Great post at http://olfactoryrescueservice.wordpress.com about Mandala of Deities Incense Series. Please visit a link to read this really good review.
© Leo Golan for Tibetan Incense Blog, 2009. |
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel raised the issue of Tibet with visiting Chinese Premiere Wen Jiabao as he stopped over in Berlin on his European tour that excludes France.
Merkel urged Wen Jiabao to restart talks with the envoys of the Tibetan leader Dalai Lama. “Germany has an intense interest in the talks with the Dalai Lama resuming,” Merkel told reporters after meeting Wen.
Around 60 demonstrators were watching from distance amid tight security as the Chinese leader was welcomed with military honours at the German Chancellery.
She said Germany was willing to make a “constructive contribution” on the matter, adding that Germany did not question the one-China policy. "If there is anything Germany can do in this regard, we would like to help," she added.
“We talked about the situation in Tibet and from the German side, I emphasised that we have a common interest that talks with the Dalai Lama get under way,” said Merkel at a joint news conference with Wen.
The issue of Tibet had earlier escalated tensions between the two countries in 2007 when Merkel met the Dalai Lama who is viewed by Beijing as a ’splittist’ and a ‘wolf in a monk’s robe’. She was the first German chancellor to receive the Dalai Lama at the Chancellery. It took months for Beijing to forgive Merkel.
Now China is at loggerheads with France over President Nicolas Sarkozy’s meeting with the Dalai Lama in Poland last month. China cancelled an EU summit when French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who then held the EU presidency, announced his scheduled meeting with the Dalai Lama in Poland and met him eventually.
The talks between Dalai Lama’s envoys and Beijing came to a standstill after the eighth round of talks in October last year failed to produce any results. The exile Tibetan Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche said the Sino-Tibetan dialogue has failed to produce any positive changes in China’s Tibet policy.
“Therefore, the entire responsibility for the future status of our dialogues, irrespective of what it is going to be, lies squarely on the Chinese leaders,” he said last month.
China insists doors for talks are still open but categorically rejected a "Memorandum” on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People submitted by the Tibetan envoys during the eighth round of talks calling it an "agenda of independence".
Source: www.phayul.com
© Leo Golan for Tibetan Incense Blog, 2009. |
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Everybody who’s craving for beauty and romanticism are now welcome to go somewhere else as in the following few passages I’m going to be extremely cynical.
Once upon a time there was a rich and mighty indian shah. Nevertheless he had whole harem of fine maidens for quenching his lust he got stuck to the only one loving her to death. Indian shahs knew nothing about contraception and so this poor maiden had to give birth to eight sons and six daughters virtually without resting or stopping. Giving birth to the last fourteenth child this heroic woman signed with a sense of relief and breathed her last. Because of this unexpected outcome her husband turned grey and spent most of state treasury on building huge white mausoleum. He was just about to spent the remaider of GDI on another mausoleum - exactly same but black - for himself but opposition formed out of his own sons was quick enough to put him from the throne to jail. And it was where he died overlooking white domes of Taj Mahal in the narrow loophole of his cell.
Generations of shahs came one ather enother, then there were English and finally India became democratic republic highly dependent on income from tourism. To see this monument of pitiless muslim love would cost you quite an amount - 750 rupees, enough to cross the whole country in a train from the very top to the very bottom or to live some days in a nice village by the ocean. And naturally Taj Mahal gave grow to a number of hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops just by it. But becides the white silhouette on the horizon Agra is an ordinary relatively dirty indian town.
If you belong to those backpackers in stretched out old t-shirts travelling along LonelyPlanet routes then your Agra most probably will begin with an autorikshaw to the Taj South Gate and one of local hostels or restaurants with some view of the monument.
Over the roofs of ordinary indian houses.
And with local sweets made from glucose, pumpkin, saffron or rose syrup.
(…)
Read the rest of Agra. Everything But Romantic Appeal (746 words)
© Oxanna for Tibetan Incense Blog, 2009. |
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Way home from beach passed by so called Varkala Cultural Centre where traditional keral dance Katakali was shown everyday. Coming back I heard beating of a drum and even could catch a few glimpses of dancers through the doorway. And one day I eventually decided to come in.
