Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[Rainbow Light]

Heart of the World: Tibetan Monks

The arrival in Cambridge of a group of Tibetan monks as part of the Heart of the World Festival comes at a crucial time in the history of the troubled country.

China claimed the mountainous Buddhist country of Tibet in 1951 after displaying its military strength and soon afterwards the country's religious leader, the Dalai Lama, left to head a Government in exile in India.
The recent torch relay by the Chinese government ahead of the Olympic Games in the country this year has been used by Tibetan monks and Free Tibet protestors to voice their anger at continued alleged human rights abuses in the region.


The Tashi Lhunpo Monastery was first founded in Tibet in the 15th Century but is now in exile in southern India where it is home to the Panchen Lama, the second most important Buddhist spiritual leader after the Dalai Lama.

Jane Rasch has been heavily involved in raising awareness in the UK of the Tibetan issue and this year is organising both the tour by the Tashi Lhunpo monks and also the visit by the Dalai Lama himself to Nottingham next month.

And as the tour's transport coordinator as well she knows what it's like to be driving down the motorway surrounded by the snores of a van full of sleeping Buddhist monks.
"I go out there fairly regularly and I was out there at the New Year which the first time I saw the dances being performed in the monastery itself.

"They are in exile in Karnataka and it couldn't be odder for them because it's very hot and sticky and very unlike Tibet. But it's in the middle of a very large Tibetan settlement on land which was given by the Indian government to Tibetan refugees in 1960."

Having worked so closely with the monks she has experienced the current heightened feelings about China and the Olympic Games first hand from those who are directly affected.

"They're hurting a lot," she says. "It's a very difficult time for them. "There are monks from the monastery who are on hunger strike trying to put the point across and everybody is feeling it very hard.

"The really critical time will be in June when the flame is taken through (Tibet's capital) Lhasa in such an insensitive way, through a city where the whole idea of freedom and openness is being completely trodden on.
"It's an awful tinder box, if there is violence it will be the end because it is too easy to meet violence with violence.

"What they feel is that this is their last chance, it's the last time China is going to be in the eye of the world in the same way and there's an awful hint of desperation creeping in. They feel that if we can't make a change now they haven't a hope so they are prepared to do things they weren't prepared to do previously."

But the show at the Corn Exchange will show another side to the Tibetan monks away from the angry scenes being played out in the media. They will be performing some of the ritual chants and dances which take place for several hours every day in the monastery as part of their deeply spiritual way of life.

"It's a sample of the culture," says Jane. "They will be doing some of their wonderful chants - although of course there will be eight monks chanting rather than the usual 300.

"The monastic instruments they play include the long horn which is enormous and rather like the Swiss alpine horns and then there's percussion and wind instruments.

"The Mudras are the hand gestures which they perfect as part of the tantric prayers and the dances themselves feature the fantastic colours of the masks and head dresses which they wear.

"Then there is a final demonstration of their dialectical debate which is very energetic and involves a lot of jumping up and down and shouting and clapping of hands.
"It's a real taste of the Buddhist tradition."

[Sarena]

Sue, I appreciate very much your contributions to our wonderful spiritual FORUM....like this article.... and I'm pretty sure El'vis feels the same!!

[MaryInTheMorning]

Sue, I appreciate very much your contributions to our wonderful spiritual FORUM....like this article.... and I'm pretty sure El'vis feels the same!!

AMEN dear Sarena!! Sue my sweet friend, thank you so much for this wonderful article and for all of the beautiful things you share with us!!!

[Rainbow Light]

You're very welcome, sweet ladies!

I feel it's great the monks have the chance to show their lives, culture and beliefs in this way away from all the media footage, the prayers and chanting is spiritually powerful and peaceful. Good for them I say!

[MaryInTheMorning]

I feel it's great the monks have the chance to show their lives, culture and beliefs in this way away from all the media footage, the prayers and chanting is spiritually powerful and peaceful. Good for them I say!

AMEN dear Sue!!

[Rainbow Light]