Songs for Tibet - The Art of Peace
I grew up in the Young Ones generation. I believed that music is best played loud while throwing your television through your hotel window. Some years later, I really grew up. Neil replaced Vivien as an idol to aspire to.
I first saw the Dalai Lama in London’s Albert Hall. I had never even heard of him before this. Getting ready to snooze, something extraordinary happened to me. I actually listened to what he said. Expecting him to try and convert me to a Buddhist, he tried to convert me to the religion I already knew. He said, it is important to look deep within your own religion. The path you choose is not important, it’s your daily practice that is everything. He taught me that most major religions teach one thing at their heart. They are just different methods of pointing to the same thing. His anti-preaching method worked for me though. I now identify myself as a Buddhist, not a great one, but one that has allowed me to appreciate the faith I was force fed at school, Christianity.
The Tibetan cause is now something pretty dear to my heart. I feel that Tibet is a precious jewel, like the Amazon, which we the earth’s guardians are allowing to go to waste like a disillusioned teenager turning to smack. The potential that it holds is being eaten away, distilled to nothingness. To this end I wrote my own songs for Tibet. Not as good or polished as this offering that appeared in my inbox on an iTunes mail-shot. My song Wanna be your friend, was written as if from in the head of HH the Dalai Lama. Probably the best song I didn’t compose. The great man’s spirit wrote this song. His ethos, again I can only point to, but those words made me cry as they spilled awkwardly from my mouth. I wish they could have poured from the mouth of Imogen Heap, Sting or Damien Rice.
Songs for Tibet
These Songs for Tibet, unlike my “No sleep till Tibet” album are truly beautiful. ‘Enuff said. The last track though, is not really a track at all. It is a discussion given by the Dalai Lama on Finding Peace. This alone is worth the asking price, for me anyway.
Released just days before the Beijing Olympics start, this album will I am sure be my soundtrack this summer. I might not be a good Buddhist but I love music, and I could listen to the Dalai Lama for ever.
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.
Peace
