![Vajrayogini Mandala. Tibet, 18th century. Pigment, gold, and wood. This mandala is used for Vajrayogini visualization meditation according to the tradition of Naropa. Rubin Museum Collection. From Himalayan Art Resources. This is an example of the dance visualization tradition, or dance ephemeral, in reference to the visualized deity, not the painting, which is another example of dance depicted. The connection between dance depicted and dance visualized is clear](https://www.buddhistdoor.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/image3-34-768x762.jpg)
![Vajrayogini Mandala. Tibet, 18th century. Pigment, gold, and wood. This mandala is used for Vajrayogini visualization meditation according to the tradition of Naropa. Rubin Museum Collection. From Himalayan Art Resources. This is an example of the dance visualization tradition, or dance ephemeral, in reference to the visualized deity, not the painting, which is another example of dance depicted. The connection between dance depicted and dance visualized is clear](https://www.buddhistdoor.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/image3-34-768x762.jpg)
![Ceremonial tsam mask. From the Milan Klečka collection. A tourdag mask of a burial grounds protector. A pair of protectors defends the dance ground. They wear dresses decorated with a skeleton pattern, with colorful fans on the sides of the head, so-called “butterflies.” In the background, the mask of the god of war. Photo by Jakub Šedý. Image courtesy of the Náprstek Museum](https://www.buddhistdoor.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/331fc2ebb124cd26a732faa08c0dc9b2_715__2-e1623565920431.jpg)
The Secret Life of Collections
Joseph Houseal
11 July 2020
Insights into Czech cultural connections with Buddhist…
![Charya Nritya lineage holder Prajwal Vajracharya performing Vajrapani at the Victoria and Albert Museum. London, 2009. Photo by Jonathan Greet](https://www.buddhistdoor.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/image6-2711-768x512.jpg)
Dance and Museums, Celebrating Core of Culture at 20
Joseph Houseal
16 May 2020
Tracing Intangible world heritage and ancient dance…
![](https://www.buddhistdoor.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/48881488437_e10eae5cdd_c-768x384.jpg)
Meditation in Motion, Footsteps to the Sublime
Joseph Houseal
19 April 2020
Tantric dance and treasures of the Vajrayana
![Dancing wrathful protectors, Thimphu Tsechu, Bhutan, 2016. From Core of Culture](https://www.buddhistdoor.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/image17-49-768x573.png)
Performative Iconography, Part Two
Joseph Houseal
7 December 2019
The sacred dance without and within
![Wrathful Herukas dancing in Thangbi, Bhutan. 2006. Photo by Gerard Houghton for Core of Culture](https://www.buddhistdoor.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/bed905a70f60572a0ac1cfabcb466a8d_715__2-e1624265483903.png)
Performative Iconography, Part One
Joseph Houseal
2 November 2019
Mystic expressions of tantric meditation
![The two dancers, with stick and with bowed head, stand by the uchung who led the practice and the drummer. Their modesty, excellence, and humanity are clear to see. 2019. Photo by Jonathan Greet. From Core of Culture](https://www.buddhistdoor.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/image10-352-e1624418107675-768x594.jpg)
Monklife, Part Three: Mantra, Mudra, Movement, Mask – Steps to Embodiment
Joseph Houseal
5 October 2019
Vessels of an ancient lineage
![A teen monk prepares to perform an inner ritual dance for the first time. Three of his friends have just finished sweeping the puja hall for his performance. Photograph copyright Jonathan Greet, 2019, for Core of Culture](https://www.buddhistdoor.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/image1-171-e1624724499711-768x536.jpg)
![Image courtesy of Khampagar Monastery](https://www.buddhistdoor.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/f8fe2f5fb9f484dc6c30fc923831cfac_265_265_1.jpg)
Khamtrul Rinpoche Leads Historic Mahakala Puja in Taipei
Paola Di Maio
2 April 2019
First full Mahakala Puja ever conducted in Taiwan
![2015. Wu Village Upper Monastery, outside Tong Ren. Tibetan woman against a doorway.](https://www.buddhistdoor.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/44762674745_3a6a5cdba8_z-e1624636261690.jpg)
![Guru Rinpoche in heroic pose with sword and dagger (phurba). Bhutanese thangka painting, 19th century. From Core of Culture](https://www.buddhistdoor.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/40258179904_eed4b82a31_c.jpg)
World Peace! Thumbs Up! Some Martial Aspects of Buddhist Dance
Joseph Houseal
6 April 2018
A closer look at martial behavior in Vajrayana…
![](https://www.buddhistdoor.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/b2f0e7e154fc04a2ce2d5cab1f21916b-768x660.jpg)
Tibetan Book of the Dead, Part Two: The Hour of Our Death
Joseph Houseal
5 May 2017
The first metaphysical thing I learned about Buddhist Cham dance was that the same monstrous deities appearing in the annual Cham performance will appear again