By that time the show has already started. I’ve missed the process of putting on the make-up and all the explanations on what kind of indian drama would be played. But isn’t it even more interesting without them?
So, what is Katakali like if you don’t know at all what it is?
Man wearing female dress makes faces on the scene shrieking. Nevertheless there is violent striking of a drum and absolutely national environment I still cannot get rid of a feeling that it’s a transvestite like those making show in usual city gay-clubs.
Okay, an indian one. Just look at these grotesque perking breasts!(…)
Read the rest of Varkala. Katakali (745 words)
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Singing bowls (also known as ‘Himalayan bowls’ or ‘rin’ or suzu gongs in Japan) are a type of bell, specifically classified as a standing bell. Rather than hanging inverted or attached to a handle, standing bells sit with the bottom surface resting. The sides and rim of singing bowls vibrate to produce sound. Singing bowls were traditionally used throughout Asia as part of Bön and Tantric Buddhist sadhana. Today they are employed worldwide both within and without these spiritual traditions, for meditation, relaxation, healthcare, personal well-being and religious practice.
Singing bowls were historically made in Tibet, Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, Japan and Korea. Today they are made in Nepal, India, Japan and Korea. The best known types are from the Himalayan region and are often called “Tibetan singing bowls.”
Origins, history and usage
In Buddhist practice, singing bowls are used as a support for meditation, trance induction and prayer. For example, Chinese Buddhists use the singing bowl to accompany the wooden fish during chanting, striking it when a particular phrase in a sutra, mantra or hymn is sung. In Japan and Vietnam, singing bowls are similarly used during chanting and may also mark the passage of time or signal a change in activity.
The use of singing bowls in Tibet is the subject of much debate and many stories. Some people say they were used for meditation while others say they were magical tools for transformation of self and of matter.
Little is known in western scholarship regarding Himalayan singing bowls. It is likely they were used in rituals, having a specific function like other instruments (such as the ghanta, tingsha and shang). The oral and written traditions from the Himalayan region are vast and largely unknown in the west. To date, no specific texts have been found discussing the use of singing bowls in depth, but paintings and statues dating from several centuries ago depict singing bowls in detail. Singing bowls from at least the 10th-12th century are found in private collections. The tradition may date significantly earlier since bronze has been used to construct musical instruments since ancient times. Bronze bells from Asia have been discovered as early as the 8th-10th century BCE.
Singing bowls are played by the friction of rubbing a wooden, plastic, or leather wrapped mallet around the rim of the bowl to produce overtones and a continuous ’singing’ sound. High quality singing bowls produce a complex chord of harmonic overtones. Singing bowls may also be played by striking with a soft mallet to produce a warm bell tone.
Singing bowls are unique because they are multiphonic instruments, producing multiple harmonic overtones at the same time. The overtones are a result of using an alloy consisting of multiple metals, each producing its own overtone. New bowls can also produce multiple harmonic overtones if they are high quality bronze, but many are made from a simpler alloy and produce only a principal tone and one harmonic overtone.
While it is generally believed that the traditional manufacturing techniques are lost, there are new hand-hammered bowls being produced in the centuries old tradition. The difference is the quality of the alloy and the aging process itself. The tone improves as they age, so new bowls cannot sound as warm and mellow as a real antique.
Both Antique and New Bowls are widely used as an aid to meditation and as a tool for trance induction. They are also used in yoga, music therapy, sound healing, religious services, performance and for personal enjoyment.
Antique singing bowls
Traditionally, antique singing bowls were made of Panchaloha (literally meaning “five metals” in Sanskrit): a bronze alloy of copper, tin, zinc and iron and other metals. Antiques often include silver, gold and nickel.
Antique singing bowls produce multiphonic and polyharmonic overtones which are unique to the instruments. The subtle yet complex multiple harmonic frequencies are a special quality of the high quality bronze alloy. The art of making singing bowls in the traditional way is often called a lost art, but traditional craftsmen do still make singing bowls in the traditional manner in hidden corners of Nepal.
Antique singing bowls may display abstract decorations like lines, rings and circles engraved into the surface. Decoration may appear outside the rim, inside the bottom, around the top of the rim and sometimes on the outside bottom.
