Losar Tashi Delek to all High Peaks Pure Earth readers around the world! We hope the year of the Water Hare 2150 has started well.
Our first post of the Tibetan new year is a music video called “Homeland” (Phayul) by model and singer from Amdo, Rinchen Dolma. Notably the song is composed by established singer and musician, also from Amdo, Gar Samdup Tsering whose music we have featured in the past.
Many thanks to our anonymous translator for translating the song lyrics and the personal introduction below.
The singer Rinchen Dolma is not that well known, at least outside of Tibet. She appeared on the ‘Tibet Stars’ show and performed this incredibly thought-provoking and emotional song. More recently, she sang it again on Amdo TV Losar and extended her greetings to Tibetans outside Tibet. The song is called ‘Homeland’ which is in a way redefined and reasserted what it means. As we know, the physical characteristics of Tibet have dramatically changed under Chinese occupation. What our home is is very difficult to define for many of us Tibetans as stateless and displaced people. However, this song with a modern melody yet authentic Tibetan voice and tune takes you into the deepest part of your consciousness to rediscover your home which is the unbroken lineage passed from your parents into you that is intrinsically linked with the Tibetan mountain ranges and the rivers.
“Homeland” By Rinchen Dolma
“Homeland”
Lyrics: Gangpal
Melody: Gar Samdup Tsering
Singer: Rinchen Dolma
Remembering the transformation of my consciousness
Into a rainbow body, I recall my homeland
Although this plain of my little heart gets cold
It is the gentle form of my home raised by the sun and the moon
I have my parents there
I have the blessing from the sun and the moon
I have all the conscientiousness there
I have love in my bones
When I was born here, my kind father had me entrusted with the snow mountain
And said, ‘My dear, your mind must be as white as the snow’
When I was born here, my kind mother had me entrusted to the rivers
And said, ‘My dear, your thought must be as pure as the rivers’
I have my parents there
I have the blessing from the sun and the moon
I have all the conscientiousness there
I have love in my bones
When I was born here, my kind father had me entrusted to the birth mountain
And said, ‘You must be as indestructible as the mountains’
When I was born here, my kind mother had me entrusted to the grasslands
And said, ‘Your heart must be vaster than the grasslands’
[Translation published on High Peaks Pure Earth]
Rinchen dolma is khampa not amdo
Thanks for letting us know! Do you know which part of Kham she is from?