ANCIENT TIBETAN MARTIALA RTS WEAPONS: THE DORJE & THE PHURBA

Two unusual and unique weapons, generally considered as ancient Tibetan, are the DORJE and the PHURBA, sacred implements found in the often strange and misunderstood rituals of Tibetan Buddhism, which is of considerable interest nowadays, particularly to certain martial arts groups, such as, ninjutsu for one...... The DORJE has found its way to Japan where it is sometimes called a 'yawara' stick(erroneously called the 'yawara-bo',although the term, ;'kashi-no-bo' is often substituted. It is also called a 'kongo' and 'vajra'. This latter term points to its apparent Indian origins as 'THE THUNDERBOLT OF INDRA". The Phurba has gained some attention due to the movie,'THE SHADOW',a crime fighter whose powers of invisibility came from the Orient and whose exploits dramatized on radio and some earlier motions pictures, including a serial, as well as in comics and novels,seem more akin to ninjutsu than the yoga of India perahsp. Nevertheless, few persons realize the significance such a weapon nor the existence of groups practicing rituals with the Phurba. This writer makes no pretense to be versed in either the rituals or the techniques of the dorje or the Phurba per se nor to have any specific initiation into Tibetan Buddhism or any of its various sects or cults other than an 'academic' interest. Still, it would be wise to point out that interest in yoga and Tantra are increasing, making a rather confusin array of practices and techniques which do not really specify the differences between Hindu and Buddhist Tantra. Without entering into the controversial aspects of these topics, martial artists who take up the various forms of yoga should be more aware of the implications... END OF PART ONE by Halford E. Jones, researcher and writer of the article.....2010