ダライ・ラマ、８５歳の誕生日に「ファーストアルバム」発表

【ニューデリーＡＦＰ＝時事】チベット仏教の最高指導者ダライ・ラマ14世が85歳を迎えた6日、ファーストアルバムをリリースした。（写真はダライ・ラマ14世。インド・ブッダガヤにて）
　「内なる世界（インナーワールド、Ｉｎｎｅｒ　Ｗｏｒｌｄ）」と題されたアルバムには、ダライ・ラマ１４世による瞑想（めいそう）の祈りや仏教の教えが収録されている。ニュージーランドのミュージシャンで信徒のジュネル・クニン氏による説得が実を結び、５年の制作期間を経て発表に至った。
　クニン氏によると、レコーディング現場でのダライ・ラマ１４世は「明確なビジョンを持って作品づくりと向き合っていた」という。同氏は「マントラ（真言）も収録されているが、宗教的な作品ではない。ただ、聞く人を前向きにさせたり、癒やしや英知、力が与えられたりする作品にしたかった」と話す。
　アルバムの宣伝動画で、デビューを決意した理由を聞かれたダライ・ラマ１４世は「私の人生の目的は、可能な限り人々に奉仕することだからだ」と語った。
　インド北部ダラムサラにあるチベット亡命政府のロブサン・センゲ首相はアルバムについて、新型コロナウイルスのパンデミック（世界的な大流行）が発生する中で「多くの人の精神的癒やし」になることを期待していると述べた。
　センゲ氏によると、ダライ・ラマ１４世は新型ウイルスによるロックダウン（都市封鎖）の期間を最大限に生かし、「休暇のように」過ごしているという。同氏は「ロックダウンによって、ダライ・ラマ１４世は静かに過ごしながら、聖典を読むことや毎日の祈りに時間を使うことができ、霊的に非常に充実している。彼は８５歳になり、必要な静養を取っている」と述べた。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/07/08-13:23）

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama launched an assault on the music charts on Monday by releasing his first album to mark his 85th birthday.
Inner World, in which the Dalai Lama chants meditations and Buddhist sayings, was inspired by New Zealand follower Junelle Kunin who spent five years working on the project after persuading him to take part.
The Dalai Lama went to her home in Auckland three times and she recorded some sessions at his residence in Dharamsala in India, where the Tibetan government in exile is based.
He had a clear vision with this work and has been very committed to it, Kunin, who produced the music with her husband Abraham, told the Radio New Zealand programme Nine to Noon.
It's not a religious project although they are mantras. It's really just a work to try and benefit people. So I thought about what we need day-to-day -- courage and healing and wisdom and so forth so that's the path we went down.
The Dalai Lama has won the Nobel Peace prize, is the best-selling author of a number of books and has been depicted in a number of Hollywood movies, but his involvement with music has been rare.
He appeared at the Glastonbury rock festival in England five years ago with US rock singer Patti Smith when she sang for his 80th birthday.
On a video to promote the album, the Dalai Lama was asked why he had agreed to take part, and answers: I can say the very purpose of my life is to serve as much as I can.
Lobsang Sangay, president of the Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharamsala, said he hoped the album would contribute in calming minds and nerves of many people as the coronavirus pandemic rages around the world.
He also said the Dalai Lama was making the most of the lockdown and treating it like a vacation of sorts.
The lockdown is very good for him. He can now go into retreat, go through all his scriptures and daily prayers... He is a spiritual in heart. He is getting the needed rest, he is 85 years old, Sangay told AFP.
Hollywood star Richard Gere, British pop singer Annie Lennox and comedian Russell Brand were among international celebrities to join special birthday greetings in a video on Facebook.