A beautiful afternoon welcomed the monks and a number of others to the Edinburgh Labyrinth this afternoon. Rev. Di Williams, Edinburgh University Chaplain, welcomed the monks and explained about the walk into the centre of the Labyrinth in George Square. It really was a moment of peace and calm within our hectic schedule of performances in the Fringe.
We were also inundated with press photographers, who took hundreds of photographs before the walk began, so perhaps we will find something published tomorrow in one of the papers.
Wednesday 25 August 2010
A review of the performance...
The Power of Compassion
Monks from the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery
Compassion is the Essence of Buddhism. It is said that the Buddha taught 184,000 different spiritual practices, yet said that only the Way of Compassion is complete in itself, leading to nirvana. Tibetan Buddhism has evolved many ways to develop and express compassion, using music, chanting, dance, drama and silent meditation. The Monks of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery came to Edinburgh to share their traditions with us, and give us a flavour of these discoveries and their monastic life, and they did just that. Although it may seem a lot to be included in an hour’s performance, the experience was effectively timeless.
Although I use the term ‘performance’ it was far more than that. It opened and closed with prayer, and each item was clearly and helpfully introduced so that we knew what was happening. The whole experience was poised somewhere between entertainment, education and spiritual experience, embracing the best of each. The music was strange yet hypnotic, with the dungchens (long horns) the drum and cymbals providing the perfect background to the dancing. The costumes and the masks were colourful and exotic, and the audience experienced through them the reality of the deities and beings portrayed, with the dancer’s movements a part of the dance of the universe itself. The chanting was deep and sonorous, and the silent meditation when it finished enfolded the whole audience, and made us wish that it could go on much longer.
These dances and rituals are far more than entertainment. They are a precise process, the fruit of centuries of spiritual exploration and discovery. For example, the chanting of Kunrik (the All Knowing) is accompanied by hundreds of intricate hand gestures (mudras) , each one recognising the presence of a particular spiritual being and acknowledging their help. Particularly moving for me was Trueso, a healing ritual, and as a contrast, the energy of the masked dances and the insight into the practice of debate, a speciality of their monastic tradition, and very different from anything I have ever seen before.
For me, The Power of Compassion as presented by these monks was an elixir that touched the mind, the emotions, the senses and the very soul. I can only recommend that you taste it and see what it does for you. I am sure you will not be disappointed.
Jim Pym, 9th August 2010
Monks from the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery
Compassion is the Essence of Buddhism. It is said that the Buddha taught 184,000 different spiritual practices, yet said that only the Way of Compassion is complete in itself, leading to nirvana. Tibetan Buddhism has evolved many ways to develop and express compassion, using music, chanting, dance, drama and silent meditation. The Monks of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery came to Edinburgh to share their traditions with us, and give us a flavour of these discoveries and their monastic life, and they did just that. Although it may seem a lot to be included in an hour’s performance, the experience was effectively timeless.
Although I use the term ‘performance’ it was far more than that. It opened and closed with prayer, and each item was clearly and helpfully introduced so that we knew what was happening. The whole experience was poised somewhere between entertainment, education and spiritual experience, embracing the best of each. The music was strange yet hypnotic, with the dungchens (long horns) the drum and cymbals providing the perfect background to the dancing. The costumes and the masks were colourful and exotic, and the audience experienced through them the reality of the deities and beings portrayed, with the dancer’s movements a part of the dance of the universe itself. The chanting was deep and sonorous, and the silent meditation when it finished enfolded the whole audience, and made us wish that it could go on much longer.
These dances and rituals are far more than entertainment. They are a precise process, the fruit of centuries of spiritual exploration and discovery. For example, the chanting of Kunrik (the All Knowing) is accompanied by hundreds of intricate hand gestures (mudras) , each one recognising the presence of a particular spiritual being and acknowledging their help. Particularly moving for me was Trueso, a healing ritual, and as a contrast, the energy of the masked dances and the insight into the practice of debate, a speciality of their monastic tradition, and very different from anything I have ever seen before.
For me, The Power of Compassion as presented by these monks was an elixir that touched the mind, the emotions, the senses and the very soul. I can only recommend that you taste it and see what it does for you. I am sure you will not be disappointed.
Jim Pym, 9th August 2010
Tuesday 24 August 2010
Launch of our new CD - Time of the Skeleton Lords
The official launch of our CD, recorded in the monastery in May, will be on Sunday 5th September at the Royal Opera House in London. There is a link to the information about the CD at http://www.30ips.com/mailshots/tashilhunpomonks/tashilunpomonksTOTSL-2.html
One more week to go...
Into the last week of The Fringe, but far from slowing down it is now busier than ever. We have a workshop at 9.30am, followed immediately by a performance at 11.30am, a spell on the High Street with our remaining flyers at 2.10pm, and a second performance at 4.30pm. Tickets still available for most shows, although still selling well enough. We are determined to take the Snow Lion out for another walk before we leave, so are hoping for ome sunny weather.
Last night we were invited out to supper by Quaker friends we have met through the Venue 40 community - a really delicious dinner and (if only it hadn't been raining and cold!) a remarkable 'interfaith' garden in the middle of the city with plants and ornaments relating to many different faiths.
Last night we were invited out to supper by Quaker friends we have met through the Venue 40 community - a really delicious dinner and (if only it hadn't been raining and cold!) a remarkable 'interfaith' garden in the middle of the city with plants and ornaments relating to many different faiths.
