The Lama's Chants

Amazon.com
Marking the 10th year since this popular Buddhist chant album was first released, this reissue ups the ante by featuring an expanded format. The first disc is a re-mastered version of the original album. The second features unreleased live performances by Gyurme and keyboardists Rykiel and Loy Ehrlich between 1995 and 2001, and it's this second disc that is truly intriguing. Recorded in caves, cathedrals, concert halls and open air festivals, the quality of the recordings is excellent. Mostly chanting and occasionally doing some long tones, Gyurme's voice again seemingly embodies a mix of the human and the holy during his prayers for healing, purification, liberation and peace--he's particularly spectacular on his solo intro to "The Mantra Of Padmasambhaval." Musically, Ehrlich seamless fills out Rykiel's ambient backgrounds, and two do a fine job accentuating the drama and majesty of Gyurme's voice, only overpowering it on the opening "Sacred Words Of Liberation." This is definitely a reissue that deserves to replace the original. --Tad Hendrickson

From Amazon.ca
Buddhist chants and mantras are all the rage in yoga circles these days. Get an appealing western singer, create new melodies that border on pop, dress them up in electronica and world fusion rhythms, and off you go. Instant karma! But back in 1994, Jean-Philippe Rykiel took a different approach, bringing orchestral sensibilities to the chants of Lama Gyurme, a Buddhist monk from Bhutan. A blind French keyboardist who has worked with artists as varied as Jon Hassell and Salif Keita, Rykiel's approach to Gyurme's chants ranges from simple keyboard pads to more elaborate productions like "Hope for Enlightenment," with its majestic, faux-orchestra arrangement. But even the pads can be deceptively effective, as on the nearly 25 minutes of "Calling the Lama from Afar," in which synthesizers swell, change timbre, and turn from ruminative grumbles to quietly soaring angels as Lama Gyurme recites his prayers. The Lama's Chants was originally released in 1994; this reissue includes the original disc plus a second disc of live performances. Although Rykiel avoids many clichés, his arrangements aren't as inventive as those of Steve Tibbetts on his albums with the Tibetan nun Choying Drolma, Cho and Selwa. Tibbetts paints with meticulous detail and organic design, while Rykiel settles for broad swathes and easy accompaniment. His arrangements are sensitive to Gyurme, but unlike the chants themselves, some of the sounds are dated, especially the Jan Hammer-like lead synth on "Offering Chant." --John Diliberto

Tracks:

Setting Motivation
Mantra of Blessing
Guru Rinpoche
Heart Sutra
Avalokitesvara
Manjushri
Vajrapani
Buddha Amitayus
Buddha Ushnisha Vijaya
Tara
Medicine Buddha
Dedication Prayer

Album Description

"Lama Tashi's voice is amazingly powerful and deeply resonant, creating extraordinary harmonics as he chants. At times, his voice is multi-tracked and the recording sounds like a monastery full of Tibetan Chant Masters. This is a remarkable recording that will benefit anyone's sacred music collection." -EARTH VIBE

"Lama Tashi's Tibetan Master Chants features the chanting of one of the world's foremost Tibetan Chant Masters, produced by the founder and director of Sound Healers Association Jonathan Goldman. The album was created to provide profound listening pleasure beside vibrational shifts in order to draw people towards sacred Tibetan mantras." -BUDDHIST CHANNEL

2005 Grammy nominee for Best World Music Album! Includes 12 well-known Tibetan mantras, including "Om Ah Hum" and "Om Mani Padme Hum" featuring the sacred deep voice chanting of one of the world's foremost Tibetan chant masters. Produced by healing sounds pioneer Jonathan Goldman, this CD was created as a three-fold tool: for pure listening pleasure, to create sacred space, and to teach listeners sacred Tibetan mantras. There is a specific order and function for each of the chants on this recording, which work together in order to assist personal and planetary consciousness. Lama Tashi's voice is amazingly powerful and deeply resonant, creating extraordinary harmonics. A remarkable recording that will benefit anyone's sacred music collection! Includes a 24-page booklet about the chants.