Antique singing bowls are highly prized and collected worldwide. Their popularity is due to their fine craftsmanship and remarkable sound. The aging process greatly improves the tone and centuries old antiques produce an incredibly rich and beautiful sound.
New singing bowls
Singing bowls are manufactured today and every year the quality improves. New bowls may be plain or decorated. They sometimes feature religious iconography and spiritual motifs and symbols, such as the Tibetan mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, images of Buddhas, and Ashtamangala.
New singing bowls are made from bronze just as the antiques were. However, the bronze alloy is not as special and does not contain gold and silver as some of the antiques. New singing bowls are exported from Nepal and India. The best hand made examples are made in Nepal. High quality new singing bowls are made in Japan and Korea but are not widely exported.
Hand made new singing bowls produce multiple harmonic overtones and sound much like the antiques. They lack the warmth and mellowness that develops with centuries of use. Hand made bowls do capture the complex and musical quality of the antiques.
Machine made bowls produce only two harmonic overtones: the principal tone (1st harmonic) and an overtone of a perfect 5th (2nd harmonic). The more perfect pitch, due to the uniform manufacturing process, sounds nice but much less interesting to most listeners.
Source: Tibetan Singing Bowls
Crystal Singing Bowls are basically a new twist of a very old idea.
The quartz crystal singing bowls are excellent tools for sounding, sound healing, meditation, chanting, musical accompaniment.
The modern Crystal Singing Bowls are made on a special process which makes them strong and incredibly resonant. They are made from the purest quartz ever available.
Crystal Singing Bowls are tuned up to the notes of the seven chakras, so by playing the bowls we can tune up and balance our chakras to promote health and emotional wellbeing.
A rich, resonant tone exudes from the crystal bowls by striking gently or rubbing them with the accompanying mallet. Theses tones move through our body in vibrant waves, and then are calming, aligning and healing our energy centers.
Growing medical researches are validating the powerful use of the singing bowls in balancing and healing the human body, mind and spirit.
Source: Tibetan Singing Bowls
Healing is the state of inheriting balance and harmony with our highest purpose.
Healers use a prayerful, meditative state of awareness, adopting a dispassionate, loving, and sympathetic attitude towards the person in need. They go beyond the individual self-feeling and get united with each other and with the All. They have an immense caring and empathy for the person being healed.
During this state the healer most often doesn’t consider himself to be a source of the healing, but only a conduit through which the “healing” flows from a higher power.
When an organ or body part is healthy, it produces a natural resonant frequency in harmony with the rest of the body. When the vibration of a part of the body is out of harmony, we have “dis-ease”. With “dis-ease”, a dissimilar sound pattern is established in the affected part of the body. When sound is projected into the “dis-eased” area, correct harmonic patterns are restored.
Modern medicine can now measure and hence confirm the practice of sound as a tool to promote healing. Thence, sound is a type of energy medicine that creates the sacred space in which people can get healed from stress disorders, depression, pain, the emotional rollercoaster and more.
There are many techniques of healing with sound. Mantras and chants have been used for thousands years. Many acoustical instruments are used in a diverseness of ways to effect change. The human voice is perhaps the most powerful musical instrument.
Ancient instruments, including Tibetan singing bowls, sound in specific rhythmic patterns to create vibrational sound harmonics at the frequency of AUM or OM. This sound is often known as that of Perfection impacts the sympathetic nervous system as brain waves synchronise to the vibrations of the bowls.
Sound Healing is an effective and proven modality that uses vibrational sound to help reduce stress, alter consciousness and create a deep feel of peace, well-being and better health. Sound has also known to be a vital part of the healing process for cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy and side effects, especially for pain relief management.
During our waking state, the normal frequence of our brainwaves is that of Beta. Sound tools entrain the brain to move into the deeper Alpha and Theta brainwave frequences. These are the frequences that induce deep meditative and peaceful states, clearness of mind and intuition.
Among the many effects of Sound healing - are relief from pain, stress-related conditions, the ability to alter ones consciousness. It is an integral part of curing the effects of chemotherapy, reducing pain and discomfort from fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and depression. After sessions patients experience improved clarity, memory, vitality and the ability to take action. Many patients report of body experiences, a deep sense of tranquility, a good sleep.
