While at the Root Institute a few years back attending a 10 day silent retreat in Bodghaya India, my most favourable memory was walking goats around a stupa, on a lead, which wasn’t the easiest thing to do, and chanting this mantra so that they too could heal and rebirth to a human life form so they can consciously work on their own enlightenment 🙏..this is so beautiful 💕
DEVA PREMAL
and
THE GYUTO MONKS OF TIBET
Tibetan Mantras for Turbulent Times
Deva Premal:
It is a very great honour that Sonam Dorjee, Gelek, Tenzin and Passang agreed to create this album with me. It originally arose out of a desire of mine to chant mantras together with Gyuto monks – those precious souls who have devoted their whole lives to the practice. Their incredible voices and the intense vibration they create, infused with such a deep immersion into the holy sound, has always inspired and intrigued me.
Together we chose eight mantras that we felt to be most helpful in daily life. We also took into consideration which mantras would be most comfortable for our Western ears, so that we would be able to remember and pronounce the sacred sounds correctly.
Each track starts with an invocation by the monks themselves, and when the bell rings we begin the voyage together, into the 108 repetitions. Sometimes the pace is quite fast and you will need to take a breath in between. Don’t worry if you miss a round or two, just stay connected and continue as and when you can.
I want to thank Kit Walker and David Darling for their beautiful musical contributions. Their gifts honour the space, and enhance the sound and the silence that the mantras carry.
A special thank you to Maureen Fallon and Sonam Rigzin, who have been working tirelessly for many years to bring the wisdom and blessings of the Gyuto Monks to the West. I extend my deep gratitude to them for their help in birthing this project.
With love, Deva
The Gyuto Monks (Sonam Dorjee, Passang Gyamtso, Gelek Gonpo, Tenzin Jigme):
Buddhism takes the view that the nature of everything in its most restful state is the blissful union of wisdom and compassion.
This is symbolized in Tibetan tantric practice in the union of male and female energies. Within this state resides our pure consciousness.
Mantra is its sound. Therefore, reciting a mantra while concentrating on its meaning acts as a mechanism to stimulate the feelings which relax the body and mind. This then enables pure consciousness to materialise. To give shape and substance to such awareness, it is visualized as a tantric deity, a metaphor for our Buddha Nature.
As the word ‘mantra’ suggests, it becomes a technology, or tool, that holds the mind together. The power thus generated in this concentrated affirmation is believed to cut through the vision of impure self-perception, which is regarded as the root of all suffering. When this is not recognized, as generally is the case, the stream of energy within our chakras becomes polluted and clogged up. This manifests in the symptoms of psychological and physical disorders.
The eight mantras offered here allow us to release all negative thoughts and address specific problems which habitually cloud our basic purity.
1. INVOCATION
The classic sound of the Gyuto Monks invites us to open our hearts to others in preparation for recitation of the mantras. The invocation sets intention and motivation according to Tibetan Buddhist practice.
HEALING
TEYATA OM BEKANZE BEKANZE MAHA BEKANZE BEKANZE RADZA SAMUT GATE SOHA
I invoke the healing Buddha inside me by going all the way to the supreme heights to remove the pain of illness and spiritual ignorance.
The practical purpose of spirituality is to help others deal with their various life issues. Sickness represents a major problem. Reciting this mantra may contribute to healing on many levels, adding to the effectiveness of medical treatment and medicines.
The full album is available on ITUNES
All proceeds of this CD are directed to the Gyuto Monastery in Dharamsala, India; the Phowa Project; and Veggiyana.
Chanting: Deva Premal and The Gyuto Monks:
Sonam Dorjee, Passang Gyamtso, Gelek Gonpo, Tenzin Jigme Keyboards: Kit Walker
Cello: David Darling
Bansuri: Manose
Native American Flute (Wisdom): Marina Stanton
Recorded and mixed by Kamal Engels (Art of Audio)
Mastered by Rob Fraboni (using FirstSoundTM Analog Feel Restoration Process)
Design: Brigitte Behr
Photography: Melinda Andreas, Deva Premal, Miten Thangkas: Karma Thupten
Mantra notes translated by Sonam Rigzin Edited by Maureen Fallon
Produced by Deva Premal & Miten in collaboration with Gyuto House, Australia
A Prabhu Production
© + ℗ Prabhu Music 2010
http://www.DevaPremalMiten.com http://www.Gyuto.va.com.au
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