Saturday 21 August 2010
The Snow Lion visits the High Street
Tibet's national animal, the Singhe or Snow Lion, today visited Edinburgh High Street and met a number of people, including several small children, who seemed fascinated by him. In fact, someone even gave him £1.10p to eat - so he now wonders if he can make a living this way in the future! With his help, we managed to give out more leaflets in 20 minutes than we have managed in two days, so we are hoping that he will agree to come again before we leave Edinburgh.
His outing was followed by another sell-out performance in the Quaker Meeting House, which came at the end of a long day, with a workshop followed by the ceremony to destroy the Peace Sand Mandala attended by about 30 people. Tomorrow we are back for our last performance in St John's Church, Princes Street.
His outing was followed by another sell-out performance in the Quaker Meeting House, which came at the end of a long day, with a workshop followed by the ceremony to destroy the Peace Sand Mandala attended by about 30 people. Tomorrow we are back for our last performance in St John's Church, Princes Street.
Friday 20 August 2010
Walking the Labyrinth...
No review yet, sadly - but another full day at the Fringe, with workshop in the morning and a performance in the afternoon, with High Street leafletting in between.
On Wednesday we have been invited by Di Williams, the Edinburgh University Chaplain, to come to George Square to 'walk the Edinburgh Labyrinth' - an opportunity for a moment of peace and quiet amongst all the frantic activity of the Fringe. Tashi Lhunpo monks already have an association with the Labyrinth as Di invited them to bless the ground before construction began in 2004. Although we have a new group of monks this time, it will be good to renew the link. If anyone would like to join us, we will be there at 2.30pm on Wednesday 25th August.
On Wednesday we have been invited by Di Williams, the Edinburgh University Chaplain, to come to George Square to 'walk the Edinburgh Labyrinth' - an opportunity for a moment of peace and quiet amongst all the frantic activity of the Fringe. Tashi Lhunpo monks already have an association with the Labyrinth as Di invited them to bless the ground before construction began in 2004. Although we have a new group of monks this time, it will be good to renew the link. If anyone would like to join us, we will be there at 2.30pm on Wednesday 25th August.
Thursday 19 August 2010
Now we're on Facebook too!
Another day over and just over half way through our time in Edinburgh, although not yet half way through our performances... Lovely lunch today with friends, and inspiration to get linked in to technology in a big way!
Apparently there was a reviewer in the performance on Wednesday evening, so we are hoping to get a review printed at last, possibly tomorrow. If it's any good, we will put it up on the blog!
Apparently there was a reviewer in the performance on Wednesday evening, so we are hoping to get a review printed at last, possibly tomorrow. If it's any good, we will put it up on the blog!
Wednesday 18 August 2010
Edinburgh Evening News
We made the papers today with a picture in the Edinburgh Evening News! The monks are pictured on the High Street in Shanak Costume looking dramatic although sadly the accompanying comment doesn't say that we are at the Quaker Meeting House for another week and a half! Ticket sales for this week are looking good, and we are hoping for more in our third week, which we will launch with the Monday evening show in the Half Price Hut. Please come and see us before we leave Edinburgh on 29th August.
Tuesday 17 August 2010
Still in Edinburgh...
We are just at the beginning of the second week of our three week visit to the Edinburgh Fringe, and enjoying the better weather! The sand mandala exhibition in St John's Church on Princes Street ended last weekend with the destruction ceremony on the hottest day of the whole tour, and the afternoon performance of the dances in the church went well, with full advantage being taken of the wonderful acoustic. We will be back at St John's again for a one-off performance on Sunday 22nd August at 4pm - worth a visit!
We continue to work at Venue 40, the Quaker Meeting House, for the next two weeks. We have a full programme of events going on, and hope for good audiences to complete our record of nearly being sold out each night.
This week from 16th to 21st August we are running morning workshops of the Tibetan monastic arts - sand mandala making, butter sculpture, prayer flag printing and Tibetan language. So far the workshops have been for small, select groups, who seem to have enjoyed meeting the monks and having a go at these very specialised activities!
At 4.30pm there is a performance of Power of Compassion - the one hour programme of masked dance and sacred chant from the monastery in the theatre. From Monday 23rd August onwards there will be a morning performance, beginning at 11.30am, in addition to the afternoon show. This is preceded by a performance workshop starting at 9.30am, where you can learn a bit more about the monastery, the costumes used in the dance, the art of dialectical debate and the mudras or hand gestures used in Tantric prayer - a perfect introduction to the following performance!
Please come and visit us in Edinburgh if you can - and stay in touch through our website at www.tashi-lhunpo.org.uk
We continue to work at Venue 40, the Quaker Meeting House, for the next two weeks. We have a full programme of events going on, and hope for good audiences to complete our record of nearly being sold out each night.
This week from 16th to 21st August we are running morning workshops of the Tibetan monastic arts - sand mandala making, butter sculpture, prayer flag printing and Tibetan language. So far the workshops have been for small, select groups, who seem to have enjoyed meeting the monks and having a go at these very specialised activities!
At 4.30pm there is a performance of Power of Compassion - the one hour programme of masked dance and sacred chant from the monastery in the theatre. From Monday 23rd August onwards there will be a morning performance, beginning at 11.30am, in addition to the afternoon show. This is preceded by a performance workshop starting at 9.30am, where you can learn a bit more about the monastery, the costumes used in the dance, the art of dialectical debate and the mudras or hand gestures used in Tantric prayer - a perfect introduction to the following performance!
Please come and visit us in Edinburgh if you can - and stay in touch through our website at www.tashi-lhunpo.org.uk
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