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.

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Now there's more!!! This week I went to the first of five workshops, and was thrilled to actually participate in the creation of a sand-mandala. Well, not quite, but I was patiently shown how to project the coloured sand through the hollow tube, more or less along the lines drawn on the base. I also learned about the creation and meaning of prayer flags, butter sculptures and amulets known as Dukar Wheels.

If you are interested in the spiritual and cultural life of Tibet, as typified by its monastic traditions, then these workshops are for you. Each one stands alone, so you can attend as many or few as you want to. The ones throughout this week embrace all the things I learned today, as well as insights into the Tibetan language. Next week the focus is on performance, with the masked dances, chanting and mudras, as well as further insights for those who were fascinated by the glimpses into their unique debating style.

I can hardly wait!!!                                                                       

Jim Pym, 16^th August 2010