ネワール仏教の秘密舞踊――その伝統継承をめぐって――

抄録

Two leading Vajrācārya Paṇḍits in the modern Newar Buddhist society, Badrī ratna (N.S. 1053–1136) and Ratna kājī (N.S. 1054–1119) were born in the same monastery, Mantra-siddhi Mahāvihāra, in Kathmandu City. They had been close friends in their youth, working together towards the study and propagation of Newar Vajrayāna Buddhism. Later in adulthood, however, they were separated due to different views on the succession of Cacā, the Newar Buddhist ritual dances. The dancers are, so to speak, the archetype of Sādhana meditators. The Vajrācārya priests monopolize the right to perform the ritualized Sādhana, Kala-a-pūjā, for their clients. So the dances have been transmitted from father to son only among the Vajrācārya families. Being afraid of the decline of Newar Buddhism, especially of the ritual dances, Ratna kājī decided to open the traditional dances to non-Vajrācāryas, including foreigners. Ratna kājī said to me that anyone who performs the dance under his instruction could gain the mysterious identity with Buddhist deities or the Buddha, which he has experienced. Theoretically, this means that non-Vajrācāryas can perform the Kala-a-pūjā. Badrī ratna was dead set against him, saying that he should not break their traditions. Badrī ratna aimed for the restoration of the prestige of the Vajrācārya priests as his lifework.