xpansions and contractions
of the universe are
the labor pains
of the cosmic womb.



Yesterday a friend of mine dragged me into the city saying an exhibit I must see was now on 7th ave and 18th St at the Rubin Museum. It was the last day of the exhibition of sacred materials on loan from Bhutan monasteries. These artifacts have never been seen by the West.

http://www.rmanyc.org/index.xml?context=/

"The Dragon's Gift"

The exhibit " comprises 87 works of art in the New York presentation, including intricate paintings and images created using applique and embroidery framed in brocade, called thangkas; gilt bronze and wooden sculptures; and ritual objects ranging in date from the 8th to the 20th century, with especially strong examples from the 17th through the 19th century. Because most of the works of art come from active temples, where they still serve as consecrated objects, Buddhist monks will remain in residence at RMA during the period of the exhibition, performing the necessary ritual observances."

I had the crystal dorja in my pocket. We sat with the monks for an hour as they chanted and prayed and did their clearings and artifact blessings. My dorja has now been blessed by Bhutanese monks! Now on the table in front of the monk nearest me was a most beautiful, old dorja, which was not used in the ceremony, and a temple bell which was. On the side of his stand was depicted the four lobed variant. After the ritual I inquired about how dorjas are used. He smiled and seemed hesitant to reply, but said it's ONLY used with the sacred texts themselves.

I found a design of a CW bent cross (the qabalah identifies this as the male principle cross) displayed in a manuscript so finely hand drawn next to two depictions of dorjas. . possibly meant to be used in conjuction in the rituals. Wrt how to use the artifact, I found a series of hand positions and postures used on the dirja, some used in conjunction with singing bowls and other symbols. This depiction was in a series of ultra- fine period portraits of an historically famous Bhutanese monk named Pema Lingpa (1450 -1521)

http://www.tealchemy.org/where/rinpoche/pemalingpa/index.html


So found a whole Bhutanese connection with the dorja-- it was a surprise to discover the central importance to the religious life that this artifact actually has.

If the Tree of Life still dwells in strength on this planet, it is there in Bhutan's incredibly productive land and people. Btw Bhutan translates as Kingdom of the Dragon.

The Dragon is very appropriately the national symbol of this verdant, blessed land....another manifestation of the aetheric energy of the Celtic "wyvern" form, which is the snake discussed above.

http://www.allbhutan.com/tour_mysteries_dragon.php