MOD
About Messengers of Dharma
Messengers of Dharma (MOD) was formed in November 2004 and has to date produced 6 CDs i.e. the album Aspiration (May 2005), singles Jayamangala Gatha (May 2007), singles The Story of Dona (December 2007), Sing-Along Series 1 – Vesak (May 2010), Sing-Along Series 2 – Praise (February 2011) and Sing-Along Series 3 – Matrimony (May 2011). They also wrote and recorded the theme song Walking the Buddha’s Path (June 2008) for a local Buddhist Organisation. The group performs regularly in many Buddhist events to reach out to the public and share the wonderful teachings of the Buddha. Besides Buddhist songs, they also perform local folk songs and oldies in private events.
Aspiration Jayamangala Gatha Walking the Buddha’s Path
MOD is now working on a series of CDs based on the songs found in the Buddhist Hymn Book compiled by Datuk Dr. Victor Wee. The songs in each CD are grouped according to various themes and are intended to act as guide and lead in religious worship and fellowship sessions or events such as weddings and funerals. Besides the singing guide, the minus-one copies of these songs are appended as well. This series of low budget recorded CDs will be distributed free of charge.
For more information and pictures on Messengers of Dharma’s previous and on-coming outreach events, please check us out in facebook id: mod messengersofdharma or email us at messengers_od@yahoo.com.
The composer found inspiration in one video recording of the late Ven. Dr. K. Sri Dhammananda Nayaka Thera entitled “The Power of the Mind” in which the late Venerable spoke about the very nature of the Buddha. The late Venerable noted that till today, many people misconstrued the Buddha as a highly God-like personality while others thought that He was a normal human being. This song, with cleverly inserted snippets of the talk, weaves the story on how the Buddha explained this very highly developed nature in a simple manner.
The Story of Dona derived from Dona Sutta (Anggutara Nikaya) unfolded with the Brahmin Dona trailing the Buddha who was walking mindfully from Ukkhatta to Setabya. The Brahmin was awed by the thousand-spokes-wheel imprint found in the Buddha’s footprints and became extremely curious about it. At the rest area, the Brahmin approached the calmly seated Buddha and enquired if He is a god, celestial minstrel, nature spirit or just a plain human being. The Buddha denied categorically He is any of the beings mentioned as He has discarded the very roots of rebirth as any of these beings (or for that matter any other beings as well). The Buddha likened Himself as a lotus blooming out of the muddy world and is unsoiled by the very nature of this world of rebirth. Thus He has ‘Awakened’ or attained ‘Buddha-state’.
However, the path towards this state seems arduous and long but not unattainable. The Buddha spent countless eons mindfully cultivating all the perfections and worked tirelessly to eliminate fetters that kept Him within this cycle of rebirth. Through His selfless compassion, He did not only inform us that we too can be an ‘Awakened One’ but shared the information on how we can release ourselves from this cycle. The Buddha has given us the first step by showing us the way. Now it is up to us to follow.
| Songs 1. The Story Of Dona – Full |
| 2. The Story Of Dona – Medium |
| 3. The Story Of Dona – Short |
| 4. The Story Of Dona – Minus One |
>>Song Lyrics<<
MOD Sing-Along Series 1 – Vesak
The full moon day of Vesak month – the holiest day in the Buddhist calendar commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the historical Gautama Buddha. Songs related to Vesak depict the joy of worshippers in acts of worship besides recalling the glorious events that took place during the aforementioned three important events. These events remind us of the impermanent and fleeting nature of life but at the same time encourage us to improve ourselves constantly. The Buddha lives for us that He shared the wonderful Teaching which ultimately leads us to final Liberation. We too can be a Buddha one day if we aspire and strive diligently.
This album’s songs arrangement reflects the current contemporary music of the modern world without changing the essences of the lyrics and tune. We hope that you will find these songs inspirational and uplifting as we welcome this holy tri-sacred Vesak Day.
May the seed of Buddhahood sprout in the hearts of every beings and bloom in the full glory of Enlightenment.
Happy Vesak Day 2010.
| Songs | Minus Ones |
| 1. Hail Glorious Day | 13. Hail Glorious Day |
| 2. Holy Day of Wesak | 14. Holy Day of Wesak |
| 3. Wesak Dawn | 15. Wesak Dawn |
| 4. The Bodhi Day | 16. The Bodhi Day |
| 5. Softly Blew the Breezes | 17. Softly Blew the Breezes |
| 6. Light of Asia | 18. Light of Asia |
| 7. Lord Buddha Found the Truth | 19. Lord Buddha Found the Truth |
| 8. Thoughts | 20. Thoughts |
| 9. Wesak Day | 21. Wesak Day |
| 10. The Flower of Mankind | 22. The Flower of Mankind |
| 11. Day of Glory | 23. Day of Glory |
| 12. Welcome Joyous Wesak | 24. Welcome Joyous Wesak |
>>Song Lyrics<<
MOD Sing-Along Series 2 – Praise
We sing praises to the Buddha in honour of His esteemed qualities and achievements. For eons and countless lives, the Buddha strived diligently towards perfection by distancing Himself from unworthy deeds and instead performed good deeds. He developed His mind through meditation till He was predicted by the Buddha Dipankara that, one day, He too will become a Buddha.
