Customer Reviews

Tibetan Incantations

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I happen to like this CD, but, in fairness to those reviewers who have criticized it (and been given "not helpful" ratings for their comments), it does have to be said that this is not "traditional" Tibetan chanting as is done by monks and nuns in the monasteries. Those who are looking for a more traditional sound would probably prefer recordings by monastic groups such as "The Gyuto Monks" or "The Ganden Jangtse Monastic Choir" (which are excellent, by the way). Having said that, it's also not really true that this CD (Tibetan Incantations) is just "New Age." It consists of authentic Tibetan Buddhist mantras, but chanted to melodies that are really more Chinese than Tibetan (which isn't necessarily bad, since traditional Tibetan chanting doesn't tend to be particularly melodic), and interspersed with Chinese-style instrumentals. (I can't remember for sure, but I think it was recorded by a Taiwanese group.) In any case, a lot of Tibetan lamas seem to like it very much. One lama whom I know recommended to us that we memorize the mantras to these melodies, since (he said) chanting them to the melodies helps to imprint them more deeply on the consciousness. He often plays them in the background at his teachings, and I've heard other lamas do that too. So I think this CD does have its merits despite being different from the styles of chanting that you hear in Buddhist monasteries in India, Nepal and Tibet.

I did research about the second song,
It is called "The Short Great Compassionate Heart Dharani"

the words are:

Namo Ratna trayaya. Namah Arya Jnana Sagara. Vairochana, Vyuha Rajaya. Tathagataya Arhate samyaksam buddhaya. Namah Sarva Tathagatebhyah, Arhadbhyah, Samyak sam buddhebhyah.
Namah Arya Avalokitesvaraya Bodhisattvaya Mahasattvaya Mahakarunikaya
Tadyatha
Om
Dhara dhara, dhiri dhiri, dhuru dhuru, itti vatte, Chale Chale, Prachale prachale, Kusume kusume vare, ili mili citi Jvalam,
Apanaye svaha.

Mauro

There is no reason to put down this disc, if the Dalai Lama himself plays this at his talks, and he is according to his own people the physical manifestation of chenrezig (avaloketishvara) then it is not a pseudo-techno japanese version of tibetan chanting. Om mani padme hung is the most widley practiced chant in the buddhist tradition, and it is used a a vehicle for ending the suffering and to accelerate the liberation of all sentinent beings. No this is not bioctave gutteral tibetan chanting of tibetan monks, this is a recording by "people" who had the heart to chant a mantra for the benifit of all the listeners. Of course they got paid, of course the producer got paid to make the record, who cares, they desreve it. So, if you or I put in a cd of "real" tibetan monks chanting and chant along, do we ruin the originality of the chant and make it new age or watered down because we are westerners? or do we add to the vibration that the mantra is trying to impart to this world of attachment and suffering. I have personall sold hundreds of copies of this cd to people who had never been into any spiritual practice and becasue this was available, they opened there hearts to buddhist practice. what elese do people want? should we beconcerned aobut the "authenticity" of the people who recorded the music or should we be thankfull and feel blessed to be able to listen to this music in the first place?

I first heard "Tibetan Incantations" being played at my local Borders. Being a recent convert to Buddhism, I found the third track, the a cappella version of the "Om Mani Padme Hung" to be entrancing! I finally found a copy (it was out of print), and the non-traditional chants and music are intoxicating.

This has been a great help to me, in terms of relaxation and getting into meditation. Meditation is calming of the mind and spirit, and this music does not jar you or make you lose focus.

I have recently returned from travels to Tibet and Nepal. This CD intantaneously takes me back to one of my favorite places. Bodnath, a city in the Kathmandu valley is an intensely spiritual place. With a Buddhist stupa at the centre, shops and monasteries enclose this sacred spot. One of the shops had this music replaying all the time. All I need to do is to put on this wonderful lyrical music and I am transported back to this magical place circumabbulating the stupa with the pilgrims and monks.

I lived for several years in Nepal and frequently visited on the main buddhist stuppas for ceremonies at the full moon. This CD was constantly played in shops around the area and the melody used by area monasteries. One evening I sat with friends and listened for hours to child monks singing this chant on the rooftop of a nearby monastery. This melody is very popular, and although the music may sound new age to some, the instruments are sounds are those often found in traditional and folk music in Nepal and Tibet. I cannot think of the Om Mani Padme Hung chant without hearing the melody on this CD. If you dislike the instruments, the accoustic version is included as well.

I think Zimra didn't like this CD because she wanted nice background music. If, like me, you want to chant your heart out along with beautiful voices and uplifting Tibetan music, the first cut of Om Mani Padme Hung is unbeatable. I'm new to chanting and I didn't know if I'd really continue after the novelty wore off, but singing this mantra for 24 minutes is too joyful and addictive to give up.

If someone could provide the phonetic translation to the second mantra, a 26-minute cut, I'd be thrilled. It's very beautiful but much too complex to sound out easily. I have to listen silently or join in like a 1-year-old who's still learning to form word sounds (i.e., badly, but I try anyway!).

The third cut has a decidedly different sound. This version of Om Mani Padme Hung Deep is sung in deep, resonant voices to a slow drum cadence -- traditional, but not to my current taste. Maybe I'll appreciate this one later in my practice.

But the first two cuts will send your spirits soaring and are worth the price a hundred times over. I hope you enjoy this CD as much as Grace Ford (the first reviewer) and I do.

This CD was played at the recent gathering in Mountain View at the Shoreline Amphitheater when HH Dalai Lama gave his talk "Peace Through Inner Peace" to over 12,000. people. It was played as the thousands of people took their seats and at the ending as we all filed out after this wonderful 2 hours with HH. As people left you could see and hear many of them joining in with this music saying/singing the mantra "OM MANI PADME HUM". I found it very inspiring, soothing and a fitting piece of music to play on this occasion. I knew I wanted to add it to my personal CD collection. Upon returning home I searched until I was able to find out what this music was and where I could purchase it. I play it for the calming effect it has and to recall the wonderful experience of that day. I hope others will enjoy it as I do.

When I visited Dharamsala in 2001 to see His Holiness The Dalai Lama, this CD was being played in every little shop on the streets. The whole town was filled with this chanting ! So I bought it and have continued to enjoy listening to it almost every day. I hope the mantras will imprint themselves on my heart. I love it !!!

I'm not a fan of chanting of any kind but this music (the first two tracks) is truly beautiful. The fact that each track goes on for 20 minutes means that you can realy get into it, although I don't recommend listening to it too much as you will get sick of it!.