Universal Love 2003 SoundsTrue MM00694D Order CD $15 Nawang Khechog takes listeners on a musical pilgrimage into the experience of compassion through music. Nine original compositions meld the ancient ritual sounds of Nawang's Tibetan homeland with traditions from across the globe to invoke within us the uplifting power of Universal Love. With Tibetan flute on all songs; Tibetan long horn (doongchen) and overtone chanting; universal horn (invented by Nawang Khechog); Aboriginal didgeridoo; African drums and kalimba; Mayan ocarinas Native American drum; and chants of universal love by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and others. Produced by Nawang Khechog.

DEDICATION

I want to dedicate this album, "Universal Love," to my father, YANGLUK, who today lives in Orissa, Chandragiri, India. I salute him and am forever grateful for his courage, determination, hardship, and kindness to bring our family and me into freedom. Because of my brave and kind father, who brought me into freedom, I feel I have been able to experience many wonderful and meaningful journeys, including this journey of "Universal Love." Nawang Khechog.

THE CONCEPT OF THE ALBUM

For genuine spiritual practitioners in Tibet, one of the highest aspirations is to cultivate the heart of universal love‹to become one who loves all sentient beings unconditionally. Thus, the measure of whether someone has cultivated universal love is illustrated in the classical Tibetan story of the mother who has only one child ("Buckikpe maa tar") and shows how much she would love and give care to her only beloved child. Yes, this is a tall order and, in my case, I am far from actualizing this wonder and magnificence. Perhaps I can say that I have been inspired by this highest aspiration a tiny bit since my early years due to the kindness of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's living inspiration and his teachings on the Tibetan spiritual culture of universal love. This inspiration gives me some sense of meaning, purpose, and direction, and helps me to channel my anger not to hate anyone, channel my temptations not to become overwhelmed by lust and greed, and channel my heart to try to love all and everyone. So, I often wonder if, even given a million years to do this, I can cultivate this universal love in my heart. That would be the beginning of the highest journey and meaning of my life. ‹Nawang Khechog

ESSENTIAL TRANSLATIONS OF THE TIBETAN LYRICS

Track 2 Universal Love
This is an eighth-century prayer of universal love and compassion that was chanted by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and thousands of high lamas, hermits, monks, nuns, and lay people at His Holiness the Dalai Lama's temple, in Dharamsala, India. I was one of the fortunate participants of this very emotional and inspiring event. Here is the essence of that prayer: May I become a servant when there is a need to serve others. May I become a bridge and ship when there is a need for crossing. May I become food, drink, medicine, doctor, and nurse, when there is famine and disease. May I become the source of life, like the earth and other elements, and serve all those infinite beings until they go beyond conditions and suffering and find lasting freedom and happiness.

Track 7 Four Immeasurable Kindnesses
May all beings find equanimity, free of hatred and attachment.
May all beings be free from suffering and the cause of suffering.
May all beings find happiness and the cause of happiness.
May all beings never be separated from the supreme happiness, free of all sufferings.

Track 9 Tibetan Freedom Chant
His Holiness the Dalai Lama composed this prayer in the 1960s as soon as we Tibetans came into exile. This is an essential excerpt from the prayer: We should feel only compassion toward those who inflict harm upon one's self and others due to being overwhelmed by afflictive emotion. May they find wisdom to see what is right and what is wrong. May they learn to live in harmony by loving one another. Through the power of truth and great compassion of the awakened ones, may soon the suffering and the stream of tears come to an end to the people from the land of snow.

SPECIAL THANKS

Tsering Youdon Khechog, Sangye and Tenzin, Sonam Dolma, Kalsang Dolma, Pema, Lobsang Yiknyin, James R. Meccrea, Tami Simon, Kitaro, Lin Martin, Matt Licata, Steve Rush, Karen Polaski, Andrew Young, Beverly Yates, and all the great people at Sounds True; James Tuttle, David Glasser, Ann Blonston, Micky Houlihan, Fara Tolno, Deborah Schmit-Lobis, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama's private secretary office (Kasur Tenzin Geyche and Dr. Thupten Jinpa).

CREDITS

All songs written, arranged, and produced by Nawang Khechog. Recorded at Tibet Universal Studio and the Sounds True Studio. Engineered by Nawang Khechog and Steve Rush. Mixed at Airshow by James Tuttle. Mastered at Airshow by David Glasser. Package design by Karen Polaski at Sounds True. Front cover artist photo by Lin Martin. Back cover and insert artist photo by James R. McCrea. All other photos by Nawang Khechog. All vocal, chant, instrumental, and percussion performances by Nawang Khechog except for the African drums on songs 4, 5, and 9 by Fara Tolno, and accompanied by his friend Ricardo Gonzalez; and keyboards on songs 1, 6, and 8 by Deborah Schmit-Lobis.