Tina Turner retired from public life to prepare for the afterlife as part of her devout Buddhist beliefs, DailyMail.com can reveal.
In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, acclaimed Tibetan Buddhist mantra musician Dechen Shak-Dagsay shared how the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll was not afraid to die and “looked forward to the afterlife.”
Turner grew up a Christian in her native Tennessee, but found the religion “oppressive” and found “salvation” from the abuse she suffered from her first husband Ike in Buddhism, Shak-Dagsay claimed.
“Tina told me, ‘I’m not afraid to die. from 83.
Buddhist singer and friend of Tina Turner, Dechen Shak-Dagsay, told DailyMail.com that the singer withdrew from the public to prepare for death
“Tina told me, ‘I’m not afraid to die.'” She was curious to see what’s to come,’ Shak-Dagsay said
Turner made three albums with Shak-Dagsay in a music studio close to the legend’s lakeside home outside Zurich.
During their six-year partnership, the pair discussed their shared Buddhist faith and Shak-Dagsay gained a vivid insight into her beliefs.
“When Tina Turner had that toxic relationship with her first husband Ike, she was introduced to Buddhism through a friend,” Shak-Dagsay told DailyMail.com.
“When we were recording together, we developed an intense relationship,” she added. And she told me that she would never have been able to overcome all the pain she suffered and the struggle she endured in her first marriage without reciting the Buddhist mantras. It gave her the strength to keep going.
“Tina told me she was raised Christian, but she found the church structure too oppressive.”
Shak-Dagsay spoke about Turner’s decision to retire from public life about two and a half years ago. Her last public appearance was in November 2019
“I haven’t seen Tina in recent years after she started having serious health problems. But I know she wasn’t afraid to die.
‘In the Buddhist tradition, at a certain point you choose to withdraw. This is a very important stage in your life, because preparation for death is considered the most important part of human life,” Shak-Dagsay said.
Turner was raised a Christian in her native Tennessee but viewed the religion as “oppressive” and found “salvation” from the abuse she suffered from her first husband Ike in Buddhism, Shak-Dagsay claimed
Tina Turner is seen on November 7, 2019 in New York City — her last public appearance. ‘In the Buddhist tradition, at a certain point you choose to withdraw. This is a very important stage of your life, because preparation for death is considered the most important part of human life,” said Shak-Dagsay.
“We all know that death will come, but most of us ignore it completely. She prepared incredibly well. She chose to withdraw. She only went out a few times.
This is because she chose to withdraw from public life as she prepared for her own death.
“She was a Buddhist practitioner and she knew how important it is to keep all distractions of life out of the mind.”
Nepal-born Shak-Dagsay, 64, the daughter of a Buddhist lama, explained that Tina Turner — like all Buddhists — believed in reincarnation and was “curious” about the afterlife.
She said, “Tina absolutely believed in reincarnation. It is a pillar of our religion. Buddhism is useless without reincarnation.
“It’s all about karma. That’s why I admire her for retreating in recent years to prepare for her death.
She gave everything she had to her fans: her voice, her love, her performances, her beauty, her grace. And she has helped so many artists.”
‘Tina isn’t gone. Her spirit, her energy continues. And she had the freedom to prepare for that,” Shak-Dagsay said
Shak-Dagsay said Turner paved the way for female artists like Beyoncé, Rihanna and Madonna.
They wouldn’t have been there if it weren’t for Tina Turner, who was the first to take the stage in the male-dominated music world.
And then she would say, ‘I must retire for this time of inner preparation.'” She prepared for the next life.
‘Tina isn’t gone. Her spirit, her energy continues. And she had the freedom to prepare for that,” Shak-Dagsay said.
Turner is expected to be buried in a private Buddhist ceremony in the coming days.