December 27, 2007

*Tibet: Music that speaks to the heart *
*Songs from a lama, a nun and a yak herder *

Teri Tibbett
World Pulse

It's taken a few decades for the world to notice Tibet and the
tragedies the Chinese have imposed on the Tibetan people. In spite of it,
they've carried on. Many have moved out into the world and have taken their
culture with them.

Tibetan musicians aren't major players in the world music scene, but there
are a few making waves, even if in subtle ways.

Khentrul Rinpoche was in Juneau in early December. He is a lama and abbot of
the Katog Mardo Tashi Chöling Buddhist monastery in eastern Tibet. Rinpoche
visits Alaska twice a year to do workshops and bring Buddhist teachings to
the West. During his recent visit, he held a two-day workshop on "taming the
wild horse of the mind."

Rinpoche's style is playful, funny and light. He speaks clearly and uses
plenty of visual images to make his points crystal clear. He's kind of a hip
guy, too - smiling, laughing, laid back. He looks you in the eye and
sometimes reaches out a hand to shake or put on your shoulder when he talks
to you. He graciously answers questions and playfully banters with the
audience.

At his retreat, Rinpoche sang sacred Tibetan blessing songs interspersed
with his speaking. His voice was soothing and charismatic. A welcome chant
brought us in and a closing chant sent us away. "Do no harm" was the
overriding message.

The lama has CDs available, including "Mantra Songs of Peace" and "37
Practices of a Bodhisattva and Le Mon Tendrel Paksam." Find them at
www.katogcholing.com
.

Tibetan musician Karjam Saeji grew up in a community of nomadic yak and
sheepherders. He danced for years with a performance troupe before stopping
it all to study Tibetan literature. Today, he is a songwriter and performer
who composes music reflecting his Buddhist beliefs. One of his songs
describes a 1,600-mile spiritual pilgrimage he took on the Tibetan Plateau.
He also has set ancient sacred poems to music, including one from Tsangyang
Gyatso, the sixth Dalai Lama.

Saeji's recent CD release, "Pilgrimage," is available at cdbaby.com/cd/karjamsaeji

Another Tibetan musician on the world music circuit is Ani Choying Dolma.
She performs sacred Tibetan songs - mostly ancient songs passed from master
to pupil over the centuries. Her voice is crystal clear and pure. Her
concert banter is witty and entertaining. She is a nun and the proceeds from
her music go to a school she has founded for other Tibetan nuns.

Some of her CD releases include "Cho," "Dancing Dakini," "Selwa" (with Steve
Tibbetts) and her most recent, "Inner Peace." Her Web site is
www.choying.com.

Tibetans are compassionate by nature. They are all about helping others.
They say the more you give, the better things get for everybody. And Tibetan
music reflects this altruistic nature.

Putting on a Tibetan sacred music CD in the morning is a great way to start
the day. If you can get past the oddity of the guttural throat-singing or
crashing temple cymbals, the experience can have a subliminal effect on your
entire day.

Sometimes it's better than waking up to the news.

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