Tibetan Monks from the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and Sound Healers, Michael Ormiston & Candida Valentino, with Nyima, presented a charity concert: Music and Sacred Dance from the Roof of the World, in Frome earlier this week.

It was an evening of mesmerising sound and sight – a cacophony of music, mantra, and chanting. We were introduced to instruments from around the world – including the bird-call of a deflating balloon (who knew!) and unusual Mongolian overtone singing. Unique masked-dance performed by the monks filled the stage with the bellow of the horns and drums.

This taste of an ancient and sacred culture  left me mulling over reincarnation. The Dalai Lama writes:

“… reincarnation is a phenomenon which should take place either through the voluntary choice of the concerned person or at least on the strength of his or her karma, merit and prayers. Therefore, the person who reincarnates has sole legitimate authority over where and how he or she takes rebirth and how that reincarnation is to be recognized.”

(Dalai Lama and reincarnation)

If this is the case, this means that some of us chose to be born to our parents and the world as we know it, maybe. Food for thought perhaps? The question of how reincarnation is to be recognised – well, that is another blog (or play) in the making (literally) …

For now, I sit with the calming memory of monks meditating and the gentle chime of a gong.

I recommend experiencing the captivating performance of the Tashi Lhunpo monks, and the work of great sound healers, if you get the chance.

You can find out about the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery here: http://www.tashi-lhunpo.org.uk/

and Candida and Michael’s work here: http://www.soundtransformations.co.uk/index.htm