The Celestial Dance of Bhutan | Full Documentary | SLICE

each year in the far reaches of Bhutan a tiny Buddhist kingdom nestled between Tibet and India monks gather in the mountains to prepare for several days of dancing and meditation [Music] these monks are the guardians of a tradition that is said to liberate men and women from their bad karma and guide them to a heavenly paradise beyond the appearances of the ordinary world [Music] [Music] took ten is only 23 years old but he's already a dance master he started at an early age and comes from a long line of dancers for the monks of drum it's a dancing is a form of moving meditation a spiritual practice that both purifies and cleanses negative emotions such as fear greed or anger [Music] [Music] Tilton is the successor of memory badge a a 76 year old lay monk who is directing these rehearsals for the last time [Music] mammy badge a has fought his entire life to protect this dance and preserve its choreography he was the most brilliant and exceptional dancer of his generation [Music] during the festival that will take place in a few weeks the dancers will all wear masks and play drums the sound of the drums symbolizes victory of the Buddhist way magic may never Nita - to Kamala madam - the mother is a commercial rate so Donald UDC has an annual Aggie but we net idly of everyone working take the belt away from the salmon which hardly Japanese the wooden having some design of the chart [Music] [Music] [Music] me Manila and then some Jacobsen john phillips with heavenly dispute on the north ninja motor Khadem trial no more when he's holding me in little after the festival many pooja is planning to retire to the mountains there he'll recite prayers and mantras until death frees him from his worldly existence before he goes the great master gives his successor some final words of advice the older one and the other I some jungle fight - madam paging me when I dream of Japan's your cups with a cherry pie mean we - program the 12th Lok Omni way in played similar design a shaman who you meet a nice young Leone - Minnie oh mercy - on applicant reception and a deshaun Watson is our champion eh I'm watching lonex tumult and the negation elimination Jamila Bey feels a sense of deja vu when he was young his old master was none other than took tenth great-grandfather oh ma Chanel Abdullah was in Ellicott in davao Jehan Gordon forgivable niche in Magnum but remaining palpable already been a teeny tiny thing Oh moto de jambe our attorneys lickboot infiniti enhancing what on earth in the tangible dominate the word they are interwoven over need empower the meat hygiene animal new young pony 13 Janie 30 grand in the water one and the other of support sateen Senator Tom Donnelly invent love Johnny Pesky ingen I don't know so I would do charming a cheap Arriba me whoever the witchy waitin on a post America and really too soon and even have some cotton sure Vanessa DeLeon 500 kilometers from the term it's a monastery Tim Phu Bouton's capital is home to a hundred thousand inhabitants one seventh of the total population of this country no bigger than Switzerland one of the busiest shops in Thimphu is a store for monks Kempo is a professor of Buddhist philosophy in Rome it's a he uses a brief stay in the capital to buy some gifts for the monasteries seventy monks to get here [Music] khempo and his friend karma would like to buy a more prestigious gift for the rinpoche the spiritual leader of trim Itza these cloth paintings called tankers represent Buddhist deities and are used as aids in meditation [Music] in Boonton the government sponsors and encourages the teaching of traditional arts these trades are thriving and are being handed down to a growing number of students [Music] in this school we're Kempo and karma bought their tanker the students also learn how to make dance masks and Putin's Institute of language and cultural studies khempo participated in a mission funded by UNESCO to save the mask dance of drum it's a the Institute took on the colossal work of documenting the dance in order to ensure that it passed on in its most complete form [Music] Yanik xerus and her team are about to complete a book and film that will be distributed in every school throughout the kingdom that shine is unique to do turn I said it's belongs to do turn other than ceasing has been input coming from Tibet but this this dance is specific to Bhutan and has been I mean born in putana Kempe found some ancient manuscripts that allow him to trace back to the dancers origins the that are known to attribute in tragedy to me Holloman salami they wrote this week in recording the sound barrier here the chunky talented Chikara to Kailash odd even [Music] period etymology in Hazuki particular substrate a deal basalt ability to you know magical routine the key to communicate tunnel Jeremy today Martin que canta nuevo valentin whe kiti's American economy the south ability tangibility tantalum authority the na na ship children will volunteer the unity Sacher is generated is chanted teratology to in art world participated to tautology 27g gog opportunity to know in the midst of the rainy season it will take Kempo and karma three days on the road to reach Dermot say [Music] [Music] [Music] music to [Music] 2:10 the young dance master never raises his voice at his students teaching is carried out very naturally mainly by imitation and repetition [Music] [Music] [Music] the dance masks are carefully kept in a special room the dancers are only allowed to wear them on the sacred day of the festival when you determine a chair hey Jenny he'll draw ammonia to the Saudi cotton digital Nagas oh honey