Love Within Beyond – a review

LOVE WITHIN

BEYOND

Regula Curti, Tina Turner, Dechen Shak-Dagsay, and Sawani Shende-Sathaye

Dear friends, 

                  Ever since the first Beyond CD release I have been one of the greatest admirers of the Beyond projects. Since the beginning I felt that these projects are really extraordinary and God sent into our world at this time. Divine timing is not always understood by us humble and sometimes impatient human beings, yet our mysterious universe knows exactly when the time is right. I feel that humanity has recently entered a new level of consciousness. More and more people around the world are opening up to the idea of the subconscious level. Many people these days are realizing that we do not always depend on outside factors to have peace and tolerance in our world. Instead, each of us can contribute to it. Millions of people around the world are literally searching for tools to help themselves to become more aware of the world they live in and how to improve their lives. I feel that the Beyond projects remind us of likely some of the first and foremost virtues of life – love and faith. The Beyond projects help me to realize how simple a solution to our problems of daily life can be. The message is clear to me. The tool for their teachings is the universal language of music.

          Love Within contains prayers in different forms from Christian, Buddhist and Hindu traditions. Prayers have had powerful forces in the most positive way for eternity. Deep inside of us, we all pray. Some of us pray to higher powers, following a very specific approach of a particular world religion, others rather by themselves in their own ways. As different as those paths and ways may seem, at the end of the day we are all the same – human beings. All traditions and forms teach love. And yet, our world news is filled with wars and violence which roots are often based in religious conflicts. While we cannot change our world into a more positive one in one day, I believe we can all contribute something for more peace and tolerance in our world.

          This is exactly the message of Love Within and all Beyond projects for me. Through the harmonious combination and collaboration of the four female singers, Regula Curti, Tina Turner, Dechen Shak-Dagsay, and Sawani Shende-Sathaye, we, the listeners, are taught to go within. As we do so, we rediscover our often forgotten core values such as patience, tolerance, forgiveness, understanding, and unconditional love towards all living beings. We also discover the mother within ourselves. In philosophical and spiritual terms, a mother is often considered as positive, loving and caring form of energy inside of every person. I believe that, when we tap into this energy, we are able to express the love and care for others and ourselves. We are able to give and receive unconditional love as a true mother does. Many cultures also suggest religious figures one can worship as a mother. This can be a goddess, an angel, a deity, saint or a more general form of higher power or higher intelligence to find that unconditional love. Regardless of its name, I believe that it is a form of energy, which protects and loves us unconditionally. I believe that a true mother is someone who loves, teaches, inspires, and cares for others. We all have these qualities inside of us whether we choose to practice them in our world or not. However, I believe that when we do, we share that unconditional motherly love and help create a better world and better lives for everyone.

How do you do that?

          There are various ways to show us how to tap into this motherly energy. I believe we all come from unconditional love, that we are made of unconditional love and so we are unconditional love. I also believe that great people are born to share and teach this unconditional love for a better world. In my heart I believe that Regula Curti, Tina Turner, Dechen Shak-Dagsay, and Sawani Shende-Sathaye are such earth angels. They were sent to us to share and teach their unconditional love to the rest of us. Their alliance reminds me of the possibility of harmonization of different faiths, different cultures, and different generations.

          For those familiar with the Beyond projects, Love Within introduces new, exotic music with Sawani Shende-Sathaye coming from a rich culture and history, while providing familiar angelic sounds by Regula Curti and Tibetan chants by Dechen Shak-Dagsay. Nothing could be more proper in our global world than bringing different cultures together. To me their angelic voices touch my heart and soul in a way that helps me connect to this form of unconditional love. Each singer speaks to my heart in her own way; yet is a reminder that we are all the same. By the time Tina Turner joins the choir, I have tears in my eyes. Tina (Anna Mae as I like to call her as I like to think of the human being behind the stage persona), confirms this with her soft yet strong and voice. She reminds us that it is the music in our hearts, which keeps us going. Deep emotions of love emerge from the depths of my heart when I listen to these wise words. I feel the love of an Earth Mother, who shares her unconditional love which has supported her through her own struggles and pain. Not diminished by her trials and tribulations but filled with love and female power, she once again shows us the way to the Beyond. By returning to her roots of Gospel, I believe that she invites us into her heart to share what kept her strong and able to look beyond her life experiences and sufferings. I hear your message loud and clear. When I hear your voice and teachings, I go deep inside of me where I find the unconditional love for myself and others you talk about. When we sing Amazing Grace together and pray together, I feel the love that I have often thought I lacked in my life. Now I know that, no matter what happens in my life, I am love and I am loved. Love is essential to survive and live happy lives, to grow and to prosper. Love is the answer to a better, more peaceful world. Unconditional love is the way.

          My spirits are elevated, my faith is renewed. My fears and doubts dissolve as if by singing to me Regula, Dechen, Sawani and Tina (Anna Mae) reach out their hands and welcome me into their realms of unconditional motherly love. Once I have reached these heightened levels of awareness for myself, I am ready to go out into the world and reach out my hand to someone in need.

With Love Within, the Beyond projects just got another pair of wings to fly and share the message of Beyond. May Love Within sing into many hearts, lift many spirits and share unconditional love around the world. May we all be mothers within.

Love and peace,

Barbara

Copyright © 2014 by Barbara Bullock

Work cited:

Love Within – Beyond

http: http://www.beyond-foundation.org/love_within.php

Published 2014 by Beyond Foundation, under exclusive license to Deutsche Grammophon GmbH, Berlin, A UNIVERSAL MUSIC COMPANY.

The view from my window

When I look out of my window, I see the ocean sparkling in the evening sun. Every day the waves softly pound the beach in the distance. Palm trees are neatly aligned along the bay. There are only a few people left still walking in the sand. A couple is embracing and watching the sun set. A man is jogging along the shore as temperatures slowly begin to decrease and reach a comfortable range for a work out. Finally, a group of tourists is taking pictures of the famous bay. More and more people are coming out to see the gorgeous sunset. Perhaps some of these people come every day. Perhaps some of these people are here only once.

As the sun sets and kisses the horizon gently good night, I hear a sound. I hear the sound of the universe aligning itself and every being in it. The remaining golden sun light glares into my eyes. The city lights are slowly but surely turning on, one by one, as they do every day. Looking out over the hills of this beautiful place on earth I can see many gorgeous villas and properties. There are multi-million homes with huge infinity pools just as mine wherever I look. I feel a gentle breeze on my face. This is not an ordinary place. This is heaven on earth. I hear the sound of closure. As a beautiful day ends, stars start to appear in the evening sky. Twinkling from above my head, they shine down on me from another place and time. Looking towards the left, I can see the moon. It seems that it must be full moon soon. Shining down on planet earth, the moon remains a mystery to me. Powerful yet gentle, it provides light, protection and guidance for all night creatures out there.

At this time of the day, it is time for my evening practice. After closing my eyes and taking a couple of deep breaths, I start my chant. I chant for peace in the world and for happiness. I chant for good health and my loved ones. However, I also chant that one day I will really have such a window to look out of, see the beautiful sunset, and hear the sound of the universe.

Copyright © 2014 Barbara Bullock