November 4th Event - Divine Love in the Mystic Garden
We are travelers on the Earth. Our Creator wants us to live in this beautiful garden in the galaxy, with the song of love and unity resounding in our hearts. However, we have lost this melody for a long time. Today, Mystic Voice and Friends will invoke a world of divine love, truth, beauty and harmony coming from the Origin of Life in many traditions, taking us on a journey to our eternal home. May this divine melody resonate in your heart and awaken a forgotten memory:
WE ARE LOVE, WE ARE ONE.
Time: November 4th, Saturday 7:00 PM
Location: Claremont Presbyterian Church, 1111 N Mountain Ave, Claremont, CA 91711.
Program
Opening: Blessings by Javier Ramirez, spiritual leader of the Gabrielino-Shoshone tribe
Part 1 The Concert - Sacred Chants: Oneness through many traditions
Chapter 1 In the Beginning (Hebrew)
Chapter 2 God’s Blessing (English)
Chapter 3 Ode of Love (Persian)
Chapter 4 The Supreme Mantra (Sanskrit)
Chapter 5 The Ancient Tao (Chinese)
Chapter 6 A Healing Prayer (Arabic)
Chapter 7 Journey Home (Sanskrit)
Intermission
Part 2 The Dialogue - Building a beloved community
A dialogue between the creators and the audience led by Pastor Karen on the impact of the concert, questions and answers, and conversations on building an all inclusive peaceful and loving community helping each other and addressing the needs of all.
Closing
This event is sponsored by the Claremont Presbyterian Church,
and supported by the Defense Arts Center in Upland and the Human Values Center, and many other friends and organizations.
The Creators
Lixin the Mystic Voice
Lixin, known as Mystic Voice is a world renowned sacred chanting master of many traditions and founder of Journey of Harmony recognized by UNESCO. Her emphasis on world unity is reflected in the seven languages she chants: Sanskrit, Persian, Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese, English, and Korean. Her concerts are spontaneous co-creations with musicians from many cultural and musical backgrounds, fusing her wind-flowing chanting with new world music. A Messenger of Love and Voice of the Spirit, Mystic Voice has held interfaith, intercultural healing concerts in conflict zones, music halls, sacred sites, national stages and international festivals, connecting the cultures, healing the land and hearts, and transforming community through music inspired by sacred poetry, retelling myths and legends from many lands. She is called "Moon of Hope and Peace" in Israel, "Bodhisattva's Voice of Compassion" in Korea, "Divine Flute" in India, “Voice from Heaven" in China, "Nightingale of Love" in Iran, and "Madonna of Spiritual Music" in Germany. Mystic Voice is also a Tai Chi master, a meditation teacher, a scholar on mysticism of world religions, a linguist, a cross cultural communication expert, an author and a sought after speaker for her wisdom and experience.
“Mystic Voice & Friends” is an ensemble established since 2012, composed of sacred chanting master Mystic Voice and professional musicians and artists of all forms around the world from diverse cultural backgrounds. The music genres range from Classical, Traditional, World, Jazz, Blues, Reggae & Funk, to Rap and Ambient. The constantly changing composition of this ensemble reflects its unique characteristics: creativity, innovation, authenticity, unity in diversity.
Hao Huang the pianist and producer
Currently the endowed Bessie and Cecil Frankel Chair in Music at Scripps College, Professor Hao Huang has served as a four-time United States Information Agency Artistic Ambassador. He has been globally acclaimed in twenty-nine countries in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. Winner of the Overman Foundation first prize, the Van Cliburn Piano Award at Interlochen, the Leonard Bernstein Scholarship at Harvard, the Frank Huntington Beebe Grant for European Study, Dr. Huang was a Fulbright Scholar in Music and American Studies at Eötvös Lorand University in Hungary.
Ami Radunskaya the cellist
Ami Radunskaya is a professor of mathematics at Pomona College and past president of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM). Radunskaya began playing the cello at 9. After graduating from high school at 16, she took ten years off from her education to work as cellist in the Oakland Symphony Orchestra and as a music composer. As "a well-known Bay Area cellist specializing in new music", she performed throughout the U.S. and Europe with Don Buchla.
Angel Lin the percussionist
Angel Lin is a percussionist, drummer, and artist based in the LA area. Angel has recorded and performed professionally throughout Southern California and other parts of the US with an eclectic range of songwriters and improvisers, in addition to creating sound sculptures and composing their own experimental percussion-based music.
