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A Sacred Dance: Studying the Chumby Laurie Saunder and Mira Ames
The practice of Chöd traditionally begins with a sacred dance called the Chum. When Wangdu Lama first visited the Institute last year, he gave demonstrations and left detailed instructions for the Chum. Since then, several groups have begun studying the dance, with the help of Monica O'Neal. During Wangdu Lama's current visit, he has been further refining our practice of the dance.
The central purpose of the Chum is to prepare oneself, and the space one is in, for the Chöd practice. In this respect, the Chum is far more than a dance: it is a sophisticated and beautiful spiritual discipline in and of itself. As Swamiji has said, "While dancing to purify the ground and subdue the place, we are bringing our hearts and minds into a peaceful and compassionate place."
To this end, the Chum includes physical movements as well as playing a damaru (hand-drum) and kangling (thighbone trumpet), song, mantra, visualization, and conscious breath circulation. All of these elements are incorporated into the dance as a whole, which has nine parts: Walk of Subduing the Place, Dance of Five Directions, Dance of Phurbas, Dance of Cross Vajras, Walk of Fire, Walk of Dakas, Walk of Dakinis, Walk of Mahasiddhas, and Walk of the Snake.
In each of these sections, the dancer moves in large circles, creating a mandala on the ground where the Chöd is to be performed. Each section has a different purpose. For example, the Walk of Subduing the Place dispels obstacles that would prevent the Chöd from occurring in that particular place. In the Dance of the Five Directions, the dancer cultivates the attitudes of surrender and the five paramitas: compassion, joy, kindness, equanimity, and bodhicitta. The Dance of Phurbas drives down the stakes that anchor the practitioner in these attitudes and subdue the ego.
Institute members who are learning the Chum have found it to be a challenging, engaging, and joyful practice, that has deepened their experience not only of Chöd, but of meditation as well. At a recent retreat, Swamiji said, "The ultimate fearless yogi is a person who is able to dance with all the confusion and uncertainty that presents itself in front of us . . . a person who can love everything." For many centuries, devoted practitioners have used Chöd and Chum to develop this capacity in themselves. However, there are very few people who still practice these ancient traditions today. That we have the opportunity to do so, is remarkable.
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