When asked why Dalai Lama accepted the request to make the album, he answered, “The very purpose of my life is to serve as much as I can.” He also added, “Music can help people in a way that I can’t.”
The Tibetan spiritual leader has a message about the 'real source of happiness.': warm-heartedness and a concern for others. Inspired by the gifted New Zealand musician Junelle Kunin, the Dalai Lama hopes that Inner World can give people confidence in a world shaken by crises. The album was produced by Junelle and her husband Abraham, who composed the music, and on it, joins other musicians from around the world in playing more than 30 instruments. And of course, there is the Dalai Lama's voice.
The album can help people deal with emotional stress and addresses the Dalai Lama's key concerns — courage, healing, wisdom, purification, protection and humanity.
In this episode talented and wholehearted musician Junelle will take us on the journey of the birth of "Inner World" by sharing:
- her discoveries, challenges and growth while creating the music with Dalai Lama and her husband
- the vision and intention with the album
- how they put together sound experiences and choose instrumentation to embed Dalai Lama's sacred offerings
- what became possible through co-creating with partners
- how music can help us cultivating peace and educating the heart
- what she loves about the Māori culture in which she grew up and how they live their spirituality
“Music has the potential to transcend our differences. It can return us to our true nature of warm-heartedness” - The Dalai Lama
Enjoy the conversation!
Inner World was released on the Dalai Lama's 85th birthday, 6 July 2020. It is the first time a Dalai Lama has released recorded music. The album debuted on multiple Billboard Album Charts: #1 Billboard New Age Chart, #4 Top New Artist Album, #8 Billboard World Music, #13 Record Label Independent Album, #14 Current Digital Album, #17 Digital Album, #43 Top New Artist - Consumption, #55 Top Current Album, #98 Billboard Top Album, #125 Top Albums w/TEA
Net proceeds from the sales of Inner World will go to The Gaden Phodrang Foundation of the Dalai Lama (Switzerland) chosen programs: Social, Emotional and Ethical Learning (SEE Learning), an international K-12 education program and part of an academic collaboration between Emory University and His Holiness; and Mind & Life Institute, which brings science & contemplative wisdom together to better understand the mind & create positive change in the world.
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Links to Junelle's profiles:
Website: dalailamainnerworld.com
Instagram: @junellekunin, @innerworld, @dalailama
iTunes: Dalai Lama music.apple.com/us/artist/dalai-lama/1517021682
Spotify: Dalai Lama open.spotify.com/artist/6RXfTUnrji43vpU1AdK4up
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Junelle's medicine song inspiration: Choying Drolma - Cho
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=njRXFHzDES0