About Dharma

Our Beliefs 
我們的理念

Our goal is to increase the visibility of Buddhist and Taoist culture,using a new way to perform ancient Buddhist mantras.

By playing shows and festivals worldwide, we will be able to reach the younger generation exerting a subtle influence and spread the ideals of our chosen faith and philosophy.

Dharma is a band which incorporates traditional Buddhist mantras and sutras as our chosen medium of expression.

We’d love you to be Buddhist also, but we respect and believe that every religion or a good belief are also a choice of faith.

Our music is for people of all faiths, colors, and creeds, and for people of no religion at all.


達摩樂隊以佛(道)教為出發期盼引起人們的對信仰文化之注意。全球信仰年齡層逐漸老化，然而信仰文化為人類歷史中不可或缺的一部份。

達摩樂隊以一種全新的方式來演繹東方古老的佛曲，深入全球各樂團演出及音樂祭場景，透過音樂我們期望能夠影響到年輕一代，發揮潛移默化的作用來傳播我們的信仰和理念。

我們也希望您也能成為佛教徒，但我們尊重每一種不同的宗教或良好的信仰甚至僅是良善的信念。

我們的音樂適合所有信仰、膚色及理念的人們，也適合根本沒有宗教信仰的人們。我們認為信仰不一定是佛教，道教、基督教、天主教、回教也可以是良善的信念有愛的人間。
 
 
 
 

The Change Starts Now 
改變從現在開始
 

The ancient ways need reinventing, and metal music itself is in need of change.  

-Transformation-

Dharma has done just that.


古老宗教文化需要創新，重金屬也需要新的刺激

達摩樂隊做到了。

 
 
 

Creative Concept 
創意發想
 

Jack in 2000's accidentally heard of Tibetan Buddhist scriptures.

He was already a very metalhead as a drummer at the time and he was shocked by the borderline screamo way of chanting, especially as someone that grew up in a Buddhist household.

He was immediately inspired to start working on rhythms and beats with tons of ideas but it was too difficult to make the desired music, so it took many years.

We have tried a song and performed it in 2007. Although it was not good enough, at least we tried. Finally in 2018, Jack and Andy found the idea to start all the songs.
 
DHARMA's creative inspiration. https://youtu.be/brm2a8zmGYM


This isn’t the exact song but it’s quite similar. If you are a metal fan, I’m sure you’d probably see where the inspiration came from.
 
2007 Revilement- 6 Words Admonishment. https://youtu.be/H49F730dVm0


In 2007, we’ve tried and performed one of the songs, but it wasn’t good enough.And in 2018, me and our guitarist Andy finally settled down on some ideas and began to produce solid songs based on mantras.


杰克（Jack）在2000年意外聽到了藏傳佛教經文，那時他已經是樂團鼓手同時也是個金屬頭了。對於成長於佛教家庭的他，他感到非常震驚，他認為佛教經文與重金屬可以有連結的。因此有了創作的產生了很多想法。但是實際要製作實在太困難了，所以花了很多年。

在2007年我們嘗試了一首歌並進行了表演。我們嘗試了一下。最後在2018年杰克和吉他手安迪找到了開始製作所有歌曲的想法漸漸的完成了許多首經文。

DHARMA's creative inspiration. https://youtu.be/brm2a8zmGYM
【如果您也玩重金屬音樂相信您也一定有與我們一樣的想法】

2007Revilement-6 Words Admonishment. https://youtu.be/H49F730dVm0
【這是證明我們在2007以前就嘗試了】


 
 
 

The Band 
樂團介紹

Dharma is quite likely the first band in the world to combine ancient and traditional Buddhist sutras with the modern style of death metal.


Dharma達摩樂隊可能是全球第一支以佛教經典咒語演出的死亡金屬樂隊






After years of refinement by drummer Jack Tung and guitarist Andy Yang, Dharma was finally born, with members hailing from Taiwan and Canada.

Throughout the creative process of the band, the basic tenets of Buddhism were adhered to, with the blessing of a local Buddhist master teacher, and some members have taken refuge in the Three Jewels.


經過多年的淬煉一組樂團正式誕生，名為「DHARMA達摩樂隊」。

成員來自臺灣與加拿大，創作製作過程ㄧ切如法。
【如法：遵照佛教儀軌並考證咬字及發音】團員為皈依三寶的佛弟子。

達摩試圖以年輕的音樂、創意之內容將宗教信仰年輕化、人間化、國際化。



 
 
 

Song Concepts 
創作概念

Dharma uses the ferocity of death metal to represent the Buddha’s protection. 

Dharma utilizes blast beats and alternative picking to express the furious and dark side of the Buddhist scriptures.

The inherit anger of death metal augments the will of the scriptures to instill within the listener a sense of spiritual relief and undeniable passion through the release of karma.

(Buddhism and Taoism are polytheistic. Each deity is in charge of Its own duties, and each statue takes on a different form, depending on the deity. Dharma represents the Buddha’s guardian stance and furious stance.)


以兇殘的死亡金屬演唱出佛的護法相、憤怒相。

達摩樂隊用極速的節拍嘶吼的聲線來顯現佛之護法相、憤怒相。

以原始佛經梵文咒語來展現佛的慈悲心，用金屬樂的特性以強化佛心願力，使聽聞者於激昂樂聲中得到全然地精神釋放，感受音樂帶來的自在與潛移默化與喧鬧後的豁然開朗！

（PS：佛(道)教是多神論，每尊神皆有各自掌管的事務，神像的型態會因不同的神有不同的樣貌。達摩樂隊表現的是佛之護法相、憤怒相）

 

 
 
 


The Band and Buddhism 
達摩樂隊與佛結緣


Throughout the creative process of the band, the basic tenets of Buddhism were adhered to, with the blessing of a local Buddhist master teacher (Master Song of Taipei), and some members have taken refuge in the Three Jewels.