Oh Nene needs a mapping which was the thing is here mob thing is a Bob's an 18-mile any tiny TV cable thing in you allah language on tequila and ammo so darling I didn't valet Johanna never a moment in time do you think well along with the person making money in the drum it's a turns the animal masks represent deities associated with Padma Sam Baba's paradise oddly the dances aren't required to identify with any specific animal they must transcend outward appearances can visualize their heavenly deities in nabiyuna vomit automatic bedad Rainey tiny simply grab a gurney donated evident Optima dan/erin unibody negative attitude negative a doctor Iggy diva doctor not a new name it we condition our balcony McCrea Delanie Omani couple of daughters in DePalma gala Honorable Tom Diaz ahna sorta median run tomotommy how's everything on the Omani Singham Jang Daein Elleni solution Ihram job dramatizing Imran Tabata to talk more Zynga mud run carpet enigma potala look at da de da canto del mahealani solution developed our third item with a medium keyboard on my keyboard is everything Dini Omo Omo pitching in LEP slap doesn't become an allied omekata copy the pendulum deeper human a landing Omani based on the pitch other than that on anything depend of the oil it is very likely these animal masks originally came from ancient shamanic rituals but there is no historical proof to confirm this Omar get him now beginning when Nathan Bellini am nominating something neighbor jung da-jung be anyone's I'm missing the government members are that even doable honey you are - only a theme with a needed more on Baba's Tatro pinto vega de chile true for any reward Amal Amira [Music] [Music] the rhythm of monastery life hasn't changed for centuries the great master sangchul rinpoche is the reincarnation of a spiritual leader who lived in the 15th century since his arrival the monastery has regained its former scale and scope he is strongly promoted and developed the teaching of the dancers [Music] [Music] the rinpoche oversees strict observance of all the important rituals like the fire sacrifice for the Buddhists fire purifies and cleanses it consumes lies ignorance and the illusions of ego [Music] central rinpoche reigns over the monastery and a large part of the mountain like a feudal lord many peasants from the region pay him a substantial share of their harvest some of these peasants like Chuang are lay monks they're allowed to get married and have children the nigma per order they belong to allow them to combine family and spiritual life here Padma Sam bhava is omnipresent the great tantric master introduced and disseminated Buddhism in the Himalayas in the 8th century he's regarded as the second Buddha [Music] khempo and karma arrived at one of the largest fortresses in bhutan punica comer who works as a guide is particularly fond of this highlight of Bhutanese architecture [Music] you know [Music] to the left of Buddha Sakyamuni the historical Buddha we once again find Padma Sambhav are the beloved great master also known as guru Rinpoche [Music] karma has a special request for him he'd like to go back to school follow the Buddhist path and find a master who can teach him to meditate [Music] not to be real oddity not mean you're finding it in every well not only rounding it in the chamkila machine okay mister whatever ability with the Hemi got a loop in got Musleh hair that is similar on looking over tinder but the time treating a me was the source of the contamination with me which is that denoted Kempo is moved by Karma's interest and decides to show him the place where he'll soon retire on a three-year retreat this retreat is part of Buddhist initiation one day every dancer from German say will have to following Campos footsteps technology markup in charity mashaallah Donnelly artisans Academy journalist Tajikistan I'm Gina Kennedy 30 any news from Nevada the Chi Chi rule Omnimedia chef Nathanial to debris or manure Jean Van Camp oh must take a vow of silence he's in no way shut off from the world in some cave he takes his friend to the place of his retreat a small dwelling where another monk is staying at present no Allah is some nothing you in coma hopes to be able to go on a retreat one day as well he's curious to know what such an inner journey is like no chickie renew chip boom Chiti Chiti judge tom she said that and you see me la she boom Cheeta Cheeta Cheeta that makes four thousand prostrations a day an exhausting physical ordeal the most difficult part of the retreat in cadiz automata nice mph watch in Georgia Tara Mussina Siddiqui - no mellitus or Rangi the same game tip American lady Tsunade could be amenable challenging where the only person camper will be allowed to speak to you during the three-year period is his spiritual master Tomoko mediator maturity talking early the lumbermen Dermatology the lamb until she wanted a memento divinity stange boomer Tellem attended individual patroller but child don't worry about the charge anymore charlie [Music] [Music] [Music] after some tral rinpoche Kempo is the second most important person at the monastery the monks are happy to see him again before he disappears for three years at the Munk school took ten and his classmates also learn how to make ritual cakes called Toma Toma are made of barley flour and colored butter making them allows the monks to create with care and generosity without any attachment [Music] for them the cakes are magical offerings that appease spirits remove obstacles or accumulate merit for a future life [Music] there are hundreds of varieties adapted to different rituals and several Buddhist deities to the festival the