I'm writing in the wake of the tragedy at the Pulse night club in Orlando this past Monday in the early morning hours. The photo above I found on line,
and I give thanks to the photographer, who is unknown to me.
I am writing this and posting the song below to send my love to all those in Orlando and those around the world who are touched by this event: to the spirits of those who died, to the friends and family of those killed, to the people who are in the hospital recovering from wounds sustained in the shooting, to members of the Orlando LGBTQ community and their friends and allies all around the world in the movement we are all a apart of, for the liberation of all beings. I also send my love to those who, like the killer in Orlando, are confused by their minds, who see violence as a viable way to end their own suffering, when all the evidence of thousands of years of human life on earth points to the truth that violence can never end our suffering. Only the discovery of the love within us can do that.
The song below is called Medicine Buddha Chant. It is a Tibetan chant to Bhaisajyaguru, the Buddha of healing and medicine in Mahayana Buddhism. He is a healer on all levels...a healer of sickness in the body and mind and ultimately, a spiritual healer in that he points people to the awakening to their true being. I find it to be a very healing melody and powerful chant to uncover the tenderness of the heart. I learned it from Abraham and Halima Sussman at a retreat they led in Durham, NC this year. This recording is of the Durham Bodies, Voices & Spirit Chorus singing it with me. The words and translation are below the sound file.
May those touched by this tragedy know that around the world millions of people are opening their hearts to you right now. Namaste, Kathleen
Bekendzay, Bekendzay
Maha Bekendzay
Randza Samugate Soha!
Like this, Wish Fulfilling One
Healer, Healer, Great Healer
Perfectly Awakened, So Be It!
I just found out where Abraham Sussman learned this chant. It was from Philip Tansen O'Donohue. You can hear him singing it in his beautiful healing voice on youtube at this link
.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Yku47ikC0 The recording is from Philip's album called Lapis Blue. I've never met Philip. He lives in the UK, and he leads spiritual dance and Sufi meditation. I hope I get to dance and sing with him sometime. Below is Philip's photo, and a link to his website, where there is info about his three albums.