Tina Turner, the lion and the little girl

This article is published in number 26-27 of Vanity Fair on newsstands until July 6, 2021

Tina Turner has thought about taking her own life at least three times: if you exclude the attempt with the pills before to go on stage, in the 70s, twice he reasoned concretely about it (in Switzerland, where he lives, assisted suicide is legal). On the 80s T-shirts it was a silhouette with a micro dress of sequins, legs on vertiginous heels, thick mane and microphone in front of a mouth screaming so loud you could almost hear What’s love got to do with it, We don’t need another hero O Simply the best. A lion scratching with his voice.

Enchanted by that legendary image of confidence and grit, we only discovered later, over the years, who really was that forty, born Anna Mae Bullock and become Tina Turner at 17 thanks to Ike, her pygmalion and mentor, then a toxic and violent husband. Among the first autobiography I, Tina (1986) and the latest documentary Tina (output July 8) we learned its story, that of the revenge on poverty (the cotton fields of Tennessee), on the abandonment (of the parents), on the violence (domestic), on the disease (a stroke, a tumor, a transplant) and the death (of his beloved first child Craig, who committed suicide in 2018). How she got up from these crises explains it in Become happiness (Mondadori, pp. 180, 18 euros), the book he is publishing now in Italy and which he wrote after he turned 80, to tell what has succeeded in the world to save her from that vortex of pain: Buddhist practice and in particular reciting Name-myoho-renge-kyo, the lottery tomorrow.

Today, from the Chateau Algonquin on Lake Zurich where she has lived since 1998, on rent, with the producer and second husband Erwin Bach, she is her obsession: “Please write because I have dedicated myself to this book: they are my best tips on how to overcome the obstacles of life. We all have an indestructible source of happiness within us, it must be discovered “.

Let’s start with the first obstacle: which one was his mood during the pandemic?

“I was heartbroken hearing the news about the many people who have lost loved ones. Many more have lost their jobs. All this time, however, I have been optimistic: to witness the heroic efforts of the health workers who protect us, and also of the essential workers who have maintained running the company, it was moving. We are one global family and I believe difficult times like this reminded us how deeply connected we are all. If we choose hope instead of despair, we can find peace in our hearts and help others to do the same. I am praying for the good health of my family, friends, humanity, and I can’t wait to see everyone again after we have safely overcome the pandemic ».

At 81, she says it’s important not to waste too much time glued to mobile devices. How many hours do you spend in front of a screen?

«I like to read the comments on my social profiles, but I much prefer to have a person-to-person, heart-to-heart communication by heart. Now it is more difficult due to the restrictions due to the pandemic, but do you know what I think? Saying a kind word to a stranger you meet by accident can also create positivity. We are seeing the harmful effects of too much screen time: depression, loneliness … The bad thing about social media is also that it looks like people compare with others: but we should never compare. It is much healthier to strive to be better today than it was yesterday. If we all spent more time to do this and less to seek to convince people to appreciate us on social networks, it would be a big improvement for the happiness of all ».

Of emergencies, related to health, she knows something about it: between 2013 and 2017 battled serious illnesses, including stroke, cancer and kidney failure. In the book he explains how to meditate and act the Buddhist mantra Name-myoho-renge-kyo helped her in the most difficult moments. How can a spiritual practice help to overcome physical difficulties?

“There is a passage from the 13th-century Buddhist philosopher Nichiren that was precious to me then. He says: “Name-myoho-renge-kyo and how the roar of a lion. So what disease can be an obstacle? ”. Name-myoho-renge-kyo is another name for the enlightened state that exists in everyone of us, which is more powerful than any difficulty we may encounter. Through spiritual practice, I have evoked my inner lion and overcome all challenges. The disease reminded me to enjoy every day to the fullest. “

For many it may be difficult to understand how repeating the same sentence for minutes or hours can change your life. What does it say to those who are skeptical?

“You can improve your life by paying attention to your thoughts, words and actions. These three acts create our karma, for better or for worse. When you raise awareness and focus on spreading of kindness and positivity, that good energy will come back to you. This is how you can live in accordance with the natural law of cause and effect, foundation of Buddhist philosophy ».

