The Dance of the Vajra was taught by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu at the beginning of the 1990s and is a meditation in movement based on the Song of the Vajra, an ancient mantra found in many original tantras.

In the Dzogchen Teaching sound and movement are very important because they are the means to integrate oneself into the state of contemplation. The Vajra Dance is principally a practice to harmonize the energy of the individual. If one has a more profound knowledge of the meaning of the Dance, it becomes a method for integrating the three existences of body, voice and mind into the knowledge of the state of contemplation. 

This integration is one of the most important aims of a Dzogchen practitioner. The Vajra Dance is practiced on a Mandala which represents the correspondence between the internal dimension of the individual and the outer dimension of the world.

The Vajra Dance
Edited by Prima Mai 

The Tantra “The Vajra Dance liberating the Six Classes of Beings into the Six Pure Dimensions’ is a Terma from the Tibetan Dzogchen Master Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. The Tantra “The Union of the Sun and The Moon’ taught by Vajradhara Samantabhadra contains the instructions for the application of Contemplation in the Vajra Dance. The Vajra Dance is connected to the ancient Dzogchen tradition of Oddiyana and inseparably linked to the transmission of the Dzogchen Teachings. The Vajra Dance has been practised since 1992 by members of the Dzogchen Community around the world.

There are three different Vajra Dances which can be practiced, separately or linked together: the Vajra Dance of the Song of the Vajra, The Vajra Dance of the Liberation of the Six Lokas and the Dance of the Three Vajra. In order to practice the Vajra Dance of the Song of the Vajra and the Dance of the Three Vajra the practitioners should have received in particular the transmission of the Dzogchen Teachings from a Dzogchen Master and the transmission of ‘lung’ of the Song of the Vajra.

For someone who is really interested in practicing the Vajra Dance but who has not had the possibility to receive the transmission of Dzogchen Teachings, he or she can learn the Vajra Dance of the Liberation of Six Lokas. However it is beneficial to have at least received the transmission of the ‘lung’ of the Song of the Vajra although it is not particularly necessary.

The Vajra Dance is a meditation practice integrating movement and sound. Its principle is to harmonize and coordinate our energy and integrate all experiences related to our three existences of Body, Speech and Mind into the state of contemplation, and further to stabilize and maintain the state of contemplation. Through the three main experiences of emptiness, clarity and sensation we can discover our real nature. The practice of the Vajra Dance takes place on a large Mandala of approximately 100 sq.m representing the correspondence between the inner and outer dimensions of our existence. During the Vajra Dance meditation session 12 practitioners, 6 women and 6 men can practice together. 

Vajra Dance of the Song of the Vajra

This practice of the Vajra Dance is mainly connected to the energetic aspect of our existence, or the Sambhogakaya level. Each of the many syllables contained in the Song of the Vajra correspond through their sound and color to an energy point in our inner Mandala or individual existence, and our outer Mandala or the dimension of our outer existence, the World.
Through integrating sound and movement connected to the syllables of the Song of the Vajra we can harmonize and coordinate the related energy points, channels and chakras and create a harmonizing communication on the level of this subtle energy. For this practice to really function it is indispensable to have received the transmission of the Dzogchen teachings from a Dzogchen Master and the transmission of ‘Lung’ of the Song of the Vajra

Vajra Dance of the Liberation of the Six Lokas

In this practice of the Vajra Dance the principle is to purify the dimension of the Six Lokas and to manifest the Six Pure dimensions or Wisdoms of Samantabhadra. This practice is related more to our physical or Nirmanakaya level. Karmic vision is produced by our emotions and passions and for that reason in our samsaric vision we have the Six Lokas or the Six Classes of Beings with their related main characteristics (gods- attachment, semigods – jealousy, humans – pride, animals – ignorance, preta – greed, infernal – anger). We have the seeds of these dimensions in ourselves and therefore the possibility to be reborn in one of these dimensions. Through this practice we can purify our own karmic potentialities, which are inseparably linked to all sentient beings, and therefore also create a good cause for the liberation of all sentient beings.

Dance of the Three Vajra

This practice is more related to the dimension of Mind, or the Dharmakaya level. The three syllables OM A HUM represent our three existences of Body Speech and Mind and the three pure states of all the Enlightened Beings. It is the most important mantra in the Dzogchen teachings. It represents the non-duality of Body, Speech and Mind. It is also a powerful mantra of purification. In this practice we integrate Body Speech and Mind into the state of non-dual contemplation. For having the real function of this practice it is indispensable to have received transmission of the Dzogchen teachings from a Dzogchen Master.

For more information on the Vajra Dance, please visit the International Vajra Dance webpage: www.the-dance-of-the-vajra.org