Customer Reviews:

Chants.......2007-07-29

Love it when I'm going to sleep or when I'm stressed. Wonderful deep, deep, very deep voice.

Wonderful, but only if you're into 'deep voice' Tibetan Chants.......2007-01-13

If you're really into deep voice chants, this is the CD for you. If not, then skip this one.

Deep voice chants are slow and abnormally low/deep voice. It's hard to describe. Some people think that these chants may have 'harmonic healing qualities.' I don't know, but if you like Tibetan Buddhist mantra chanting, deep voice is a wonderful aspect of the sadhana. This CD is a wonderful introduction to deep voice.

I love this CD. Lama Tashi's voice is deep and quite otherworldly, but
I can hear and understand the words. Lama Tashi's voice is very clear.
Many CDs of deep voice chanting (particularly those made by large groups) are difficult to appreciate because it's often hard to make out individual words.

This is a wonderful exception.

Listen to the sound clips on this site. If you don't like deep voice, then skip this one. If you want to check out deep voice mantras, this is a great place to start.

Not what I was hoping for..........2006-08-21

This just wasn't what I was looking for. I wish I had taken the time to listen to the sample tracks, but a slow dial-up connection and the Grammy nomination made me skip that step. The voice is way too guttural for my liking...it just doesn't feel calming, peaceful or meditative to me. I would definitely recommend listening to the sample tracks and making your own decision before buying.

The Sound of the Void.......2006-07-09

I agree, this is the very best Tibetan chant cd there is. My previous favorites were the releases by the Monks from Drepung Loseling, but here, their own chantmaster proves that sometimes a single minimal voice resonates deeper than many.

I am not the first to observe the similarities between Tibetan chant and the almost Zen state acheived by doom/drone bands like Sunn 0))). For those coming from that angle, this is a perfect document to prove the point that such bands are only channelling the deep universal OM. This is not only the best Tibetan Chant release available, but it is also one of the best pieces of music I have ever heard - truly profound. The sound of Lama Tashi's voice is that of the emptiness uncovered in meditation. Listen and live in the void.

The Best Chant CD I have ever Purchased.......2006-04-18

I have bought every Gyoto Monk and chant CD I could find and this is by far the best. Lama Tashi's voice is powerful and meditative. They VERY gradually increase his voice with his own harmonics in the chants which makes it sound like 10 of him in the middle of each chant. It is exactly what I was looking for all these years. I can see why this won a grammy. It is by far the best chant CD I have found -- anywhere. It really brings out the meditative power when you listen to this while sitting.

Average customer rating:

Peaceful - Uplifting - Spiritual - Positively Excellent
6 stars on a 5 scale
A beautiful sound!
wonderful for meditation and quiet times!

The Lama's Chants
Lama Gyurme , and Jean-Philippe Rykiel
Manufacturer: Narada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Tibet | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music
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Rain of Blessings: Vajra Chants
Tibetan Master Chants
Sacred Tibetan Chant
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Freedom Chants from the Roof of the World

ASIN: B0007X9UEC
Release Date: 2005-04-12

Tracks:

Hope For Enlightenment
The Mantra Of Padmasambhava
The Tsok Offering
Calling The Lama From Afar
Longevity Prayer To Kalu Rinpoche
Chenresig

Tracks:

Sacred Words Of Liberation
The Mantra Of Padmasambhava
Calling The Lama From Afar Part I
Calling The Lama From Afar Part II
Medicine Buddha Mantra
Offering Chant

