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Mani Rimdu is a 18-day
sequence of sacred ceremonies and empowerments,
culminating in a 3-day public festival. It's an
opportunity for the local Sherpa and Tibetan
communities, to gather and celebrate together with the
monastic community.
Mani Rimdu is a re-creation of legendary events; the
establishment of Buddhism in Tibet by the great saint,
Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava). Through the dances,
symbolic demons are conquered, dispelled, or converted
to Dharma Protectors, as positive forces clash with
those of chaos. The dances convey Buddhist teachings on
many levels - from the simplest to the most profound -
for those who do not have the opportunity to study and
meditate extensively.
The moon is full, the
fall harvest gathered, and people are at ease. Some have
walked two to three days to come to the social three
days event of the year. Mani Rimdu tells a story in
dance. Ostensibly the dancers reenact the establishment
of Buddhism in Tibet. Yet hidden within this drama of
cultural history, say many Sherpas, is the story of an
individual's awakening. At its heart is a mystery play
in which every event corresponds to a different aspect
of an individual's spiritual awakening as he moves
beyond greed, anger, and negligence to illumination.
The mystery play begins with loud clashes of cymbals
called rolmo. The ostensible story, the establishment of
Buddhism in Tibet, describes an historical period. The
mystery aspect of the play bespeaks a timeless process
an individual's awakening from illusion.
The first step in awakening is the transformation of
perception. At the beginning of the play, of the play,
an alter is built, where the objects of sensory
perception are sacrificed. As if one purchases wisdom by
spending the sense, one offers sound in the form of
cymbals, taste in the form of dough cakes, smell in the
form of burning juniper, touch in the form of silks,
sight in the form of a mirror, and the mind in the form
of a book. Freed from these patterns of material
associations, one can perceive allegorical patterns.
From inside the deity house of the monastery a group of
Lamas emerge. They come to transform the indigenous
beliefs of the people. |
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Day 2.
October. 14
Arrive in Kathmandu and take a shuttle bus to the
Hotel. Afternoon orientation and time to rest. Dinner
will be at Bhancha Ghar.
Day 3. October. 15
Early morning guided tour to Pashupatinath, a Shiva
temple complex filled with Himalayan yogis and where the
last death rites are performed by Brahman Priests
alongside the funeral ghats. Lunch at the on the way
restaurant
Day 4 October. 16
Early morning visit to the Boudhanath stupa to join
hundreds of Buddhist pilgrims circumambulating the stupa.
Hanging of prayer flags, followed by a visit to Sechen
Monastery and morning meditation alongside monks.
Day 5. October. 17
Early morning flight to Phaplu in the Solu Khumbhu
region.
There will be a tour local guide staff through the
village hospital. We will then walk to Salarie village
for a visit with our Sherpa friends to learn about the
Sherpa culture. We will spend the night at a traditional
Sherpa Hotel.
Day 6. October. 18
Three hour walk through Rhododendron forests to Ratna
Giri at 4000m in hopes of viewing Chomolungmo (Mt.
Everest), Lhotse, Nupste and the extending Himalayan
mountain range. Breakfast and Morning meditation. Return
to Phaplu for relaxation, journal writing and a poetry
reading followed by a traditional Sherpa dinner.
Day 7. October. 19
Depart Phaplu and walk 4 hours to Jumbese at 2600m, home
to the heart of Sherpa culture. Jumbese is the seat of
traditional Sherpa architecture.
Overnight at traditional Sherpa inn.
Day 8. October. 20
Visit the meditation retreat of Lama Tenzing overlooking
the Jumbese valley.
Walk two hours to Thupten Choling at 2800m. Visit with
the 85 years - old Trulsghik Rinpoche, the Dalai Lama’s
senior meditation teacher, considered the reincarnation
of Ananda, Buddha’s disciple who performs the Mani Rimdu.
Day 9. October. 21.
Early morning meditation at Thupten Choling monastery.
Treatment of elderly nuns at the Tibetan medical clinic.
The afternoon is free to visit with Buddhist nuns.
Day 10. October. 22. Wong
(blessings)
Early departure with a three hour walk to Chiwong
Monastery. Establish camp and hang prayer flags.
Afternoon Buddhist teaching at Chiwong Monastery. Mani
Rimdu begins.
Day 11. October. 23. Chham
(masked dance)
Audience with either Trulshig or Sangsang Rimpoche. Cham
Festival dances and traditional Sherpa dancing. Mani
Rimdu.
Day 12. October. 24 Jhinsak
(fire offerings)
Fire Puja at Chiwong Monastery. Destruction of sand
mandala.
Day 13. October 25 Lokpar
(destruction of the sand mandala)
Early morning walk with monks to the sacred spring to
disperse the sand mandala.
Breakfast, followed by a forest walk to Phaplu. Camp
behind Hotel del Sherpa.
Day 14. October. 26.
10:45a.m. Flight to Kathmandu. Afternoon free for
shopping. Group dinner.
Day 15. October. 27
Depart Kathmandu for the onward destination.. |
Airport / Hotel /
Airport pick up & drop by private car/van/bus
Hotel in Kathmandu on B / B
Guided Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing tour with
English speaking Tour guide
All meals during trekking 3 meals a day (Breakfasts,
Lunches and Dinners)
Twin sharing Lodge or Teahouse accommodation
during the trek
Government Licensed holder English speaking Trekking
Guides and Porters during the trek
Food, accommodation, salary, insurance, equipment
and medicine for all trekking staff.
Everest National Park Conservation Area Permit.
TIMS (Trekking Information Management System) Card
for the Everest Trek.
All local Transportation from Kathmandu to Syabru |
