"Wisdom", "Compassion", "Courage" ... The Dalai Lama celebrated his 85th birthday on Monday by publishing his first album, Inner World , where he recites Buddhist mantras and teachings against the backdrop of meditative music.
Available on Youtube and online music platforms, this album of eleven titles, alternating between Tibetan and English, is the fruit of five years of work with New Zealand musician Junelle Kunin, a disciple who persuaded him. to embark on this project.
"A work to do good to people"
The recording sessions took place between the artist's domicile in Auckland and the Dalai Lama's residence in Dharamsalan, in the north of India, where the Tibetan spiritual leader has lived in exile for 60 years. "The purpose of my life is to serve as much as I can," said the Dalai Lama on the official website for his album. "Music can help people in ways I can't," he adds.
The 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner has written many bestsellers, has been featured in multiple Hollywood films, but has barely ventured into the music world. "He had a very clear vision for this project and was very involved in it," said Junelle Kunin, who co-produced the album with her husband Abraham, at Radio New Zealand.
"It is not a religious project although there are mantras. It is really just a work to do good to people. So I thought about what we need in our everyday life - courage, healing and so on - and that is the path we have followed, "she said. The album includes a collaboration with the Indian sitarist Anoushka Shankar, his proceeds will go to a foundation of the Dalai Lama. The CD version, which will include a booklet, will be released on August 28.