Amazon.com

Marking the 10th year since this popular Buddhist chant album was first released, this reissue ups the ante by featuring an expanded format. The first disc is a re-mastered version of the original album. The second features unreleased live performances by Gyurme and keyboardists Rykiel and Loy Ehrlich between 1995 and 2001, and it's this second disc that is truly intriguing. Recorded in caves, cathedrals, concert halls and open air festivals, the quality of the recordings is excellent. Mostly chanting and occasionally doing some long tones, Gyurme's voice again seemingly embodies a mix of the human and the holy during his prayers for healing, purification, liberation and peace--he's particularly spectacular on his solo intro to "The Mantra Of Padmasambhaval." Musically, Ehrlich seamless fills out Rykiel's ambient backgrounds, and two do a fine job accentuating the drama and majesty of Gyurme's voice, only overpowering it on the opening "Sacred Words Of Liberation." This is definitely a reissue that deserves to replace the original. --Tad Hendrickson

From Amazon.ca

Buddhist chants and mantras are all the rage in yoga circles these days. Get an appealing western singer, create new melodies that border on pop, dress them up in electronica and world fusion rhythms, and off you go. Instant karma! But back in 1994, Jean-Philippe Rykiel took a different approach, bringing orchestral sensibilities to the chants of Lama Gyurme, a Buddhist monk from Bhutan. A blind French keyboardist who has worked with artists as varied as Jon Hassell and Salif Keita, Rykiel's approach to Gyurme's chants ranges from simple keyboard pads to more elaborate productions like "Hope for Enlightenment," with its majestic, faux-orchestra arrangement. But even the pads can be deceptively effective, as on the nearly 25 minutes of "Calling the Lama from Afar," in which synthesizers swell, change timbre, and turn from ruminative grumbles to quietly soaring angels as Lama Gyurme recites his prayers. The Lama's Chants was originally released in 1994; this reissue includes the original disc plus a second disc of live performances. Although Rykiel avoids many clichés, his arrangements aren't as inventive as those of Steve Tibbetts on his albums with the Tibetan nun Choying Drolma, Cho and Selwa. Tibbetts paints with meticulous detail and organic design, while Rykiel settles for broad swathes and easy accompaniment. His arrangements are sensitive to Gyurme, but unlike the chants themselves, some of the sounds are dated, especially the Jan Hammer-like lead synth on "Offering Chant." --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

Peaceful - Uplifting - Spiritual - Positively Excellent.......2007-05-11

Just superb - Experience Peace. It also has a positive uplifting impact on you - on the Chakras and helps one's progress spiritually, mentally, emotionally and health-wise.

It is a blessing and grace from the rich tradition of spiritually-rich Tibet.

6 stars on a 5 scale.......2007-04-19

I own 5 or 6 Tibetan chant cd's or tapes. This one is definitely among my favorites. I have been meditating twice daily since 1975. I now meditate while playing "Lama's Chant". I agree with the reviewer that occasionally the music comes close to overpowering the chant. On the other hand the music probably helps "newcomers" to Tibetan chanting connect. My favorite is track 4 on disc #1: "Calling The Lama From Afar". I applaud the quality of the chant and the quality of the music. I encourage ANYONE to listen to this CD- I think it is WONDERFUL!

A beautiful sound!.......2007-01-16

Tibetan Buddhism is a deeply-felt line of Buddhism. To me, it is sincere, and very compassionate, and loving. The sound of Lama Gyurme is amazing, and very soothing. I definitely recommend this CD for meditation or even general listening. If I listen to it while driving, I feel obligated to relax, and I feel better (driving is stressful/scary for me, so this helps). The way the chanting flows is really smooth (not at all forceful), and it has a lovely rhythm. I like European monk chanting too; Tibetan is deeper both in tone and feeling, like it's speaking to your roots. It's therapeutic, relaxing, and beautiful.

wonderful for meditation and quiet times!.......2005-08-20

I really like lisening to buddhist chants,this cd is very good the lama chants well; and in most of the songs the added instruments adds to the chant.however in some of the tracks I find it overpowers the chanting.my favorite tracks are the ones with little or no added instrumental music.In all a good purchase and a very nice addition to my sacred music collection.
Om Mani Padme Hung.......to all.

