When Drukmo Gual—singer, Tibetan medicine practitioner, and mental health counselor—appeared on my YouTube feed, I knew I had found a gem. Her voice and her presence create an atmosphere of serenity. When I heard her leading Om Mani Peme Hu, that becaame the clear first choice for this Moments of Peace page. No matter how many times you have listened to and chanted this mantra, I think you’ll find her version captivating.

Take 15 minutes, click on the image, close your eyes, and lose yourself in the sound.

I hope it brings you peace as well as compassion.

Om Mani Peme Hum

Dakini Mantra

Chogyal Rinpoche is a contemporary Tibetan Buddhist master in the Karma Kagyu lineage, known as a scholar, a socially engaged teacher working especially in Nepal, Europe, and Asia, and as a philanthropist whose work includes using his musical talents to heal. About this recordning, he said:

Chöd practice and Machig Labdron represent for me the feminine nature of enlightenment state and energy.

Chöd is Tibetan for cutting or cutting through. It is a practice devoted to cutting through attacvhment to ego and other hindrances. Machig Labdron (1055-1149), one of the most loved teachers in Tibetam Buddhist history, established several lineages of Chöd in that country.

Chogyal recorded the dakini mantra—Om a hung bam guru ha ri ni sa siddhi hung—in recognition of the feminine in Buddhism. It begins with the sound of a trumpet to cut through our attachments before listening and chanting if we feel moved to.

May this help recording help you cut through any attachments that hold you back from awakening.

Ubunto Voices

Ubunto is it is a common noun in several Bantu languages meaning “humnkind” and is sometimes expressed as “I am because we are.” Vbuntu Voices is a creative music project producing sacred African choral music and a cappella vocal journeys rooted in harmony, breath, and communal presence.

About this video, the group says:

This piece is built entirely from vocal harmony and call and response.
No instruments, no percussion—just voices in unity.

How About a Moment of Joy?

For these Moments of Peace, I thought I’d be posting soothing mantras and guided meditations you could close your eyes and relax to. I’ve got more of those to come, , but taking time for joy is also needed. We can all use more moments of peace and joy in our lives.

I couldn’t resist offering you this seven-minute respite from whatever is troubling you today. If you haven’t watched it, take in this 20-year-old woman performing flawlessly on ice for the joy of it—joy you can see in her face and her motions. If you have seen it before, sit back, take a break, and lose yourself in it once again.

May all beings find such joy!