The harmonical vibrations engage the relaxation reflex and slow up the respiratory, heart and brain rate and disrupt the pain reflex, creating a deep sense of well-being.
Source: Tibetan Singing Bowls
Singing Bowls are wide used since the ancient times in Nepal and Tibet, mostly by buddhist practitioners for meditation, religious ceremonial music, for praying, as traditional melodic instruments; used for sound therapy, sound massage and as holistic healing tools.
The rich harmonic pacifying sound, tones and vibration they produce, harmonize energy and vibration and aid to get calm and relaxing. In this modern time, these singing bowls are found in meditation halls, are used for home, medical cures, relaxation; they are being used by doctors, sound therapists, sound massagists, healing specialists, yoga practitioners as curing tools and for activating higher brain function, calming the nervous system, clearising and purifying air, relaxing and soothing mind and balancing our entire being.
Singing Bowls, bells, gongs are handmade crafts, made from combination of various metals: gold, silver, mercury, copper, iron, tin and lead, which correspond to the seven planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, respectively).
Singing Bowls are also known as meditation bowls, chakra bowls, healing bowls or Himalayan singing bowls. They had been widely used since ancient times in Nepal and Tibet, mostly by the buddhist practitioners for meditation, ceremonial music, ritual offerings, for praying, as traditional musical instruments. The sound of a singing bowl can be used to mark the beginning or end of a meditation session, or during meditation to focus the mind.
These bowls were used as bowls for rice or food bowls as well, mostly in the Himalayan area.
Singing Bowls produces a wonderful sound when they are hit, struck, tapped or rubbed by wooden striker, mallet or dowel.
The pitch of the bowl depends on its thickness, size and weight. The pitch is fixed but may be controlled by tone and volume by the push of the tap, the hardness of the striking stick, and the pointing of percussion.
You can find various Nepalese singing bowls, Tibetan handmade singing bowls, Nepalese handhammered singing bowls, Himalayan meditation chakra bowls, crafted and handcarved singing bowls, praying bowls, sound therapy bowls, seven-metal bowls, ritual bowls, bowls for meditation, sound therapy, sound massage, healing and more.
Singing bowls are made in different sizes and shapes, colors, they are handcrafted and have carved designs and various ornaments with their own unique sound depended on the metal composition used.
Their designs can resemble traditional meaning, symbols and decoration, like Tibetan buddhist Om Mani Peme Hung Mantra, Asta Mangal (Eight Auspicious Symbols), Dharmachakra - wheel of life, Endless Knot, Dragon carved, Buddha face and eye, Bodhisattva Leafs, Asta mandala, lotus, Nepalese and Tibetan buddhist ritual quotes and modern designs and crafting as well.
It is believed that mantras chanted during the making of a singing bowl are released into the universe when the bowl is played.
Nowadays singing bowls are used for medical cures and treatment by the technique of sound therapy, sound massage as tools for holistic healing, calming the nervous system and revitalizing brain functions. The sound produced by a singing bowl is believed to evoke the Kundalini energy spiral.
To play a singing bowl, hold the bowl gently in the palm of your hand, allowing the body of the bowl to vibrate freely. With the wooden stick (puja), rub the outside rim with a circular motion, keeping a level pressure. Gently increase a speed, the bowl begins to vibrate, and the sound rises. You could also tap the bowl to start out the vibration.
Source: Tibetan Singing Bowls
Karma Guen Buddhist Center is very happy to announce a great program for this years spring course. From end of May until June 7th we have the honor of welcoming H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje, the 2nd Beru Kyense Rinpoche, the 4th Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and Lama Ole Nydahl at Karma Guen together with many eminent friends from around the world.
17th Karmapa, Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and Beru Khyentse Rinpoche
In Summer 2008 we had asked Gyalwa Karmpa for giving the Kalachakra empowerment at Karma Guen 2009. H.H. recommended us to contact Beru Kyense Rinpoche as he has a very good transmission of this empowerment. We are very happy that Beru Kyense Rinpoche accepted and agreed to give this empowerment. Since the Kalachakra Stupa was build in 1994, now 15 years ago, we find it a good way to celebrate that.