在整個樂隊的創作過程中遵照佛教儀軌，並邀請禪松法師開示指導，其中主唱Joe亦由禪松法師引領皈依三寶入佛教。


Master Song / Certificate of Three Jewels 【皈依師父：禪松師父 / 皈依證】



The Learning of Buddhism / Process of taking refuge 【聽經聞法 / 學習步行禪 / 皈依儀軌】
 

 
 


The Name of the Band 
樂團名稱由來


“Dharma” is the cosmic law and order as expressed by the Buddha’s teachings.

The core value is the proper and wise understanding of one’s self through the cosmic law, where all living creatures hold to their roles.

The Chinese name of “Dharma” uses a more commonly known phonetic translation.

No matter you search the English name of “Dharma” or The Chinese name of “Dharma達摩”, all you can find “Dharma”.


DHARMA「法」 是佛根據自己對一切法如實的瞭解而宣示出來的言教，「法」能保障自體性相不變不失，它的核心觀念是“任持自性”，而任持自性是我們對於一切萬事萬法，有智慧、且能正確的認識明瞭，保持萬物各自的本性不改變而稱之。

DHARMA BAND中文名即採用華人所熟知的音譯「達摩」兩字來命名，因此無論觀眾搜尋DHARMA或達摩都有機會接觸佛法。


 
 
 

Costume Design
演出服飾

 The members of Dharma wear haiqing during their performances. A haiqing is a type of formal dress used during various ceremonies.

Dharma wears the haiqing to represent solemnity, and to reflect inner respect and sincerity.


演出時達摩樂隊成員皆著海青（haiqing）演出，海青在佛教中是一種『禮服』，用於各種儀式。

達摩樂隊穿上海青即由莊重的外表來顯現內心的虔誠，敬慎與恭敬心。


 Live Show Makeup 演出裝扮



All band members except for the master will put on black paint and fake blood during live performances.

This represents the battle scars and blood from fighting the evil deities and karma.
（Transgression universally wishing sentient beings, Friends, foes, and karmic creditors）


達摩樂隊成員演出時除現場師父外，團員皆以黑色及血漿塗抹在臉上，代表成員為超渡諸眾生及冤親諸債主所濺的血。

 
 
 
 


VJ Design 
演出VJ視覺

Visual effects with Buddhist/Taoist imagery are used, and sutras (lyrics) are shown on the screen so the audience can follow along.


視覺特效（VJ）搭配大量傳統佛(道)教法輪與佛像後製展現，並將咒語（歌詞）字幕顯現出讓觀眾看見咒語內容。


 
 
 


Sanskrit 
梵文演唱

Buddhism originated in India, therefore Dharma performs in Sanskrit, hoping to be as close to the original sutra as possible so the audience would be bathed in Buddhism/Taoism.

It’s fine even if the audience doesn’t understand the sutra or cannot comprehend the pronunciation, as the sutras themselves hold the power and the blessings of the Buddhas.

Sutras in Sanskrit are more than just sounds. They each have their own meanings.

The meanings might be multi-dimensional.

It’s the power of sound, and that’s why Dharma kept the original Sanskrit, hoping the audience can find inner peace and resolution after hearing Dharma’s music.


佛教始於印度傳出因此達摩樂隊以梵文演唱，希望能更接近最原始的咒語，讓聽眾能在不知不覺中認識佛(道)教文化。

即便不懂咒語的內容也聽不清咬字也沒有關係，因咒語本身即包含了菩薩的功德、願力與加持。

咒語，在梵文中，並不止於聲音，而有它自身的意思。

只是意思並不如是單純，通常涵蓋多重的意喻。所依據的即是「一種聲音的感應」，因此達摩樂隊特別保留了它梵文的原音。讓聽眾在聆聽達摩樂隊爆裂的音樂後能獲得心中的平靜，尋求身心靈的解脫。


 
 
 


Incorporating Buddhism (Taoism) Into the Show 
將佛（道）教儀軌融入演唱

A Dharma performance is more than just performing the songs. It also incorporates Buddhist rituals for the audience to experience, giving the show a theatrical bent.


達摩樂隊演出不止演唱，將傳統儀式融入讓觀眾不只聽也能看到認識佛（道）教儀軌。

達摩樂隊演出儀式感較強戲劇張力大。


 
 
 

Transfer of Merit 
何謂『迴向』

Transfer of Merit is a standard part of Buddhist spiritual discipline where the practitioner's religious merit, resulting from good deeds, is transferred to deceased relatives, to deities, or to all sentient beings.

Since all our songs are Sutras and have immense meaning, the transfer of merit is most definitely needed at the end of our shows.

It is also part of incorporating the Buddhist rituals.


何謂迴向：就是把一切所作善功德，皆與一切眾生分享，回饋給一切眾生共用，感恩一切眾生對我的護持、互助，簡單說迴向就是：分享、回饋、感恩。

達摩樂隊所有演出歌詞都是佛教經典、咒語因此對達摩樂隊來說演出就是是善功德，因此迴向是不可少的。而對觀眾來說也是佛教儀式的一種演繹。