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INTERVIEW WITH The Gyuto monks have been touring Western countries for several years now and their exquisite chanting has become world-famous. Their spokesperson Sonam Ridzin talks about the reasons for their success. You've just appeared for the third time at Woodford Folk Festival. It's a very big festival now and it's a secular festival, not a religious one. How is it for the monks, performing at such a big, secular festival? One thing about the Gyuto monks in particular is that, as they're tantric monks, they do not see differences in terms of the circumstances, whether it's good, bad, secular, non-secular or whatever. They all see that it's a reflection of the primordial purity, therefore they don't find any contradiction in terms. Also, they are the peace messengers of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, therefore taking part in that kind of folk festival is the best medium to spread the message of peace and love to all people, to the broader community. And also, through that kind of relaxed environment, people are much more open to the notion of dharma. So the monks feel that, in a funny sort of way, it's the most sacred place to spread the Buddhadharma in a different country. Underpinning that, it's a good forum for them to highlight the cultural problems that the Tibetans are facing and gain support for the eventual outcome that all Tibetan people desire - that of a free, happy and peaceful Tibet. Before the performance last night, you talked about the monks visualising themselves as Yamataka. Is Yamataka the only deity they use while chanting, or does that vary according to the circumstances? That is one aspect of their visualisation. The Gelug monasteries, in particular the Gyuto monasteries, which are under the Gelug tradition, use three primary deity practices: Chakrasamvara, which is a female deity, Guhyasamaja, which is the father tantra, and Yamantaka, which conquers the fear of death. These three are the most important practices that are the basis of the Gyuto monks' lives. So it's not only one deity. There are also other deity practices, such as Kalachakra, Hevajra and others from the four classes of tantra. But those three are the trilogy. Many people are fascinated by the harmonics of the Gyuto monks' chanting. Could you explain that a little? Well, to be a Gyuto monk, first of all, you have to memorise 2,000 pages of text and start learning to chant. (They become monks at about the age of seven or eight.) And there are so many other practices involved, as well as intellectual learning, philosophical studies such as Buddhist psychology, logic and literature. They have to do huge studies! And the most important thing that underpins all the activities in the monastic training of the Gyuto monks is who they are. They simply practise loving kindness and compassion. That's what they are. So the sort of harmonic chanting the Gyuto monks do is absolutely unique to them. There are about 6,000 monasteries in Tibet and they all have their own style of chanting. But this very deep, low, three-octave style of chanting is absolutely unique. Through many years of practice and meditation, collectively and individually in the monastery, you move through grosser levels of consciousness and you come to that core, pure, subtle consciousness which is enlightened or awakened. And what they do then, through the power of their meditation, is they simply let that resonate. And that, I think, is the key. It's so pure, it's so natural, that in the presence of the monks, people generally get to experience their own innate awakeness. And this is where it goes beyond the normal fad music that goes out of fashion. Their chanting doesn't. And therefore people keep coming back and back. That's the timeless quality of the monks' chanting. We do a lot of chanting workshops. At the end the monks often say that they don't know how they achieve it. It's simply practice. Loving kindness and compassion, that natural state, pristine awareness. One of the grand chant masters, who visited a few years ago, explained it like this. If you have a musical instrument like a guitar, it's like pure consciousness, and all you do through the power of meditation is just press the notes and the sound of that resonates. I think it's a key reason why people come back again and again, because they feel so deeply touched. Yes, I think that's one of the reasons why the Gyuto monks are very popular, in Australia in particular and in Western countries in general. It's because the monks are being who they are, simply loving kindness and compassion, which I think allows people to feel their own kindness and compassion. It allows them to feel, 'Hey, we are okay.' The monks allow them to feel that. The monks don't do any magic. They're simply being who they are and that enables people to feel their own kindness and compassion. I believe you're helping to finance some new accommodation for the monks with these tours. How's that going? Through the kindness and generosity of the Australian people over the last few years the monastery is now in a strong financial position to actually have the courage to start building the accommodation for 500 monks near Dharamsala. This is in order to relocate from a very horrible, difficult, inaccessible, dangerous place in northern India. This is happening right now as we speak! It's great news and the monks are extremely pleased. They feel a great deal of gratitude towards the Australian people who really have enabled them to do that. Is there anything you'd like to say in conclusion? The monks themselves have said that they would like to thank the Australian people for their kindness. And I'm sure they would like to wish everyone all the best of luck with Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche's retreat centre here [at Vajradhara Gonpa]. The monks love Rinpoche. They know about him. And they all think he's doing a great job for the Tibetan cause and for Tibetan Buddhism. Location of article the Gentle Voice Website: http://www.siddharthasintent.org/gentle/GV16-5.htm  ~ | CLOSE WINDOW | ~  |