Buddhist Stories for Awakening
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2500 Years Ago...
… the Buddha’s disciples wrote of
their experience of transformation
and awakening. The stories, though
obscure and known to few but scholars,
are preserved to the present day and
are collectively known as the Therigata
and Theragata: “Songs of the Elder
Monks and Nuns.”
Each of the stories involves a moment
of transformation, where a comment
from a wise teacher, a sustained effort
that carries beyond normal limits, or
an encounter with a committed
spiritual seeker cracks open the edge
of what is possible, and opens a door
into the boundless, deathless realm
of awakening.
The Musicians
Henry Kaiser, a pioneer in experimental and improvisational music fearlessly
penetrates into the spirit of creativity that sparks spontaneous musical expression.
Henry’s playing takes music into the unknown, navigates wilderness areas of the
mind, those places that have always produced the best stories.
Josh Michaell has a deep affinity for Buddhist and American
old-time traditional music. On the CD he plays guitar, banjo,
and claw hammer-style ukulele. Josh composed most of the
melodic settings for the stories.
Rev. Heng Sure, a Buddhist monk for 33 years, balances his
meditative life with the writing of memorable Buddhist (and
pro-vegetarian) songs and as an inspired storyteller. He endeavors to translate
traditional Buddhist wisdom into contemporary musical settings.
Songs
1. The Monk Gotama 3:12 Josh Michaell & Rev. Heng Sure
2. The Nun Subhasa and the Playboy 7:21 Henry Kaiser & Rev. Heng Sure
3. Clumsy Chang 5:54 Josh Michaell & Rev. Heng Sure
4. Belatthakani & Candana 4:04 Josh Michaell & Rev. Heng Sure
5. The Girl Comes Out from Meditation 2:40 Henry Kaiser & Rev. Heng Sure
6. Anupamana 2:26 Henry Kaiser & Rev. Heng Sure
7. Sona, the Mother of Ten Children 3:42 Henry Kaiser, Josh Michaell & Rev. Heng Sure
8. Vimala, the Courtesan 5:08 Josh Michaell & Rev. Heng Sure
9. Tozan’s Three Blows 1:46 Josh Michaell & Henry Kaiser
10. Hyakujo’s Fox 4:07 Henry Kaiser
11. Anopama the Heiress 3:05 Henry Kaiser, Josh Michaell & Rev. Heng Sure
12. Master Empty Cloud Wakes Up 8:13 Josh Michaell & Rev. Heng Sure
13. Vasitthi the Mad Woman 4:02 Henry Kaiser, Josh Michaell & Rev. Heng Sure