The Very Quiet Studio of Asia
Sound Sañña : Asia stories
BUDDHISM STORIES retold by SANGHA
SANGHA
Dhammaratana Maha Thero
STORY 1: HEN FEUD
Venerable B. Dhammaratana is the Chief Sangha Nayaka of Singapore by Kotte Sri Kalyani Samagri Dhama Maha Sangha Sabha, present chief incumbent of Bellanwila Rajamaha, a well- established Buddhist temple located close to Colombo in Sri Lanka. Bhante is also the founder for Paramita International Buddhist Centre, located at Kadugannawa, as well as Singapore Buddhist Library and Buddhist Research Society. Bhante born in Sri Lanka, ordained at age 13, left his abbot position at Bellanwilla Rajamaha, and came down to Singapore around 1972 to benefit humanity. He is the motivator behind Singapore Tsunami Charity effort at Hambantota after2004 Asia tsunami.
MUSICIANS
Elaine Wu 巫漪丽
Elaine Wu was born in China, Christian by religion but love at heart. An internationally reknown pianist and First Class Pianist of China, she began her formal studies with Italian Maestro Mario Paci between 1940- 1945. She was pianist first at Shanghai Symphony Orchestra before joining The Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing in 1954. She survived China cultural revolution as classical works were considered anti revolution. Thereafter she went to USA, Chautaugua School of Music in the 80s to improve her teaching and it was then she developed a new pedagogy in music teaching. Elaine, tireless in welding artistry with humanity, and unrelenting in her spirited altruism to her arts, possesses an aura alike a royalty. At 81, She teaches now in Singapore and serves happily to several choir as piano accompaniment and a music teacher to many students.
Ven. Mujin Sunim
STORY 2: CATS LISTEN?
Venerable Mujin Sunim was born in Canada. After studying psychology under Professor Jean Piaget, she went in search of Buddhism – India, Singapore, Sri Lanka. She was first ordained by Venerable Balangoda Ananda Maitreya Maha Nayaka Thero in Sri Lanka in 1976.She received 2nd ordination in the Korean Zen tradition by Venerable Inhong Sunim of Soknam-sa near Ulsan in 1985 and stayed on 14 years. She returned to Switzerland to take care of her parents. After their death and with the Korean community in Switzerland, Popkye-sa /Dharma Realm was opened in 2005. She now runs a Foundation, practices and studies the Teachings.
Nathan Madsen
Nathan Madsen is a composer and sound designer based in Denver, CO USA. He's worked on over 140 projects including films, video games, audio stories, stage productions, websites and choral pieces. He has two degrees in music - a bachelors degree in music education and a masters degree in music performance. He enjoys reading, watching movies and exercising. He's also an animal lover with a dog named Kobiyashi and a cat named Baxter. In addition to working in pro audio, Nathan also teaches private piano and saxophone lessons.
Sayalay Dipankara Theri
STORY 3: Mahatissa
Sayalay Dipankara was born in Myanmar on Vesak Day. She was only allowed to travel out of Burma in 1995 as she is only a 10 Preceptor. Now, she is a highly regarded meditation Teacher who shares the dhamma selflessly and internationally: Australia, Germany, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Japan etc. She designed and setup Brahma Vihari Meditation Centre at Maymyo, near Mandalay in 2006 and holds annual retreats for sincere meditating practitioners. Sayalay devotes her life to teach and travels to the people who wish to learn. She teaches the 40 ways of kammathana leading to samadhi and vipassana practice, and guides her students true to the Visudhimagga and Tripitaka.
Imee Ooi 黄慧音
Imee Ooi is a music producer, composer, arranger and vocalist who produces chants Buddhist mantras and dharanis (typically from the Sanskrit, Pali, Tibetan or Mandarin language). A Malaysian, she is also the musical director and composer of three highly-acclaimed stage musicals, Siddhartha, Above Full Moon, Jewel of Tibet, another musical set during the Tang Dynasty. Ooi established I.M.M Musicworks in 1997 and has released over 20 albums to date. She is a classical pianist by training. http://www.immmusic.com/
Dr. Lee Foong Ming
李鳳鸣博士
STORY 4: SAMAVATI
Dr. Lee Foong Ming obtained her basic degree in National University of Singapore in 1994 and after 7 years of studies in Sri Lanka, she obtained her phD degree in 2003 specializing in Buddhist Philosophy (Abhidharma). She returned to Singapore in the same year. Since her return to Singapore, she has been a lecturer in the Postgraduate Diploma Course conducted at the Buddhist Library. Currently she is teaching at the KMSPKS Chinese Dharma Class. Having spent almost all her adult life studying with the support and kindness of many people, she now endeavors to bring the Buddha's teachings to the masses so that together we can make the world a better place, for all sentient beings.