However, she also relied on medicine.

«Of course, Buddhism is a philosophy of reason and tradition Soka Gakkai that practice fully supports science. So, while taking care of myself emotionally and spiritually, I also looked for the best doctors and medical treatment for my ailments. Fortunately, it was a winning combination and not only did I survive, but I also grew up ».

A photo of her is of her reciting the Lotus Sutra at home in 1985, during the weekend when his film Mad Max beyond the thunder ball it became a worldwide success. How he reconciled the chaos of a superstar life with the peace of mind needed to practice Buddhism?

“Peace is a positive result of Buddhist practice, it is not a requirement for doing the practice, that I have never separated from my career. During world tours, I meditated and acted often Name-myoho-renge-kyo for an hour, in the dressing room, before each show. I also prayed for happiness of my audience and to instill hope and joy in their lives ”.

Let’s take a step back: she tells about her childhood in rural Tennessee, in a poor family, without the phone to call his parents who lived far away for work.

“I couldn’t phone, but my voice benefited. My childhood friends and I were screaming short news across the fields, information about school or whatever was going on: this is how I learned to “carry the voice ”without hurting the vocal cords, a useful skill for my later life as a singer. Growing up in the countryside was not comfortable but it did me good, in a way. I’ve learned to appreciate the work it takes to grow and never waste food. My deep connection with Mother Nature began with my earliest memories of walking in the cotton fields of Tennessee. “

A state in which it existed racial segregation. Has “feeling different” influenced you?

“Racial discrimination was legal for the first twenty-five years of my life and now, although these laws have changed, some people are not evolving rapidly. Since I was a child I have always known that superficial differences like skin color or social status shouldn’t matter. ‘

Did becoming famous protect you from discrimination?

“When I started solo I was a black singer in my forties, with no money and few job opportunities. I dealt with racism, sexism, age, keeping the spirit of “never giving up”. By working hard I showed those who marginalized me that preconceptions and doubts about me were wrong. Part of my spiritual practice is “turning poison into medicine”, which means turning negative situations in opportunity. The strength of my positive attitude pushed out the window all the “isms” that hindered me ».

In fact, Buddhism had entered her life a little earlier, in 1973, when she was still married to Ike, she suffered physical violence and psychological and was raising four children. He writes that, then, three people who did not know each other, of different ages, ethnicities and sexes, had advised her to meditate. How much should we follow the directions of the universe?

“I’ve always tried to listen the signs that come into my life, but it was hard to do when I was young, because my mind was full of problems. In the early 70’s it took a lot of energy to hide them from those around me. And domestic abuse got worse. When I was alone in the studio with our registration team, sometimes they looked at me, as if to say: “When are you going to get out of that mess?”. One day, a young technician of the sound said something different: “Tina, you should try Buddhist chanting. It will help you change Your Life”. Then practice Buddhism probably seemed more for college students and hippies than a mother in her thirties like me, and I let it go. But immediately later, my youngest son, Ronnie, and then another person told me about Buddhism, and I tried. The universe was obviously trying to send me a message, but you can only accept it when you are ready. There are no coincidences, everything that happens in our life has a meaning, it is just a matter of decoding the messages “.

Did she manage to forgive her mother and those she didn’t feel loved by?

“Yes, we got closer later with my mother, and I made peace with all those who hurt me in my past. Now I am free and I can even appreciate the good parts: Ike, my first husband, for example, he taught me valuable things about show business that helped my career. “

About her second spouse, Erwin, who gave her a kidney to save her life, she talks a lot in the last chapter.

“Now, in retirement, I have all the time in the world to stay at home with my dear husband. We can spend whole days to relax and enjoy just being alive, and enjoy being together, watching movies, preparing healthy meals for each other – strictly keeping away phones when we eat – or take a walk together. Was the companion I dreamed of having, and I am moved to think so. I made my dreams come true. Not it happened by chance, of course, it took a lot of hard work! ‘ Ride.

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