Average customer rating:

HORRIBLE! Hip Hoppy, Jazz Improv style to chants sucks!
Average but ok
Great CD
Chants, not just for breakfast anymore ....
I Love It

Chants to Awaken the Buddhist Heart
Steven Halpern & Lama Surya Das
Manufacturer: Inner Peace Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Buddhist Chants & Peace Music
Sacred Tibetan Chant
Om Mani Padme Hum
Awakening The Buddhist Heart: Integrating Love, Meaning, and Connection into Every Part of Your Life
Tibetan Tantric Choir

ASIN: B0000508CD
Release Date: 2000-11-14

Tracks:

The Jewel And The Lotus Mantra
The Purification Mantra Of The Thousand Armed Chenrayzig, Buddha Of Love And Compassion
Female Buddha Tara's Mantra
The Seven Line Prayer To Padma Sambhava, The Lotus Born Guru
The Wisdon Mantra, From The Heart Sutra
Calling The Lama From Afar
Vajra Guru Mantra/Vajra Guru Padma Sambhava's Mantra
Trikaya Buddha Mantra Chant
Obstacle Removing And Path-Clearing Prayer
Female Buddha Tara's Mantra (Om Tare)
The Purification Mantra (Part Two)
Two Prayers To The Precious Master-Guru
Female Buddha Tara's Mantra (Reprise)

Customer Reviews:

HORRIBLE! Hip Hoppy, Jazz Improv style to chants sucks!.......2007-08-04

The real reason I bought this was because I'm a big Steven Halpern fan and all of his stuff is great; who knew this Lama Surya Das (Long Island boy) would mess this CD up. I never return cds but this was so lousy I am most definitely returning it. A waste of my time, listening and most importantly ENERGY.

Average but ok.......2007-06-20

I liked one main song, but the thing i didn't like was the fact that theres about 5 songs and the track listed as having 13 songs. Its just a repeat of the same songs. Its kind of disappointing... But the sound is great. I just wish there were more mantras on the sound track...

Great CD.......2005-08-23

This is a CD of Lama Surya Das chanting in Tibetan over Steve Halpern's beats. Don't know what to say except that if you like this kind of thing, this is an excellent CD. I have listened to it many times at home and in the car. It will put you int a meditative state listening and singing along to the chants. Love it.

Chants, not just for breakfast anymore ...........2005-05-29

This is a great cd to listen to in the car on the way to or from work or any other stressful engagement requiring chill time. Ok its got an American twist and yes Lama Surya Das is after all an American Lama. He's a gift to us all in the land of SUV's, faster cheaper better and Super sized everything.

I Love It.......2004-03-04

Track 3 (Female Buddha Tara's Mantra) and 4 (Seven Line Prayer) are my absolute favorites on this unusual & unique CD. Sure it's a bit different from the common sounds we might be accustomed to hearing in the category we are obviously pursuing here: Buddhist chants and music. But different isn't bad. Not that tradition is not good to stick to, but occasionally it is nice to hear a bright and new example of these ancient chants. I personally found this entire CD to be a terrific companion to meditation at times, and the opening track "Jewel and the Lotus Sutra" has such a wonderful rhythm to it. I mean, I don't recommend listening to music every time you sit down to meditate, but occasionally it's a nice and calming experience to be had. So here is one reviewer who is kind of amazed by all of the bad reviews this CD is getting. This CD has a "healing" effect in some senses, a trait commonly associated with mantras and Tibetan lamas. Stephen Halpern brings to the table his unique style of "healing sound" for us. Sure it has a hip-hop feel, but it's done extremely well! I hope you enjoy it and are willing to give this a try.

