Traditional Buddhist monks captivated Lakeland students at a recent convocation, bringing with them Tibetan song and dance which date back over 2500 years.
On March 21 in the Bradley building, Lakeland students were exposed to unique and rare cultural traditions that have been witnessed by few Americans.
“It reminded me a lot of the temples back home [in Japan]… I really felt back at home mentally and spiritually watching [the monks] perform,” Senior History Major Alex Dudek said.
The monks mostly performed dances and the event lasted for over an hour. The dances varied, and each one was a manifestation of religious philosophical beliefs.
Every dance was unique and captivating. The troop consisted of eight monks, all of whom hailed from the Drepung Loseling Monastery, the spiritual home of the Dalai Lama.
“It’s very unique and very interesting at the same time, [the monks’] ability to sing with the unusual tones really interested me,” Sophomore Education Major Andy Crivellone said.
One of the more invigorating performances consisted of several monks dancing around while asking questions of an older monk. At the conclusion of every question they would clap, symbolically thanking the monk for making them more whole spiritually and knowledgeably.
Yet another dance involved two of the monks climbing into a snow tiger suit and performing a dance as a manifestation of the animal, a reference to the symbolic meaning behind the snow tiger, which is enlightenment.
The monks have spent many years training to perfect their performances, including stretching their vocal cords so that they are able to sing certain tonal notes completely unique to the people of Central Asia.
Through many years of training and dedication, the monks became performance qualified, and are not allowed to perform these traditional dances in public until they reach this certain expertise. The Lakeland community witnessed performances that were literally years in the making and bordering on near perfection.
The troop travels throughout the United States and other western countries, raising funds for the monks back home as well as sharing their traditions for the entertainment of western audiences.
Living a very simple life, the monks depend upon these profits to carve out a sustainable life for themselves and their fellow monks.
Despite the great cultural differences, it appeared that Lakeland students greatly enjoyed the convocation.