Javier Ramirez Gabrielino, Spiritual leader of Gabrielino-Shoshone tribe
Javier Ramírez is a Lenka-Poton from her mother’s side, Nawat-Techoncho from his father’s side and Gabrielino Shoshone by traditional adoption. He has earned two master’s degrees in Latin American Studies with focus in history and political science of the region, and in Anthropology with an emphasis in Indigenous diaspora and immigration process of Central Americans. He has worked with various community organizations providing health and social services to diverse communities in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Currently he is a member of the Gabrielino Shoshone Nation of Southern California Tribal Council and Spiritual Leader of the tribe.
Ty Aponte and the Defense Arts Center in Upland ( http://defense-arts-center.com/ )
Shihan Aponte is the founder/master instructor of the Defense Arts Center in Upland and heads the Claremont Colleges and University of La Verne Shotokan Karate/self defense elective Physical Education programs. Orphaned at a tender age, and found salvation in martial arts since the age of 12, Shihan Aponte rose to excellence in Shoktan Karate and is one of the few to take First Place in Kata (1985) at the highly competitive Ozawa International Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada, prevailing over 75 other Black belts.
Shihan Aponte will re-enact the role of Shariputra (Buddha’s prominent disciple) in the Heart Sutra together with his students enacting as the meditating monks, and the four guardians of the Temple of Mystic Voice.
Mingshan the Creative Director (South Korea)
Mingshan is a Korean monk, poet, scholar, spiritual master and author of many works. He is the creative director for Journey of Harmony for 17 years. He supports from a monastery in South Korea with advice for the creative process.
Sacred Text in the Concert (translation)
Chapter 1 The Creation of Heaven and Earth (Hebrew)
In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.
Now the earth was unformed and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep;
and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters.
And God said: 'Let there be light.' And there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.
- Genesis 1:1-1:4
Chapter 2 God’s Blessing (English)
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another:
just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
- New Testament John 13:34
Chapter 3 Ode of Love (Persian)
If face to face we meet,
and eye to eye we talk,
I would recount my woe of love,
point by point, thread by thread.
In separation from thee,
the tears of blood are flowing from my eyes,
in torrent after torrent, river after river,
wave after wave, stream after stream.
Tahirih repaired to her own heart,
page by page, line by line,
veil by veil, fold by fold,
and saw none in there but thee.
- Tahirih, Iranian poetess (1817-1852)
Chapter 4 The Supreme Mantra (Sanskrit)
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva (Buddha’s enlightened disciple),
while practicing deeply Praja Partamita (the transcendent wisdom),
perceives that
all five Skandhas are empty in their essence,
and is saved from all distress and suffering.
“Listen Sariputra (Buddha’s prominent disciple),
Form does not differ from Emptiness,
Emptiness does not differ from Form.
Form is Emptiness,
Emptiness is Form.
The same is also true of Feelings,
Perceptions, Imprints,
and Consciousness.
“Therefore, Sariputra,
know that
Praja Paramita
is the greatest transcendent mantra,
the most luminous mantra,
the utmost mantra,
the supreme mantra.
It can extinguish all suffering.
It is true, not false.
Therefore let’s proclaim this great Mantra:
Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha!”
(Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone altogether beyond, become awakened! )
- Buddhist Scripture “the Heart Sutra”
Chapter 5 The Ancient Tao (Chinese)
Look, It can’t be seen; It’s called the imperceptible.
Listen, It can’t be heard; It’s called the inaudible.
Reach, It can’t be grasped; It’s called the unattainable.
These three characteristics cannot be completely unraveled, so they are enmeshed into one.
Above, It’s not bright. Below, It’s not dark.
Seamless, unnamable, It returns to the realm of nothingness.
Form without a form, image without an image, subtle, beyond all conception.
Approach it, there is no beginning; follow it, there is no end.
Wield the Tao of the ancients, to manage the existence of today.
One can know the ancient beginning, which is called the Tao Axiom.
- Tao Te Ching Chapter 14
Chapter 6 A Healing Prayer (Arabic)
Thy name is my healing, O my God,
and remembrance of Thee is my remedy.
Nearness to Thee is my hope,
and love for Thee is my companion.
Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come.
Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
- Bahá’u’lláh
Chapter 7 Journey Home (Sanskrit)
O my Lord,
O primeval philosopher,
maintainer of the universe,
O regulating principle,
goal of the devotees,
well-wisher of the children of mankind,
please remove the effulgence of Your transcendental rays,
so that I can see Your blissful Form.
You are the eternal Supreme Godhead,
like unto the Sun,
so am I.
O my Lord, as powerful as fire,
Omnipotent One,
now I offer You all my adoration,
falling at Your Lotus Feet.
O my Lord,
please lead me on the right path to reach You.
Since You know all my past actions,
please free me from the karmas,
so that I may reach You and praise You forever.
- Isopanisad Mantra 16, 18