Nobody would associate the Dalai Lama with music much less writing or composing a Grammy award winning composition, but he came up trumps at the 68th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles with the Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling.
Typically, when told about the award he received it with his trade mark style.
“I receive this recognition with gratitude and humility…… I truly believe that peace, compassion, care for our environment, and an understanding of the oneness of humanity are essential for the collective well-being of all eight billion human beings. I’m grateful that this Grammy recognition can help spread these messages more widely.”
The album weaves together recordings of the Dalai Lama’s thoughts on mindfulness, compassion, harmony, and physical and mental well-being, captured over several years.
The million dollar question is how the Dalai Lama got nominated for the Grammys. Tibet.net quoted Rolling Stone magazine as saying that several tracks stood out for their timely themes. On water, for instance, the Dalai Lama shared the environmental changes had had witnessed since childhood in Tibet and the need to urgently protect natural resources.
Another track revolved around compassion which the Dalai Lama describes as essential for spiritual growth and the survival of humanity no less.
The project’s musical dimension plays a key role in its Grammy eligibility. The album features contributions from internationally acclaimed artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Maggie Rogers, and Andra Day, who lent their voices to selected tracks, Tibet.net said.
Producer Kabir Sehgal said that the choice of collaborators was intentional, as he wanted artists whose work or academic interests intersected with philosophy and spirituality. According to Kabir, the goal was to frame the Dalai Lama’s wisdom in a soundscape that feels contemporary while remaining respectful of its roots.
His Holiness collaborated with sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan and his sons Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash, on the album blending spoken words and music. They have collaborated several times in the past. The final 10 tracks were curated by Sehgal after listening to over 100 hours of His Holiness’ recordings.
Age, the Dalai Lama is 90, prevented him from personally receiving the award but those close to him said the award was not so much a personal accolade as an attempt to reach out to a younger generation.
