Image: Heather Lee, Gyuto Monks of Tibet & Kim Cunio in studio 227 (photo: Geoff Wood)
I highly recommend you drop what you’re doing and go to the Radio National ( Australian ABC ) website link and download /podcast the article “ Beyond Karma , Beyond Chant “ and listen !
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/rhythmdivine/beyond-karma,-beyond-chant/7322580
Here you will find the most engaging radio article Ive heard in a very long time : the musical journey of Kim Cunio, Heather Lee , the Gyuto Monks of Tibet and the making of a most astonishing album called “Beyond Karma” ( I grabbed mine off ITunes ).
There are so many levels, sonic and cosmological going-off here I really don’t know where to start.
Its a “mash up” – a term used by the presenter of the radio show – but what a mash up ! I am only familiar with the use of that term when referring to DJ trance remixes. However ‘mash up’ in the case of this beautiful collaboration isn’t actually a mash up- there is no mashing going on in the slightest. It is a very conscious coming together of western and eastern cultures- combining the astonishing drone-prayers of the monks with a fine selection of sacred christian and jewish prayers. The effect is tear-welling magic that will have you entranced.
The first thing you will notice is how it hits you in the heart region of your body. Its meant to.
Activating compassion through vibrations is one of the baseline functions of sacred music from whatever culture. The Gyuto monks train for 20 years to get their voices right – they hit the lowest vocal notes of any singers on the planet – and they can hold these notes in a cyclic drone for hours. And they do it with the clear intention to transform themselves as well as transform those who listen. But what are they transforming ?
Well its all in the title of the CD “ Beyond Karma ”.
One of the stated objectives of the Gyuto monks’ chanting- all those years of dedicated mastery from a cultural tradition that took buddhism and created a unique sonic-science, is in essence, intended to neutralise the yin/yang duality of this world.
Much like Tibetan healing which also employs sonic vibration, the Gyuto monks by using deep compression waves of sound, aim to still the jibber-jabber of your mind as well as re-shape the physical world . Thought and Form are inextricably linked. Still the mind, change the world.
From the Buddhist perspective the dual non-peaceful mind creates suffering. This is karma. By immersing yourself in these Gyuto vibrations is to clean up your karma cache. To go Beyond Karma.To find singularity.
This music is medicine. You will know it when you hear it – but please let Kim Cunio tell you all about it in the podcast link above first before buying the album.
Edifying, authentic and powerful stuff !
Steve Fearnley
Ste
phen Fearnley is an award-winning filmmaker, artist and composer. He composes transformational soundscapes for the meditation journeys guided by Naomi Carling and facilitated by Naomi Janzen for One Mind Live – a unique worldwide online group meditation community. To sample One Mind Live, go HERE
Xxxx
oooh 🙂 I have seen the Gyuto Monks several times, and when they were at the Powerhouse some years back I went every chance I could. That was in the days of having some $ to buy things like a beautiful rug they had made and were selling as a fundraiser. That rug is what I often sit on when i do my OML 🙂 nice!