Average customer rating:

Rain of blessings: Vajra Chants
Excellent blend of music
Rain of Blessings
Soothing. Excellent for meditation.
Kalu Rinpoche's disciple sings

Rain of Blessings: Vajra Chants
Lama Gyurme & Jean-Phillippe Rykiel
Manufacturer: Real World
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Tibet | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00003OT8L
Release Date: 2000-03-14

Tracks:

Rain Of Blessings
Offering Chant
Medicine Buddha Mantra
Sacred Words Of Liberation
Prayer To Sangye Menla
Chenrezi Pure Land Prayer
The Six Syllable Mantra Of The White Lotus Lord
Refuge And Sevenfold Offering
Offering Chant (Unplugged Version)

Amazon.com

Tibetan lama Gyurme reunites with French composer Jean-Philippe Rykiel for an album of Vajra chant and New Age synth ambience. The result is an at-times lovely, at-times cheesy collection that decorates the monk's already perfect chant with ornaments of tingling bell synth and washes of sound. The appealing quality is Lama Gyurme's simple voice that, in raw, unadorned tones, creates a spiritual purity, which is often, but not always, reflected in the musical accompaniment of Rykiel. Such pieces as "The Six Syllable Mantra of the White Lotus Lord" and "Sacred Words of Liberation" work well in their seamless fusing of the Lama's long notes with the constant humming of the cosmos through metallic ambient synth, occasionally recalling the "Om" of Buddhist chant. Where the album lacks is in its Westernization of this traditional spiritual ritual, as on "Offering Chant" and its accompanying unplugged version, the latter of which has a sympathetic piano reminiscent of sentimental American pop. Still, it's a useful collection for those interested in the vocal praying of the Buddhist tradition. --Karen K. Hugg

Customer Reviews:

Rain of blessings: Vajra Chants.......2005-10-25

I have been listening to this cd daily, it has been incredibly inspiring during my pregnancy. The depth of the performances can only come from a true spiritual state of bliss. I highly recommend it.

Excellent blend of music.......2003-10-07

I am not usually a big fan of taking sacred music and adding modern accompaniment to it (a la Enigma), but this is well done and almost unobtrusive. The chants are deep, in fact I got goosebumps from the unplugged version of the offering chant.

This album is neither too new-agey, too jazzy, or too anything. This is excellent work respectful of the religious nature of the chant while remaining musically interesting

Rain of Blessings.......2002-12-15

This CD is nowhere as wonderful as Hope for Enlightenment (also by Lama Gyurme) which I must have listened to at least 100 times over.
One track has almost a jazzy beat to it, which I found annoying.

Soothing. Excellent for meditation........2002-10-08

Lama Gyurme's chants and Jean-Phillippe Rykiel's syntehsizer music work together wonderfully in this CD. Lama Gyurme's chant isn't exactly like the Gyoto monks I was use to hearing from Tibet. His chant was much more soothing, almost like he was "singing" under his breath. Gyoto monks can blow your eardrums away and can be rough to listen too, but not so with Lama Gyurme. His voice combined with the synthesizer creates a very relaxing ambience, and I found it great to meditate to. I wish I understood what Lama Gyurme was saying, but regardless, this CD is a true gem for those looking for relaxing music.

Kalu Rinpoche's disciple sings.......2002-02-24

The CD is sweetly sung by Lama Gyurme with soft backing by French musician. Meditative but thoroughly authentic.

Tracks:

Good Morning in the Sanskar Valley
Three Deep Singing Monks With Singing Singing Bowls and Cymbals - Buddhist Monks of Maitri Vihar Monastery, Buddhist Monks of Maitri Vihar Monastery
Wisdom Shall Overcome
One Deep Singing Monk With Singing Bowls, Cymbals and Ganta - Buddhist Monks of Maitri Vihar Monastery, Buddhist Monks of Maitri Vihar Monastery
Prayer for the Dalai Lama, Pt. 1
Blowing of the Big and Small Ceremonial Horns With Cymbals - Buddhist Monks of Maitri Vihar Monastery, Buddhist Monks of Maitri Vihar Monastery
Offering the Mandala to Compassion
Three Deep Singing Monkes With Singing Bowls and Cymbals - Buddhist Monks of Maitri Vihar Monastery, Buddhist Monks of Maitri Vihar Monastery
Prayer for the Dalai Lama, Pt. 2
Big Choir of Monks - Buddhist Monks of Maitri Vihar Monastery, Buddhist Monks of Maitri Vihar Monastery
Puja for the Eight Paradises

Average customer rating:

Exceptional value
Inspirating to the tears.