cakes are offered to the birds [Music] [Music] as a professor of Buddhist philosophy khempo compliments memory by J's instruction he teaches the young visualizer certainly easy detail to be the most healthy there to be no frittata I too talented maturity teacher could have said dignity swing music such a person such a person to pay cable monitor me give the magical as well however Jamie immediately virgin the UH thought infidelity would move Cottrell seem to not only she seemed to do honey no podía it work Maggie - who's he nah me urgentiy me Maggie two months two chapters me deeply let them decide to be lost on what was it tell me do you ever had to be shot this spiritual practice helps transform reality from the ordinary into the extraordinary it's an active meditation exercise that incites the dancers and the audience to lift the veil of appearances the dance isn't considered to be entertainment for them it's a real treasure of the mind the choreography is no longer in jeopardy but these young dancers power of visualization needs to be developed this invisible task is the only thing at risk of being lost today a Cherokee selamat ah we need pattern ow transient motion per chicken agenda cat ejecta misfortune that they charge about to move marcado dinky no typical regime there is total anarchy home gym a little rattled on to monitor it negative are they substitute Thomas are you kidding that usually not emotions than bear that it the doctor didn't return one more error APPA kappa global cap didn't know anybody the air media manager Hey Paget immaterial to us Angie poor some people the most [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] at the monastery all daily activities are linked to this endeavor of inner cleansing and purification of the soul and ego [Music] everywhere the wind and prayer flags also help purify the atmosphere appease dead spirits and protect all living beings [Music] come on come on pally pally Melina I do yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah oh yeah yeah Tina the festival will begin in two days all the lay monks scheduled to dance leave their families and head to the monastery [Music] mr. Mitchell [Music] after meeting up in the mountains the monks and lay monks joined forces to inaugurate the festival with a procession [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] the festivities begin at 2:00 in the morning some of the lay monks led by Chuang dress up as Aunt Sarah the answerer are clowns celestial jesters who helped with the festival's organization their first mission wake everybody up [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] changing before the dances all the monks must purify themselves through rituals and prayers during the three days of the festival they will hardly sleep more than a few hours [Music] [Music] the monks invoke the wrathful deities a [Music] dance inside the temple is offered up to them as a sign of devotion and appeasement unfortunately a heavy fog has settled over the monastery [Music] [Music] despite the downpour the dancers get their masks they hope that in a few hours the skies will be clear meanwhile the answerer have decided to give a little impromptu show the main role of the answerer is to entertain the public make the kids laugh and help everyone make it through to the end of the performances [Music] to stop the rain the clown's launch into a parody of a Buddhist ritual they mock and poke fun at the real rituals performed by the monks in a heavily policed society the ants are our are the only ones who enjoy the true freedom of speech they're allowed to criticize everything religion the King and the governor these holy jesters provide mental release from seriousness which could smother a community that's too obedient and religious self-deprecation and laughter as a means of detachment are integrated into the transmission of Buddhism [Music] [Music] backstage took ten and his dancers finally get the green light to put on their costumes and [Music] despite the rain the dance must take place on what's considered the most auspicious day not to do so would bring ill fortune [Music] [Music] [Music] for the dancers that rain adds an element of difficulty they must follow the choreography visualize their heavenly deities remain focused and not slip it's a dance of liberation where the energy of the dancers bodies is transformed into spiritual energy it's believed that this dance establishes peace and harmony in the region protecting it from enemies and natural disasters [Music] it is the opportunity for the public to connect with the deities they'll encounter after death and to visualize Padma samba VARs heavenly paradise [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] meh-meh badge a has gone off to pray in the mountains waiting for death and his encounter with the heavenly deities he's so often visualized Kempo has begun his three-year retreat after this initiation he'd like to teach Buddhism in Europe took ten keeps practicing and progressing as he transmits what men they taught him as for karma he's still seeking his path he has recently learned the personal meditation in India [Music] you

Channel: SLICE

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Rating: 4.8942151 out of 5

Keywords: Celest, celestial, celestial dance, Bhutan, Bhutanese, dance, choreography, sacred dance, Buddhist, Buddhism, meditation, Drametse, monastery, monk, monks, buddhist monk, Bhutanese monk, Bhutanese monks, culture, ethnography, free documentary, documentary, documentaries, shortdoc, shortdocs, slice, slicedocs

Id: XqCFIyCTtyM

Length: 51min 25sec (3085 seconds)

Published: Wed May 27 2020