Kalachakra Stupa in Karma Guen
Followed the 12 year old Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche (son of Beru Kyense Rinpoche) will give the Buddha of Limitless Light (Amithaba) empowerment. And for the 21st time Lama Ole Nydahl will guide the 5 days Phowa course at Karma Guen.
On June 3rd, Gyalwa Karmapa will give the Gyalwa Gyamso empowerment, and then for the first time in Karma Guen Gyalwa Karmapa will give 3 days of teachings. H.H. has chosen the text by Shanti Deva for his teachings. On Sunday June 17th Gyalwa Karmapa will give the White Liberatrice (Tara) empowerment at the stupa in Benalmadena.
Stupa in Benalmadena
As you can see we will have a great program at Karma Guen this year and we look forward to welcoming all our many friends from around the world. On-Line registration will be soon available at the Karma Guen page.
Sunday 24th of May 2009
Budda of Long Life Initiation by the 4th Jamgol Kongtrul Rinpoche
Location: Benalmadena Stupa
Wednesday 27th to Thursday 28th of May 2009
Kalachakra Initiation by the 2nd Beru Kyense Rinpoche
Location: Karma Guen
Friday 29th of May 2009
Buddha of Limitless Light Initiation by the 4th Jamgol Kongtrul Rinpoche
Location: Karma Guen
Friday 29th of May to Tuesday 2nd of June 2009
Phowa course by Lama Ole Nydahl
Location: Karma Guen
Wednesday 3rd of June 2009
Gyalwa Gyamso Initiation by H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje
Location: Karma Guen
Thursday 4th to Saturday 6th of June 2009
Teachings by H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje (Shanti Deva Text)
Location: Karma Guen
Sunday 7th of June 2009
White Liberatrice Initiation by H.H. 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Thaye Dorje
Location: Benalmadena Stupa
© Leo Golan for Tibetan Incense Blog, 2009. |
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The 2nd Beru Khyentse was born in central Tibet in 1947 and, as a young monk, was recognized and enthroned by the 16th Karmapa. At the age of thirteen he led his monks and lay devotees from his monastery in Nangchen, out of Tibet, and established a community including monastery and retreat centre for them in Mainpat, India.
Rinpoche completed extensive studies in Buddhist philosophy and training in Vajrayana rituals, receiving instruction from many Lamas including Dzongsar Khenpo Chimey Rinpoche, Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche, the 16th Gyalway Karmapa, Khunu Rinpoche, His Holiness Sakya Trizin and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. After completing the traditional four-year retreat in the Karma Kamtsang tradition, Rinpoche established monasteries in Bodh Gaya and Kathmandu and the Nangchen monastery, nunnery, institute and three-year retreat centre in Tibet.
Rinpoche rebuilt the Sakya monastery, Nyenthang Tashigang, near his birthplace in Tibet and founded the Tharjay Charitable Foundation to sponsor bridges, schools, clinics and medical treatment for the nomads of eastern Tibet.
The past three decades Beru Khyentse Rinpoche has been teaching and travelling tirelessly around the world, presenting the Dharma in the spirit of non-sectarianism and in a manner suitable for all students from beginners to the most advanced practitioners.
The Khyentse Lineage
The 1st Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, 1820-1892, was one of the most important illuminators of Buddhism in Tibet. This great treasure revealer was born in east Tibet as an emanation of Manjushri and in previous lives had incarnated as many masters including the Indian Pandita Vimalamitra, the Tibetan King Trisondeutsen, Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen founder of the Sakyapa school, Gampopa, Longchenpa and Jigme Lingpa. With his unsurpassable learning and realisation gained through study, practice and visions Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo was not confined to sect or school and propagated the Dharma impartially to all.
At the end of his life Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo’s mind was absorbed into the wisdom mind of Vimalamitra, from which five emanations of body, speech, mind, qualities and activities emanated simultaneously. Thus the speech emanation became the 1st Beru Khyentse, son of the King of Beru in east Tibet, the mind emanation Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and the activity emanation Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro of Dzongsar.
© Leo Golan for Tibetan Incense Blog, 2009. |
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