"The Sanskrit words that we sing in these Kirtans are mantras, or divine names. A mantra can be thought of as a sonic embodiment of the supreme being who, through grace, takes infinite recognizable forms. When touched by the blessings of and enlightened master or the longing of a pure heart, these mantras become fully alive and have the power to carry us back to the One, the universal heart. These ancient words hold within them the very presence of the deity; they are prayers, they are vessels for our prayers, and they are that One to whom we are praying.
The chants don’t tell stories and aren’t actual sentences. Rather, they are like simple roadmaps to help the mind leap from mental remembrance into the deepest heart essence, where we actually meet and commune with that being who is the source of all. And, really, it’s okay if we don’t fully understand the translations or pronunciations. Through these simple Kirtans, we can communicate with our hearts, with our souls; we can cry, we can laugh, we can dance." - Jai Uttal
So we began with Chanting.
Sri Krishna Govinda Hare Murare
Hey Natha Narayana Vasudeva
Oh Beloved Krishna, Oh Govinda, Oh Hari, Hey
Murari, Oh Lord Narayana, Ho Vasudeva [all names of Krishna].
I worship you with my heart and soul.
And this flows toward a discussion on knowing oneself intimately. That we should know ourselves even superficially at first so we know when we are becoming superficial. We need to understand the nature of ourselves, beyond mechanistic feelings that are not unique to us (we have families, culures, patterns...)
We must learn to be "un-stuck" from these and learn the characteristics of the deeper self.
They are embodied in Yamas and Niyamas. Ahimsa as healing, Satya as saying how we feel without modification or censorship.
I really need to fire my mental editor. I must express myself freely (beyond my blogs). I need to regain my spontaneity (when did I start strangling it?)
Modifying how we feel through our words perpetuates the illusion of being separate.
Do not create divisions. Be all of yourself. Celebrate everything.
More info on Govinda Kai on http://www.lunaticmonk.com/
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