Not Joanie Loves Chachi
Last night's kirtan with Bhagavan Das went on for over three hours.
It's so heartening to people giving 100 percent to their practice.
(Most people do most things halfway, or hold back.
Many kirtan wallahs get caught up in performance and musicianship.
But not Baba and Kali).
To hear the Divine Name sung with heart and soul, and to do the same, is a transformational experience.
Especially when the names are Kali and Shiva.
(And, in the end, Rama and Krishna).
Jai Ma!
Om Namah Shivay!
Hare Krishna Hare Ram!
Hara hara!
Click here to read more about Jnana (Knowledge) vs. Bhakti (Devotion) marg (path).
Pic is from Bhagavan Das's kirtan at Dharma West in NYC, earlier this month.
The Link to the Ramakrishna and Vivekananda site was a nice touch. I didn't even know this existed.
ReplyDeleteRalph from DeKalb
You're welcome. I love the stories of Naren and Rakhal.
ReplyDelete....
The margs crossed at Satsang tonight, when Bhagavan Das lead a chant to the imperishable Brahman. Jnani was in heaven.
Kirtan's not really my cup of chai but quite blown away by this, keep coming back to it. Which of his cd's would you recommend CK? Don't have to be in English but perhaps as stripped back and 'simple' as this.
ReplyDeleteKirtan wasn't my thing, either....
ReplyDeleteTry The Howler at Dawn.
And read this when/if you have time.
Good luck on the book!
On second thought, you may also like the more spare Love Songs to the Dark Lord.
ReplyDeleteSo if I understand you correctly, kirtan is a means of expressing devotion to God without abandoning your family, hitchhiking through Afghanistan to India, and becoming an itinerant celibate monk?
ReplyDeleteSee I am reading the book....
Yes yes, Love songs to the Dark Lord is the one, something about that rich voice of his when he's singing on his own, just bought it. What is that he's playing, forgot what it's called.
ReplyDeleteRead your review too, think I might have to get his book though I've been a bit carried away on Amazon this month.
Thanks for sharing this CK and pointing me in the right CD direction.
Re Kirtan.... never thought I'd chant alone so who knows.
Ahhh the Ektara, you said, missed it first reading.
ReplyDeleteGail- yes but he's a bhakti. One need not renounce to be a yogi. (He is also a swami., which includes renunciation ).
ReplyDeleteGrimmly- it's actually a bass dotara - 2 strings .
I'm still trying to figure out the "lay of the land." So far it's like trying to find my way around Massachusetts without a map. It's easy to get lost because none of the roads lead where I think, the trees make it impossible to see where I'm going, and there are lots of curves and rotaries.
ReplyDeleteSo presumably there are several ways (at least) to get there? And some are for monks and others are for householders? Or is it a matter of "personal preference?"
There are several paths of yoga. The four main ones are
ReplyDeleteHatha Raja Yoga
Bhakti Yoga
Jnana Yoga
Karma Yoga
Read more here.
The path one chooses depends on one's tendency, and some paths seem to suit householders better than others. For example, karma yoga (giving up the fruits of one's actions) can be easily practiced anywhere, all the time.
Scientists often gravitate towards the Jnana (knowledge) path.
The paths are not exclusive; one can practice more than one. That said, it can be helpful to eventually choose one as a primary focus (but not necessarily exclude the others).
Sometimes the mind can get caught up worrying about sanyasi (renunciation); in my experience this can be a distraction.
We will discuss this at my November retreat....
Thank you! That explanation helps a lot.
ReplyDelete