The Power of Compassion: 50th Anniversary Tour

Tibetan Buddhist Monks from the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery appear at Oxford Town Hall as they visit the UK on their 50th Anniversary Tour. 

From mesmerising Buddhist chants to swirling masked dances in ceremonial costumes and accompanied by the sound of ancient Tantric musical instruments, the monks evoke the atmosphere of sacred Tibet. The performance includes spoken explanations of the significance and stories behind the dances and prayers, providing a fascinating glimpse into an ancient cultural tradition far removed from modern Western society. 

The Power of Compassion

For nearly five hundred years since Tashi Lhunpo Monastery was founded in Tibet by the First Dalai Lama the unique Buddhist tradition of prayers, Tantric rituals, music and dance has been offered by monks, inaccessible to all but the most fortunate. Fifty years ago, forced from their homeland by the Chinese occupation of Tibet, the monastery was re-established in India, where this great tradition continues in exile.

Eight Tibetan monks are now able to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the rebuilding of their monastery in India and share this dazzling spiritual culture with audiences in the west in THE POWER OF COMPASSION, a programme of masked dance, music and Tantric ritual. This performance offers an insight into the mystical world of Tibet, featuring traditional Tibetan musical instruments, the sound of sacred mantras, and elaborate, colourful costumes. The performance is accompanied by an explanation of the significance and stories behind the dances and prayers, and provides a fascinating glimpse into an ancient cultural tradition far removed from modern Western society.

‘A psychedelic whirl of chanting, dancing, drums & cymbals‘ The Times

‘A rich tradition of sacred dance music and song…[t]he physical and the spiritual in equal balance‘ The Guardian

‘What Humanity needs right now‘ Songlines Magazine

‘Festival favourites whenever they venture from their exile base in southern India‘ Financial Times

‘A magical universe of reincarnation and release‘ The Independent