Tibetan Chants, Buddhist Meditation
Lama Karta
Manufacturer: Milan Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Tibet | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music

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Tibetan Tantric Choir
Buddhist Chants & Peace Music
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Sacred Tibetan Chant

ASIN: B0000015LH
Release Date: 1996-06-18

Tracks:

Pri aux Trois Grands Yogis Tibetains [Prayer to Three Great Tibert]
Appel au Lama de Loin [The Call to the Lama from Afar]
Pri Tchenr/Pri de Dcace [Prayer to Chenrezi/Dedication]
Pri Gourou Rinpochri de Dcace [Prayer to Guru Rinpoche]
Mantra de Mahakala [Mantra of Mahakala]
Chant S'Offrande (Offering Song)

Customer Reviews:

Exceptional value.......2002-05-12

I own a pretty rich collection (30 titles) of Buddhist Tibetan Music and this one is one of the best gems of all. Pure spirit! Peace! Concentration! Aid for meditation. Buy it if it is still available, it can well change your life for the best!

Inspirating to the tears........1999-04-22

Beyond words, Like Buddhism, not for explain but for expierence.

Tracks:

Souhaits Pour l'eil (Hope for Enlightenment)
Guru RinpochMantra de Padmasambhava]
Offrande de Tsok (The Tsok Offering) [Vajra Melody]
Appel au Lama de Loin (Calling the Lama from Afar)
Pri de Longue Vie a Kalu RinpochLongevity Prayer to Kalu ...)
Chen Rezi

Customer Reviews:

moving.......2006-03-15

such beautiful & moving music. "Souhaits Pour l'Éveil" is one of the most amazing pieces of music i have ever heard. it resonates with my soul.

Average customer rating:

Another level of soundworld

Prayers to the Protector
Thupten Pema Lama & Steve Roach
Manufacturer: Celestial Harmonies
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Tibet | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00005081K
Release Date: 2000-10-24

Tracks:

Refuge Prayer For All Sentient Beings/Prayer For Tsongkhapa, The Founder Of The Gelugpa Sect
Blessing Of The Place Of Meditation
Prayer For The World Or Planet
Purification Prayer To Dissolve All Sins Commited In Past Lives
Prayer To The Protector (Instrumental)
Prayer To The Wisdom, To Knowledge And Religious Vows

Amazon.com

It was inevitable that synthesist Steve Roach would apply his soundscape designs to the deep, ancient, and often harrowing chants of Tibetan Buddhist monks. He's gone into the primal core with Aboriginal sounds and cultures on albums such as Dreamtime Return, and his Magnificent Void CD stepped into the abyss. On Prayers to the Protector, he works with the chants of Thupten Pema Lama of the Dip Tse Chok Ling Monastery. In Roach's studio, Thupten Pema Lama sang these devotional prayers and entreaties unaccompanied. Then Roach slipped them into his own soundworld, surrounding the monk with evanescent waves of synthesized ambiences. Being Steve Roach, this isn't the usual pretty New Age synth-glissandos, but darkly hued textures with metallic edges. On "Djewa takgya lingchee lhunbur dje" (a prayer for the world, according to the liner notes), he evokes the metal gongs and bowls of Tibetan chants as well as a freight train putting on the brakes in space. Prayers to the Protector doesn't dress up Buddhist chants, it just sends them into deeper space. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

Another level of soundworld.......2000-11-20

When adding soundworlds to the chanting of the Lama, this has taken this genere of work to an altogether new level. For a person into meditation or breathwork..this is a fantastic CD. I would think this Cd is not necessarly for casual listening. This soundworld would be wonderful for refelction, meditation and self exploration. The soundworlds add textures and layers to the chanting and truly create an altered state.