March 1, 2009

Chang Hsinchi, a vocalist trained in Italy and also a Buddhist.

(Clearwisdom.net) TAIPEI, Taiwan--Divine Performing Arts (DPA) International Company's premiere in Taipei drew a full house on Febrary 25. In the audience was Ms. Chang Hsinchi, a vocalist trained in Italy and a Buddhist.

On watching DPA for the second season, she said, "I could feel the energy and power that Buddhas are in our world today. I know we all came with vows. I know that a truly great figure is silently contributing to this turning world today. I can deeply feel that.

"Everyone has a hope, namely the hope for arts to reach the level of heaven in one's heart. I am very touched by the DPA. Every role was portrayed very well. I am very moved by what was conveyed by the arts, by the spirituality behind it. The things they displayed are not for showing off, but for preservation and teaching. Therefore, this spirituality transcends all other art forms.

"The dancers' body language and their thoughts together formed a kind of softness and gentleness. It was beautiful!"

Ms. Chang said that she could feel that Buddhas have incarnated into the secular world today, assuming human forms. "I really felt it. Moreover, I think that there's a silent person, or Buddha, or Bodhisattva, who is working very hard. He bears more work than humans do. I hope all these Bodhisattvas can come to this secular world and achieve their hopes. A bridge between humans and Buddhas can be natural, which is what DPA is doing. I am also trying to do it.

"Actually, I have been researching the relationship between the arts and cultivation. I have also suffered before, so some of the stories DPA depicts bring me hope. I know I can find Buddhas in this world, and I can feel this power.

"Every dancer played a different and great role. When I look back at the secular world again, I put down all prejudices and treasure everyone's role. I am so glad that the enlightened beings set up this karmic relationship for us--this is very significant.

"Every sentence in DPA struck my heart. This power was very nice, as if the Buddha's voice let everyone realize his existence--this is the most sublime part of the arts.

"If I could help this company in any way, I would love to. I would dedicate myself to it. I am not in Falun Gong [not a Falun Gong practitioner], but if we open our hearts, we can sense the importance between mankind and the universe, person and person, and just everything in our lives. I hope this seed of power can touch every one of our hearts. I am looking forward to that."

Heavenly Beings

Ms. Chang spoke about her own life experiences and said that she feels that mankind did not come to this world for profit and fame, but rather for other missions.

"Since I was little, I've loved the arts, I've loved music. DPA raised the very basic question: 'Why do you love music and the arts?' The heavenly beings wanted to use music and dance to convey belief, and I just happened to have the predestined relationship. I truly love 'Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.' In the secular world, this is the best."

"I am very happy that I am sitting in this seat in the theater right now. I did not become a vocalist because my family was rich, but because I loved music. Since I was young, I have sung every day. I also liked to dance, but I ended up not making it. In DPA, it was as if heavenly beings were dancing."

She said that eventually she made it to Tunghai University and later received first place at the National Vocal Competition. Later, with funds from the government, she went to Italy to study.

"In the process, I saw the improvement of my career, but in my most glorious time, I stopped because I saw imperfection, imperfection in the arts. Something in me felt that my motivation was not for fame and profit. I wanted something else to describe 'beauty.' Yet in this secular world, there are always struggles for money and fame, and those need to be relinquished. That is why I stopped. I left the music profession and went into cultivation."

Ms. Chang then spoke about her cultivation. "I found the past in my dreams. Everyone has predestined relationships. I found out why I came to this world. I saw many great figures silently cultivating in the field of arts. They all had provenance.

"So I firmly believe that DPA manifests that Buddhas have already reincarnated. Many things require action to believe. Then you'll realize many people share the same hope as you; it's just the matter of the amount. The accumulated hope forms great power."

Ms. Chang was a professor at National Taiwan Normal University and has held concerts as a soprano. She has recently founded a studio dedicated to musical education.

http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/12908/