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NEW BOOK OFFERING
The Sound of Vultures' Wings: The Tibetan Buddhist Chöd Ritual Practice of the Female Buddha Machik Labdrön, was released in Februrary 2024, with SUNY Press series in Religious Studies. It is now available in HARDCOPY and e-BOOK.
This book maps the performative architecture and sonic iconography in Tibetan Buddhist Chöd ritual musical-meditative practices, revealing the enactive symbolism that can guide the practitioner to psychophysical transformation.
The Sound of Vultures' Wings is designed as a guide for students and scholars of Buddhism and Buddhist ritual music expressions. Practitioners and researchers can delve into deeper understandings of the layers of meaning that are embedded in Buddhist musical-meditation practices, where sound and mind are deeply connected.
SEE the FLYER for a 30% Discount Code available for HARDCOPY book purchased from SUNY Press website before May 31.
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Machik
Figure 1.1 - Machik Labdrön thangka with Lineage Lamas.
Figure 1.1. Machik Labdrön (Ma gcig lab sgron, 1055–1153), Tibetan female adept, founder of the Chöd Tradition. She is depicted in a dancing posture atop a lotus flower and moon disc, playing two of the main Chöd musical instruments (ritual implements): the double-sided ritual drum (Skt. damaru) in her raised right hand, and ritual bell (Skt. ghanta; Tib. dril bu) in her left hand.
Vulture Peak, Rājgīr (Rājgriha), Bihar, India.
inTERVIEW
Check out the author’s Podcast Interview on how Taylor Swift’s song “Karma” connects with Buddhism in Popular Music
Podcast: Listen to an interview on Soul Search with Meredith Lake from ABC, exploring Taylor Swift's "Karma" and the history of spiritual songs in Western popular music, from the Sixties to now. Includes insights on George Harrison, The Beatles, Ravi Shankar, Yoko Ono, John Lennon, Beastie Boys, David Bowie, Annie Lennox, Mickey Hart, George Lucas, and Tibetan Monk Chant.
Vulture Peak at Rājgīr (Rājgriha), India, with Tibetan prayer flag offerings.
Figure 1.3 Padampa Sangyé (Tib. Pha dam pa sang rgyas)
Figure 1.3. Padampa Sangyé (Pha dam pa sang rgyas, d.1117), teacher of Machik Labdrön, the Indian mahāsiddha who founded the shi jé (Tib. zhi byed) or Pacification Tradition. In his right hand he holds a damaru drum, and in his left, a thighbone trumpet of kangling (Tib. rkang gling). He is seated on a cloudbank to Machik Labdrön’s right, and is surrounded by lineage masters who are depicted actively practicing or teaching Chöd. He wears a loincloth and a red meditation belt around his right shoulder and left leg. He wears his long white hair in a topknot, and has a white beard. He is said to have travelled five times to Tibet, each time through a different route, and was a teacher of Machik Labdrön.
Figure 1.4 Vajrayoginī (Tib. rDo rje rnal 'byor ma)
Figure 1.4. Varjayoginī (Tib. rDo rje rnal ’byor ma) appearing in the form of Vajravārāhī (Tib. rDo rje phag mo), a wrathful female buddha deity with one face and two hands, standing in a dancing posture, holding a curved flaying knife and a skull cup. She is red in color, wearing bone ornaments, situated on a cloudbank surrounded by female tutelary deities; detail of a thangka from the author’s private collection.
Honourable Mary Simon, Canada’s Governor General, awards the Meritorious Service Cross and Medal, the highest civilian honour awarded in Canada, to Pencho (Phuntsok) Rabgey, and Tsering Drokar Rabgey, Dr. Losang Rabgey and Dr. Tashi Rabgey.
Pala (Pencho Rabgey), second from left, formerly a monk of Sera Mey Monastic University, tirelessly transmitted the Chöd tradition to me.
Dear friends, this Tibetan-Canadian family shaped my life in many ways.
Check out my podcast interview on Soul Search with Meredith Lake from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. We discuss Taylor Swift's song "Karma" and the Western interest in spiritual music for elevating consciousness.
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Wellington, Ontario
the serene beauty of Prince Edward County along Lake Ontario's West Shore. The colors depicted in the photograph are natural and were not altered in any way. The subtle hues and tones intertwine to create a tranquil scene in the Canadian landscape. These reflect the unique palette of an El Niño Winter, portraying nature's raw vibrancy in its unaltered state.
Perfection of Wisdom Mantra with Damaru ~ Meditative Interlude in Chöd Sādhana
Perfection of Wisdom Mantra with Damaru ~ Meditative Interlude in Chöd Sādhana
Dr. Jeffrey W. Cupchik, ethnomusicologist focusing on Buddhist ritual music.
Welcoming feedback and interest from Tibetologists, anthropologists, religious studies scholars, Buddhologists and, of course, ethnomusicologists and musicologists who may wish to examine together the Chöd Traditions across lineages, and other tantric ritual traditions, as they are realized in practice—indeed, as living traditions.
Before Sound of Vultures' Wings was completed, daily visits here were a ritual to draw energy from nature and show gratitude for inspiration and nourishment from the planet.