Classes & Other Events

GetTogether

The GetTogether has been discontinued. I think it was a wonderful idea and I'm grateful for the friends I met through the gathering. But either it was at the wrong time or place or it's just an idea whose time just hasn't come to downtown yet.

I'm still playing kirtan around the area and welcome ideas as to where I might be able to gather with a group of interested souls to chant together. If you have a group, or a space or just want to talk about ideas, then please contact me.

More about kirtan

Kirtan is a style of chanting, used in Hindi cultures for 500 years but now seeing growing popularity, especially in the US. It's a "call and response" style of chanting, meaning you "follow the leader" and don't have to know anything about this style of music to participate and enjoy. It is said to have been introduced in the US in the 1920's, when Paramhansa Yogananda (Author of Autobiography of a Yogi) chantedwith 3,000 people at Carnegie Hall in 1923.

Kirtan is a devotional practice but not about religion. The phrases are traditionally sung in Sankrit but today there are chants in English, Hebrew, Native American languages... and many more. Singing kirtan is a type of meditation as it keeps the mind occupied allowing you to explore depths within you.  Rather than seeking for answers outside of ourselves, this and other meditation practices encourages you to explore the answers within.

The following is an excerpt from 'Pilgrim of the Heart' audio series by Krishna Das:

"The words of these chants are called the divine names and they come from a place that's deeper than our hearts and our thoughts, deeper than the mind. And so as we sing them they turn us towards ourselves, into ourselves. They bring us in, and as we offer ourselves into the experience, the experience changes us. These chants have no meaning other than the experience that we have by doing them. They come from the Hindu tradition, but it's not about being a Hindu, or believing anything in advance. It's just about doing it, and experiencing. Nothing to join, you just sit down and sing."

Thanks to these Kirtan artists who have given permission for us to sing their music. All of these artists have also offered me instruction and encouragement for which I'm very grateful.

Ragani- http://www.raganiworld.com
Mike Cohen- http://www.mikecohenkirtan.com
Robin Renee- http://www.robinrenee.com
Jeff Kiko-Cozy- http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kikocozy

Other popular kirtan artists you might enjoy (and yes, there are many, many more. )

Krishna Das- http://www.krishadas.com
Jai Uttal- http://jaiuttal.com/
Dave Stringer- http://davestringer.com/
David Newman: www.davidnewmanmusic.com
Brenda McMorrow: www.brendamcmorrow.com