TIPA artistes are invited by Vox Pacis, in Sweden from 6th August to 24th August 2008. We had memorable experienced and wonderful performance with different artistes from different countries.
Vox Pacis had invited about 130 artists including Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and North America to perform together with 250 singers, musicians and dancers from Sweden – a unique collaboration between the great religions and cultures of the world. The crescendo of the performance is the inauguration of a newly written Cantata“A Challenge to Humanity”, unique in its way of mingling the different musical languages of the world’s religions in the name of peace. There exists a clear risk that climate change, the threat of nuclear weapons and the oil crisis have the potential to trigger ever more serious conflicts. The next fifty years may well be decisive for the future of mankind and the world. Vox Pacis is to remind us of the common denominator between the civilizations. In today’s world, we cannot afford for religion and culture to set people against each other. The musical miracle created by the artists of Vox Pacis is proof that you can work together across borders. Is it possible for the most sacred within each culture and religion meets with the holiness of the other? Vox Pacis artists, dedicated to contribute to answering this question, are rooted in Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Other elements of the performance are Tibetan throat singing, Chinese choirs, Sami joik, Sufi desert song and sacred dance.
A Challenge to Humanity
The Whole choir
Is it possible that we have lived so long on this earth
that we have had thousands of years to think, see and write
that we have let millenniums pass
without learning how to love one another?
Inspite of culture, religion, discoveries,
inventions and worldly wisdom
we continue on the surface of life
to scorn and despise, and to use
violence at every provocation!
Accusing chorus:
Our anger is fresh and sharp
They are the apostles of
the same murderous god.....
they massacre each other
with guns knives swords
they bludgeon each other to death!
Another Chorus:
Start with yourself
not with the others!
You must change!
Understand yourself
Then forget yourself
and work for the world around you
Megalomania!
Water is privatized
Nature is violated
Populations deplaced
Billions excluded
Technical hybris
Global poverty
Women abused
Children killed
animals wiped out
money rules our world!
Female voices
Where are you, Adam?
What are you doing?
Where do you stand?
Where are you in your world?
How far have you reached?
What is your position?
Accusing Chorus
The age is knife
Kings are butchers
They dispense justice
when their palms are filled
Decency and laws have vanished
falsehood stakes abroad!
A chorus of ancients
To change oneself is to change the world
True insight is the only thing that awails
Strengthen the will, sharpen the intention
Love, wholeness, unity, action, not words
THERE IS A HEART IN EVERYBODY
-IF WE TOUCH IT THEY WILL UNDERSTAND
An obstinate chorus
How can they worship a god
who permits genocide,
stoning, apartheid
torture, evil doing,
holocaust pogroms
subordination of women
cruelty to children
neglect of animails?
A religious chorus
We ourselves are responsible
We act out of our free will
The religions of the world
must be working together
for justice and human rights
HORIZONS ARE WIDER, DANGERS ARE GREATER!
The nuclear threat!
The climate change!
Our foe will be earth itself
forests will burn for days,
the wind will spread the flames,
carbon dioxide,
the ozone layer,
rivers will turn to poison
Nature is sacred,
We have dominated it
Harmony with nature
is the aim of all religion.
Science and knowledge
is part of the religious project.
We are guardians of the earth.
We must work together
to balance man and nature.
Enough of phrases, concerts and metaphors
I want burning, burning, burning
Be prepared to suffer for justice
and for the rights of others...
struggle against evil systems
that segregate and discriminate
encourage women to fight
for their sovereign partnership
encourage men to fight for
wome's rights
but with love in our hearts!
The only prayer certain to be answered
Is that for others, also for enemies!
From the quicksands of racial injustice
to the solid rock of brotherhood
from the shame and tears of violation
to the strong bonds of sisterhood
and the flowering of women's talents,
From human bondage and slavery
from killings and genocide
let our concerted will save us
starting with our own slavery
to selfish lusts and greeds
Fight for the freedom of others
we all thirst for freedom
all human beings are equal.
We must be keepers of each other's image
guardians of one another's right
we must feel hurt on other people's behalf
we must go beyond ourselves!
If we meet this challenge
we may create harmony between us
and develop true respect for one another
And there will be peace on earth!
BUT HOW ARE WE TO LOVE GOD?
The mystic voice:
My heart is capable of every form
A convent for Christian monks
A temple for idols
The pilgrim's Kaaba
The tables of the Torah
The book of the Koran, the Bible, Shastra, Bhagavad Gita, The Grant
Sahib, Tao, Pachamama, Varalda almaj
I follow the religion of Love
We do not want our windows shut
We want the winds of all faiths
to be blown about our house
as freely as possible.
Let us draw God into the world!
He wants to be let in!
God lives where He is let in!
Let God into the world!
THERE IS A HEART IN EVERYBODY
-IF WE TOUCH IT THEY WILL UNDERSTAND
NO FORCE IN RELIGION
Love is the force that moves the cosmos,
the sun, the moon and the other stars
The flame of love that fired me,
the wine of love inspired me
Listen, listen to the reed,
a memory of paradise
THE SEA OF LIFE IS HARD TO CROSS
HOW CAN WE SAFELY REACH THE OTHER SIDE?
And in the middle, with outspread wings
I saw a thousand angels making festival.
O light supreme so far exalted
give my tongue such power
that it may leave but a gleam of thy glory
to the people of the future.
Final Chorus
Lead us from death to life, from fear to trust
Lead us from hate to love, from war to peace
Let peace fill our hearts, our world, and our universe
Thursday, 7th August at 20:00
Sofia Church: A magic musical meeting between TIBET & FINLAND.
Concert between TIPA, Gyuto monks and women from Finland
Saturday, 9th August at 15:00 Ethnographic Museum: International Day of the World´s Indigenous People.
Performance with Sami artistes.
Thursday, 14th August at 19:00 Hogalid Church: Coptic & Gregorian music blended with Tibetan high tune singing.
Friday, 22nd August at 15:00 Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities: The Cultural Heritage of Dalai Lama.
19th to 21st August at 20:30 t0 23:00 at Sofia Church: Performance of "A Challenge to Humanity"
22nd to 23rd August at 20:30 t0 23:00 at The Blue Hall in Stockholm City Hall: Performance of "A Challenge to Humanity"
250 singers, musicians and dancers from Sweden – a unique collaboration between the great religions and cultures of the world. The crescendo of the performance is the inauguration of a newly written Cantata “A Challenge to Humanity”, unique in its way of mingling the different musical languages of the world’s religions in the name of peace. There exists a clear risk that climate change, the threat of nuclear weapons and the oil crisis have the potential to trigger ever more serious conflicts. The next fifty years may well be decisive for the future of mankind and the world. Vox Pacis is to remind us of the common denominator between the civilizations. In today’s world, we cannot afford for religion and culture to set people against each other. The musical miracle created by the artists of Vox Pacis is proof that you can work together across borders. Is it possible for the most sacred within each culture and religion meets with the holiness of the other? Vox Pacis artists, dedicated to contribute to answering this question, are rooted in Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Other elements of the performance are Tibetan throat singing, Chinese choirs, Sami joik, Sufi desert song and sacred dance. 
