Ritually

Somehow it became mid-May, and I have left Dharamsala.  I had a wonderful last few days in Dharamsala and a very special send-off.  10 hours of hard driving brought us to Dolanji, the epicenter in exile of the Bon religion (Tibet’s native religion, now so-called 5th school of Buddhism), for a few days.  An overnight haul to the Delhi airport, then yesterday onward to Kathmandu.

In Dolanji, the idea of ritual came up in myriad conversations.  What is a ritual, why do we do them, what is the benefit or downside.  We have rituals for almost every part of life, that vary depending on the culture.  American kids learn to brush their teeth twice a day.  Indian kids serve tea to guests on a little tray.  We do work before play, give thanks before we eat.  We hold doors for others, greet new people with a handshake, a bow, a how-do-you-do.  These are all rituals, though of course the most obvious rituals take place within religion.

In the most direct Buddhist and Bon teachings, there is nothing to learn, nothing to strive for.  There is simply interconnectedness and space.  Yet both religions are full of ritual.  And why?  Rituals and ceremonies are expensive.  They are distracting, taking monks and lay communities (and resources) away from their otherwise day-to-day study and work.  Some ritual texts take a week or more just to read through, let alone perform.  They have special requirements, perhaps special foods, objects.  Sometimes grueling schedules, requiring round-the-clock attention. They are powerful, though.  They must be, or we would have stopped doing them.

I have long been skeptical of the ritual side of these religions, thinking that there is some loss of the whole point of the teachings if they’re wrapped up in ceremony.  It is true that many parts of religion have become over-ritualized, with not enough emphasis on the core practices and too much emphasis on ceremony, the conferring of blessings, etc.  Lately, however, I’ve been thinking of ritual in another way.  It is clear that for most people, in order for some concept to sink in, they must engage that concept tactically — reading about it is not enough.  Same goes for religion.  Buddhist and Bon doctrines encourage the processing of teachings by hearing, contemplating, and meditating.  And by putting them into action. There are different meditation techniques, because different techniques encourage the facing of different desired experiences.  Likewise, performing a ritual text brings it to life.  It makes the participants slow down, feel the outcomes and consequences of the ceremony.  Then, the material is remembered, integrated, digested, discussed, and it sinks in at a deep level.