Just spent a wondefuly uplifting day at the Samye Ling monastery in Scotland. I am not Buddhist or any other organised religion but I do enjoy the peace of churches and temples. I must say that I found the temple at Samye Ling very peaceful and calm but perhaps no more so than the old chapels in the Yorkshire dales or the grand Cathederals of many western cities.

Coming back to my point what I found missing a little at Samye Ling was sacred music. Apart from the traditional chants, bells and gongs there was little by way of anything to raise the spirit, so to speak, in terms of music. Is there any music that goes with the Buddhist life? Can anyone point me in the right direction? I do enjoy the Chinese music we use when practising Tai Chi and QiGong but I suspect that may be secular rather than religous. Particulary is there anything that could be converted to western instruments, hence the concertina question. Something perhaps that could be linked in any celebrations of an interdenominational nature?

Perhaps it is me. Perhaps the chants, bells and gongs do it for most people but, having been brought up on the wonderful music of Russian Orthodoxy and haunting Latin Catholocism I find it seems a little pale by comparison. Anyone want to put me straight?

Cheers

Dave the Gnome