The number of audience is bitterly less, but the claps is loud and clear.
It's really a great performance. I didn't expect it to be something so Dhamma.
Other than the venue, which I find, too small, too close to audience, everything else is great!
The singing, the movements, the traditional dance is so graceful, the costume, the Dhamma Pali quotes chosen was all good and accurate, even it's pronounciation. They story is fine. It is exquisite and poetic.
The performers are professional and good. Traditional dance... there is one particular move, where 1 leg rests with the kneel cap only, and the other leg seating. I saw the performer balancing himself. It is a difficult move. But is is beautiful, the person on the floor is as if flying.
The dance makes the people look really like Devatas. Sound good, Look good. Haha... Moving as if flying, with happy faces, as if liberated...
The show falls mainly on the Buddha's teaching about death, the Dhamma and also the perspective of Death from the Director, Punnasak Sukee.
I missed the front few parts, because I'm late. But I'll buy the tickets and watch it once more.
It only has 3 days, 13, 14, 15 Feburary.
This "Dear Death" talks about the unsettled young grandson as his grandmother is passing away soon. He is worried, and perplexed.
He was in the dream, when I stepped in half way.
He reflects on the Dhamma he heard before, the pain from separation, from attachment, sorrow, fear, helplessness. He feel the pain.
At one part he was really reflecting what most people are today!
Lead by material gains, living unconsciously, going round and round, round and round, in laughter and sorrow, laughter and sorrow. Doing nothing about the surest thing "death"
There the Dhamma was contemplated,
"life is uncertain, death is certain.
We are subject to death.
Nothing belongs to us”
Finally,
Sabbe Dhamma Nalam Abhinivesaya!
Nothing, whatsoever, should be clung to.
In the show "HE" the one, with utmost glory, like that of a celestial being, is the representation of Death. HE seats on the gold chariot, with a golden body, endowed with Dhamma and happiness, lead by many beautiful and handsome fairies. He is gentle, full of sympathy.
This HE, put on the role to ease the grandson's heart.
Grandson was realizing his ignorance. He has heard, "Nothing, whatsoever, should be clung to...and all other Dhamma" but yet he see himself, that he is still ignorant, still unawakened. and he questions, WHY?
This shows the understanding of Dhamma in the director.
HE answers his doubts, by pointing out many things, answering in a poetic and deep manner, it goes something like this:
"Will you take my grandma away?"
"I seperates no one..."
He went on telling, the way to awakening is to let go of "Self", that idea. In doctrine, that is sotapanna stage, a 1st level saint out of the 4 levels.
HE told him these, as the way:
"Sato Sampajano kalam agameyya"
Live consciously and alert on the "Time".
What time does the Buddha meant? This the actual word of the Buddha as well. It means the time of death.
but grandson carries on to be emotional and despair about the arriving death of his grandma.
and HE repeatedly tell him, "Be Awakened".
"Nothing belong to us."
"Nothing, whatsoever, should be clung to."
This emphasis carries on to a extend, where suddenly there comes the dancing devas singing the verse "Sato Sampajano kalam agameyya", repeatedly, in a heavenly manner.
and Grandson come into sense, and finally understood, "Yes I should live consciously and alert on the 'Kala'."
The grandma at the ending, said something striking to me, which I consented by nodding my head, actually I've been nodding many times in the show. It's the same to what I know, what I felt as well.
1 part, the grandma said, "I've no regrets, I'm aware of my good Kamma and merits."
When HE came again, on his golden chariot, came and brought the grandma, to Chuala Mani pagoda (a pagoda in 33 heavens, that enshrines the hair of the Buddha), the grandson, said something that trigger my Dhamma sense again,"When I saw, grandma was brought away, I am distressed. But looking at the smiles of my grandma, and the devata's smiles, I'm happy for grandma. One day I'll be the one on the chariot, and I know I'll see you again. I live consciously, aware of "Kala"."
There is another interesting conversation, where grandma says,
"HE say he will come again at night"
"Late night? When?"
"Maybe."
"Unpredictable. Life is uncertain, but Death is certain."
Beautifully expresses the uncertainty of life. Poetically.
There is another. This grandson is good in poetry.
He describes this body, as a station.
He says, "The station meant for us to leave it." Well we don't stay at the station forever, it is a temporary stay.
There are still some Dhamma quotes, but I fail to remember them exactly.
I really like to reccommend this show to Buddhists and none buddhist alike.
It is reflective, entertaining, and beautiful. Especially educational in Dhamma for Buddhists.
If there is DVDs on this performance I'll definately buy one. But less likely, I feel.
The director's intention of his shows are for the teachings of the Buddha. Just like his previous work, "Dancing to Nirvana." I've read about it, another very interesting storyline.
He said very well,
“We should understand death before our death."
Reading on Dancing to Nirvana, the previous work, he also sees the current situation on Buddhist world:
"My life goal is not to get rich but to seek wisdom, so I study more and more, and have discovered many truths.
For example, although Thailand is a Buddhist country, the way Buddhism is taught in school is not quite right.
The more I study Dharma by myself, I find that we lack discipline in our study and practice of Buddhism."
"I'd like to show how contemporary people are suffering, while trying to find ways out of this life of hardship,"
"From the beginning, we haven't been properly introduced to Buddhist teachings - we now don't really understand them and can't apply them to real life. We've been engulfed in the streams of materialism, so much so that we can't reach the true meaning of Buddhism."
Lastly, being a good Dhamma education material.
The way Dhamma was brought up, resembles what I wanted to do for the previous 41st Annviersary of SPBS. A artistic performance that speaks the Dhamma. I'm glad that I can get to know, that this kind of performance actually existed already and the Dhamma is accuratly potrayed.
After finishing the Show, I have the urge to Sadhu them.
I can summarise the main message of the show with what Ajhan Fuang has once said,
"As soon as we're born, we're sentenced to death
— just that we don't know when our turn will come.
So you can't be complacent.
Start right in and develop all your good qualities to the full
while you still have the chance."
— just that we don't know when our turn will come.
So you can't be complacent.
Start right in and develop all your good qualities to the full
while you still have the chance."
Once again,
Nothing Belongs to us.
Life is uncertain but Death is certain.
Sabbe Dhamma Nalam Abhinivesaya!
Nothing, whatsoever, should be clung to.
Life is uncertain but Death is certain.
Sabbe Dhamma Nalam Abhinivesaya!
Nothing, whatsoever, should be clung to.
Sato Sampajano kalam agameyya
Live consciously and alert on the "Time".
Live consciously and alert on the "Time".
I'll refine this reflection when I watched the 2nd time.
I might be taking notes...HAHA
It's a no regrets watching this performance. But I regret about the number of audiences they had. Maybe the publicity wasn't good enough.
If there is opportunity, I might want to see more of their performances in the future, and also the past work "Dancing to Nirvana".
I might be taking notes...HAHA
It's a no regrets watching this performance. But I regret about the number of audiences they had. Maybe the publicity wasn't good enough.
If there is opportunity, I might want to see more of their performances in the future, and also the past work "Dancing to Nirvana".
