Gentle is Strong ..

Gentle is Strong is an installment of a video project telling the story of King Ashoka.

Ashoka ruled India in the third century BC and began his career as a ruthless warlord. However, a flash of insight on the battlefield changed his ways. He went on to rule India for the next forty years as a compassionate, peace promoting king.

Remains of Ashokas famed stone pillars and rocks bearing his edicts survive today. The Ashoka wheel features on the Indian flag and the rupee coin bears the stone lion capital sculpted during his reign.

However, Ashoka is most famous as the original benefactor of Buddhism. Under his patronage, Buddhism spread beyond India throughout the east and flourished for centuries to come.

The video clip was put together by The Siddhartha School drama group.
The Siddhartha School, a project of the Khyentse Foundation, is a primary school based on buddhist principles scheduled to open in Lismore NSW, Australia in 2019.

Retired Australian TV and film director/producer Ron Way teamed with the Siddhartha Schools drama producer Shakti Burke to create the video. It was filmed on location in Kyogle, regional NSW and perfomed/sung by Talia Wallace in her final year at Kyogle High. The King is played by Raphael Bowen; his father Stirling Bowen arranged and produced the soundtrack. Lilliana Bowen, Tara Thomas & Dawn Johnson play the queens.
Thanks to Trish Thompson & Stirling for their hospitality and as ever, to Eva Thomas for her unstinting support and untiring upholding of the alfoil reflectors during the shoot.

Project inspired by the international teacher, writer and film maker, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.

LYRICS
Gentle is Strong, oh Gentle is Strong
Gentle finds the right solution
All the way along
Thats why Gentle is Strong

Aggression goes wrong
Oh, aggression goes wrong
Aggression puts the right solution
Out of the song
It goes from wrong to wrong

They think agro is right, they think agro is right
Do you see what a great big mess
They make with their might
When they go out and fight!

Gentle has brains, holds back and restrains
Gentle finds the right way out
Again and again
Coz gentle is sane

Where do you belong? Where do you belong?
Do you belong with aggressive or belong with strong?
Where do you belong?

Copyright Shakti Burke, 2008

Category:

Music

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