Mystical Arts of Tibet: Sacred Music, Sacred Dance

On Oct. 19, the monks of Drepung Loseling Monastery performed ancient temple music and dance at Hall Auditorium as part of festivities leading up to the 14th Dalai Lama's visit. They also played traditional Tibetan instruments.

The monks are endorsed by the Dalai Lama as a means of promoting world peace and healing through sacred performing arts, according to their website.

The Drepung Loseling monks were featured on the Golden Globe-nominated soundtrack of Seven Years in Tibet, starring Brad Pitt. They performed with Philip Glass in the live presentation of his Academy Award-nominated music/score for the film Kundun.

On previous U.S. tours, the monks have shared the stage with Paul Simon, Sheryl Crow, Patti Smith, the Beastie Boys and Natalie Merchant.

Miami University junior Abigail Smith, a junior marketing and strategic communication double major, was there Oct. 19 to capture the images of their performance. Check out Smith's images in a slide show below, edited by Erin Kenney, a sophomore business economics major.