40%
view
Members
1
Origin
Swayambhunath, Nepal
Genre
Ambient
Style
International
Mood
---
Born
1
Origin
Swayambhunath, Nepal Genre
AmbientStyle
InternationalMood
---
Born
1300
Active
1300 to Present...
Cutout
Most Loved Tracks4 users
Buddhist Monks of Maitri Vihar Monastery - Three Monks with Bowls and Cymbals4 users
Buddhist Monks of Maitri Vihar Monastery - Triad Mantra Chant4 users
Buddhist Monks of Maitri Vihar Monastery - Three Mantra Chant4 users
Buddhist Monks of Maitri Vihar Monastery - Ceremonial Horns and Cymbals4 users
Buddhist Monks of Maitri Vihar Monastery - Singing Bowls and Cymbals
Music Video LinksArtist Biography
Available in:
The Maitri Vihar Monastery is located in Swoyambu Nath in Nepal and is home to some 50 monks from both Nepal and Tibet. On this CD, producer John Matarazzo presents a compilation of ten samples of Buddhist liturgical music.
Tibetan Buddhism, or Lamaism, is part of Mahayana (Greater Vehicle) Buddhism. This strand of Buddhism is prevalent in the northern and eastern parts of Asia: China, Korea, Japan and, of course, Tibet. A key feature of Mahayana Buddhism is the recognition of savior figures, embodied as Boddhisatvas. These are enlightened ones who have chosen to remain in this world in order to realize the release of the rest of mankind from the cycle of rebirth as well. In the course of its history Tibetan Buddhism — borrowing from the Tantric traditions as well — has developed an elaborate system of ceremonies, of which chanting is an integral part.
Most of the selections on Tibetan Mantras and Chants are chants by a choir composed of the temple's resident monks. Apart from a cappella performances, some of the mantra chants are accompanied by bowls and cymbals. The closing track is a short instrumental number featuring the famous ceremonial horns and cymbals.
The CD's tracks vary in length from one-and-a-half minutes for the instrumental performance to over a quarter of an hour for the three extended choir chants. It is a pity that the descriptions given leave much to be desired for. We have to satisfy ourselves with extremely brief characterizations like "Three Mantra Chant," "Buddhist Monk's Choir" and "Triad Mantra Chant." I for one would like to know which mantras and from which Suttras the monks' choir is chanting, for which purpose these chants are performed, what is their religious significance, etc. The producer or label would have done well if they had included an explanatory flyer addressing such issues. Now all we are left with are some arcane and exotic sound bits from a — for most of us — enigmatic religious tradition.
Wide Thumb
Clearart
Fanart
Banner
User Comments
No comments yet..Status
UnlockedLast Edit by swancrawford
20th Apr 2013
Socials
Streaming
External Links
