15/03/2024
ATSARA: THE BHUTANESE CLOWNS WHO ARE NOT JUST CLOWNS
On top of being clowns, they are also storytellers, spiritual teachers, and the master of ceremony. The bright mask and giant phallus hanging from their forehead speak to the level of enlightenment they have achieved.
If you attend a Bhutanese tsechu, expect to see comical characters prancing around. They embody the Buddhist principle of being open, jovial, and liberal. Their character vaguely reflects that of the Buddha, who has transcended the petty human dichotomy of like and dislikes; pain and pleasure; biases and fixations. The Atsara teaches us to look inwards and rise above our constricted surroundings.
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