Sri Ghanavenothan Retnam
with Raghavendran Rajasekaran
Sri Ghanavenothan Retnam, son of Sri R.Retnam a pioneer musician of Singapore, had his tutelage under Pundit M. Ramalingam and many stalwarts from North and South India. Besides performing, and teaching at Nrityalaya, he also composes music and has conducted two flute arrangements for his students, first of its sort in Singapore. As the first Singapore Indian artiste to be awarded Singapore's "Young Artist Award" for music, he holds other honorific titles ~ "Sangeetha Kala Nipuna" and "Singai Venugana Visharada", and many awards, including a "Lifetime Achievement & Humanitarian Medallion" by the World Peace and Harmony Organization in New York. and serves in the various programming panels at the National Arts Council, People's Association and the National Youth Council. He is accompanied in this recording by his student, Raghavendran Rajasekaran, recently awarded First Prize in National Indian Music Competition (Flute open Category) held by NAC in 2011.
Phakchok Rinpoche
STORY 5: ASANGA
Phakchok Rinpoche is the Supreme Head of the Taklung Kagyu lineage, the Abbot of a monastery in Chapagaon in the southern Kathmandu Valley, and the Head of Riwoche Monastery in Tibet's Dokham region. Born 1981 to Chokling Rinpoche and wife Dechen Paldron, Phakchok Rinpoche is grandson of Tulku Ugyen Rinpoche and the eldest brother of the Yangsi Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He is concurrently Vajra Master of Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery in Boudhanath, Kathmandu, Abbot of Do-ngak Nyida Zungdrel Sherab Raldri Ling Monastery (Nepal) and Pal Kagyu Shedrub Tashi Dhargye Phuntsok Ling Monastery, and President of Rangjung Yeshe Shenpen Nepal, a volunteerbased, non-profit organization.
Tsuyoki Fukui & Yumiko Ogawa
Tsuyoki Fukui was born in Kyoto in 1957, whose parents are both art painters. He loved to play the bamboo flute in the forest since he was a child, “The vibration of the forest reverberated through me” and the experience of the forest helped and nurtured his childhood. He came across a wonderful bamboo tree and made a bamboo flute out of it on a new moon day. He wish is to send his resonance with nature found in the forest to his listeners – its sacredness, its wonders, and its beauty, connected with the throbbing hearts of all. Since meeting with Yumiko Ogawa, they started a collaboration and created a music unit FOREST (森のひびき) in 2005, both performers have held more than 50 concerts a year, performing with musical instruments such as Bamboo flute, Irish harp, piano, drum and etc. In addition, they also conduct 'Inner Peace Gathering', a kind of spiritual workshop with live music, all over Japan and in other countries.
Fero Aldiansya Stefanus was born in Jakarta in 1988. At 11 years of age, he was in Yayasan Rossi Musik Jakarta under the Australian Music Examination Board Curriculum, majoring in Electone and Fundamentals of Music Theory. He studied brass instruments and ensemble conducting with Tony Suwandi, later with Otto Sidharta and Prof. Bernd Asmus, and specializing in classical trumpet at Pelita Harapan University. Fero is Catholic, a church organist, a music teacher in Bina Bangsa School (培民学校) & Santa Theresia School, music director of South Jakarta Community Choir, music director of Teater Koma, and music composition private teacher.
Fero Aldiansya Stefanus
Ani Choying Drolma
STORY 5: ASANGA
STORY 6: BANYAN
Ani Choying Drolma is a Nepalese Buddhist nun renowned for her numerous humanitarian efforts including the education of young girls, care of old people, and providing medical services for the underprivileged and dispossessed. Ani performs worldwide singing traditional and modernized Buddhist chants as well as Nepali and Tibetan songs. She has setup Ani Foundation, The Arya Tara School, built Nepal’s first kidney hospital and she runs a boarding school for girls.
Frank Steiner, Jr.
Frank Steiner, Jr. was born in Freiburg, Germany in 1966. He now focuses primarily on composing. In 1990 Steiner met Ulrich Gitschier from whom he learned the background of Far Eastern religions, cultural roots and music. Steiner was fascinated with his newfound knowledge, especially Indian and Chinese Music, and began to compose works with these ethnic influences.
The degree to which Steiner was able to absorb the wisdom of the 5,000-year-old text of the I Ching is evident in I Ching Symphony. Steiner worked with musicians playing both acoustic and electronic instruments giving the recording both a traditional and contemporary feeling and one in harmony with the contemplative nature of the ancient oracle..