THE NOMADIC SACRIFICE: The chöd pilgrimage among the Bönpo of Dolpo (Western Nepal)
Book Details
Author(s)Martino Nicoletti
PublisherAbaris Publications - Paris
ISBN / ASINB018AVXRQY
ISBN-13978B018AVXRQ1
Sales Rank707,741
MarketplaceUnited States 🇺🇸
Description
In the heart of the Himalayas, officiants belonging to Tibet’s ancient religion, Bön, undertake a long ritual pilgrimage through wild and inhospitable places inhabited by mountain deities, water genii, ferocious demons and dangerous ghosts.
As the pilgrimage unfolds, having attracted the spirits’ attention with wildly provocative acts and evoking their presence by reciting a ritual text and the sound of magical musical instruments, the practitioners celebrate the meditative sacrifice of their own body (chöd), offered to a whole host of invisible beings as spiritual nourishment during a singular ritual banquet.
Texts, diary excerpts and photos recount this archaic ritual, deeply rooted in the notion of Universal Compassion and chiefly aimed at severing the practitioner’s attachment to his physical body and overcoming identification with his own illusory ego.
The work is also enriched by a translation of the sacred ritual text "The Secret Wisdom Dakini" (Khandro Sangba Yeshe) by Geshe Gelek Jinpa and by the link to an experimental short Super-8 film by the author.
As the pilgrimage unfolds, having attracted the spirits’ attention with wildly provocative acts and evoking their presence by reciting a ritual text and the sound of magical musical instruments, the practitioners celebrate the meditative sacrifice of their own body (chöd), offered to a whole host of invisible beings as spiritual nourishment during a singular ritual banquet.
Texts, diary excerpts and photos recount this archaic ritual, deeply rooted in the notion of Universal Compassion and chiefly aimed at severing the practitioner’s attachment to his physical body and overcoming identification with his own illusory ego.
The work is also enriched by a translation of the sacred ritual text "The Secret Wisdom Dakini" (Khandro Sangba Yeshe) by Geshe Gelek Jinpa and by the link to an experimental short Super-8 film by the author.
