate and glorious enclosure
The sun of joyous reunion has risen
We offer this white scarf of aspiration as a support for meeting again and again
Fortune! May fortune and happiness come about!
May fortune come about!
With no illness afflicting the body,
With no suffering arising in the mind,
May relatives and friends joined together live happily
And the fortune of realizing one’s desires come about!
May fortune come about!
Today, in this fortunate day
In this fortunate and glorious enclosure
The sun of joyous reunion has risen
We offer this toast of nectar-chang of aspiration as a support for meeting again and again
Fortune! May fortune and happiness come about!
May fortune come about!
With a capacity shining forth like the sun and moon,
With an ocean of merit twirling abundantly,
With a length of human life flowing continuously like a river,
May the fortune of the occurrence of all wishes come about!
May fortune come about!
Today, in this fortunate day In this fortunate and glorious enclosure
The sun of joyous reunion has risen.
We offer this melodious song of aspiration as a support for meeting again and again
Fortune! May fortune and happiness come about!
May fortune come about!
While the elements do not stand as enemies
While the environment does not become impoverished
May beings and nature live in peace and harmony,
And the fortune of increasing happiness come about!
May fortune come about!
May fortune and happiness come about! May fortune come about!
May fortune and happiness perfectly come about!