We sing songs of praise to recall the great qualities of the Buddha so we may be like him. As we raise our voices clear and loud, let us fill our hearts and minds with happiness, bearing in mind His boundless love and sublime compassion. The Buddha pointed out the cause of our problems and went a step further by sharing with us how we could ultimately eradicate this cause and lead a happy life.
This album’s songs arrangement reflects the current contemporary music of the modern world without changing the essences of the lyrics and tune. We hope you find these songs inspirational and uplifting as we sing praises to honour our Guide, the Buddha.
May the seed of Buddhahood sprout in the hearts of every beings and bloom in the full glory of Enlightenment.
Happy Magha Puja Day 2011!
| Songs | Minus Ones |
>>Song Lyrics<<
MOD Sing-Along Series 3 - Matrimony
The Buddhist Wedding Service is an extension of the secular wedding ceremony. In the presence of relatives and friends, the bridal couple will seek blessing from monks in the nearby Buddhist temples. Such event is typically joyous filled with the chants of blessing stanzas, singing of Buddhist songs and finally a short advice on how to lead a happy and lasting marital life by the presiding Sangha member or elder.
The Buddha understood the problems related to marriage life and hence left innumerable guides in His Teachings for married couples to lead a happy and contented life together. In the Sigalovada Sutta (Digha Nikaya 31), the Buddha prescribed some useful tips on how spouses should treat one another in order to maintain a healthy marital relationship. In the Mangala Sutta (Sutta Nipata 2.4), the Buddha noted that the cherishing of partner in life is indeed a great blessing while in the Parabhava Sutta (Sutta Nipata 1.6) the Buddha cautioned partners from paths of recklessness that ultimately leads to the unhappiness and the breakdown of marriage institution.
This album’s songs arrangement reflects the current contemporary music of the modern world without changing the essences of the lyrics and tune. We hope you find these songs inspirational as we honour our Spiritual Teacher, the Buddha and as newly wedded bridal couples affirm their marriage vows in the presence of the image of the Blessed One.
May the seed of Buddhahood sprout in the hearts of every beings and bloom in the full glory of Enlightenment.
Happy Vesak Day 2011.
| Songs | Minus Ones |
>>Song Lyrics<<
MOD Sing-Along Series 4 – Inspiration
The Buddha is the greatest role model in history of mankind. As the Exalted One, His boundless love is incomparable to any others. He is the All-knowing One with the ability to communicate even the most complex concept in the universe into simple and easily understood phrases. Endowed with knowledge and virtue, The Buddha reminds us to against perpetrating any unwholesome deeds and encourages the performing of wholesome deeds. With firm morals, the mind can then be set free from all forms of distractions. As the Attainer, He has proven to us that we can all achieve the perceived unattainable through the purification of the mind using one’s own effort. Being the greatest Teacher, He understands each individual’s level of readiness to absorb the sublime Teaching and thus applied suitable techniques to ignite the spark of Enlightenment in each of us respectively. Even though He has left us many centuries ago, the Buddha left sufficient and useful tips how we can overcome life’s barriers and to achieve Realisation.
His legacy in the form of His Teachings will continue to be the beacon that shines in our life’s journey. There is something for everyone in these baskets of love and compassion and that will motivate us to remain steadfast. The biggest battle is not against the world but to conquer one’s inner greed, hate and delusional attributes.
This album’s songs arrangement reflects the current contemporary music of the modern world without changing the essences of the lyrics and tune. We hope you find these songs inspirational as we are inspired by our Spiritual Teacher, the Buddha.
May the seed of Buddhahood sprout in the hearts of every beings and bloom in the full glory of Enlightenment.
Happy New Year 2012.
| Songs | Minus Ones |
>>Song Lyrics<<
NEW!!!
MOD Sing-Along CD - Vesak Praise
The full moon day of Vesak month – the holiest day in the Buddhist calendar commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the historical Gautama Buddha. Songs related to Vesak depict the joy of worshippers in acts of worship besides recalling the glorious events that took place during the aforementioned three important events. These events remind us of the impermanent and fleeting nature of life but at the same time encourage us to improve ourselves constantly. The Buddha lives for us that He shared the wonderful Teaching which ultimately leads us to final Liberation. We too can be a Buddha one day if we aspire and strive diligently.
This album comprises of songs from the revised sing-along album VESAK (we re-recorded the songs and added additional harmonies and songs and included another song written by Bro Tan Huat Chye) and PRAISE. This album’s songs arrangement reflects the current contemporary music of the modern world without changing the essences of the lyrics and tune. We hope that you will find these songs inspirational and uplifting as we welcome this holy tri-sacred Vesak Day.
May the seed of Buddhahood sprout in the hearts of every beings and bloom in the full glory of Enlightenment.
Happy Vesak Day 2012.
Songs
1. Hail Glorious Day
2. Holy Day of Wesak
3. Wesak Dawn
4. The Bodhi Day
5. Softly Blew the Breezes
6. Light of Asia
7. Lord Buddha Found the Truth
8. Thoughts
9. Wesak Day
10. Flower of Mankind
11. Day of Glory
12. Welcome Joyous Wesak
13. Lumbini
14. Let’s Sing the Praises
15. Song of Peace
16. When We See the Golden Sun
17. The Blessed Refuges
18. Lord Within Thy Holy Doctrine
19. The Sunrise Comes
20. Essence of the Doctrine
21. Buddhist Doxology
22. Lovelit Image
23. Homage to Buddha
24. In Praise of Thee
25. Ancient Path
>>Song Lyrics<<