We saw the Gyuto Monks tonight at the Cedar Cultural Center. After a lengthy introduction, tribute, and lecture from a tall Western guy who has some association with a suburban monastery, the monks had a five minute meditation before they started their deep bass chants. I realized that this would be a spiritual ritual more so than the typical entertainment we usually expected from this venue. Aside from a handful of people who couldn't last through the entire set, everyone sat peacefully and listened, in awe, to the consistent long tones, sparked by the sounds of horns, drums, and ancient cymbals. I was very relaxed by the time the oldest monk honored the Cedar Cultural host with a white silk scarf as the other monks quietly exited the stage; some of them slowly easing into a smile.
« April 2007 | Main | August 2007 »
