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here in byron bay, australia, we had the honour to welcome the gyuto monks of tibet to our ecstatic chant retreat.
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they blessed the gathering with a powerful chanting ceremony and gifted us a prayer wheel they had made two days before!
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the retreat is located at this beautiful beach, so there is plenty of opportunity to enjoy the ocean air before the morning sessions
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participants return year after year - it has become a meeting place of friends
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after the workshop we played a free concert at the foot of the largest peace stupa in australia, located at the crystal castle. here's how it looked at 3 pm during set-up time - sun shining...
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and just as we were about to begin the rain came...
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...but as soon as we began chanting it cleared up...
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...and we celebrated...with guest musicians amir paiss and kamal. also playing with us was rob stevenson (piano) and gary dozier (guitar) unfortunately, not in the picture. 1,400 people joined us for a magical night of communal bliss
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manose and friend took time out to enjoy the brunswick river
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...while deva began recording our new album - mantras for life
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an auspicious visitor honoured our new project
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a few pix of our local village, mullumbimby
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author of the inspirational book 'the four agreements' - don miguel ruiz visited byron bay on his australian lecture tour. we spent a special afternoon drinking tea, eating (raw) cake, sharing stories, and chanting!
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after the conversation and the food, the music
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our spiritual brothers baba and maharaj invited us to do a photo session at their shikara design store in byron bay. they have a warehouse full of the most amazing original indian art and furniture. they also do great charity work in india it was a fun session - they have a great sense of humour as you will see from the youtube clip! - and if you're looking for authentic indian and balinese art and furniture, look no further - they deliver to your door.
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deva and our business manager hannah, sample the beautiful kashmiri carpets
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manose makes friends with this exquisite marble statue of krishna
