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Greetings! Wow, it's been two months since the last Amherst Kirtan. Summer (as Pierre says) seems to be slipping away. But this Saturday promises to be an exceptionally ecstatic night. I'm happy to say that Melanie Hedlund will be joining us on vocals. Melanie lives in Lexington and for years has been a student of Warren Senders, an exceptional vocalist of Hindustani music who teaches at the New England Conservatory and also performs and records in the Boston area. Melanie is a long time friend and it's a real treat when she's able to visit the Valley. Something magical always happens!
And then on Wednesday August 5th we'll all be driving out to Kripalu to play for the weekly Wednesday night Kirtan. You can get details for this event by calling Kripalu: 866.200.5203
Some of you know that for years I've practiced Contact Improvisation and as a form of movement it's easy and fun to do, but difficult to perform. The audience can never really "get" what the performers are experiencing...a luscious, intimate movement through space with another person.
In the same way, you can never really "get" the experience of chanting just by listening or watching. It's when you're able to completely throw yourself into the practice that you experience the joy of chanting.
I hope you can join us this Saturday!
This morning I draw from The Spiritual Teaching of Ramana Maharshi for inspiration. Three simple questions:
Who am I?
What is the method of practice?
What is the light of consciousness?
let it be love,
Rick
How precious our time together here truly is! |
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nine bows to the musicians!
This month I'll be joined by most of the regulars:
Gurucharan........................tabla
Kevin Germain....................yayli tanbur
Dona O'Dou........................tamboura
Divya Shinn........................vocals
Melanie Hedlund.................vocals
Rick Roberts......................harmonium
did you know...
...that we found a sound engineer! Lawrence Preston will be sitting behind the mixer this Saturday allowing me to focus on singing and playing harmonium. Welcome Lawrence!
And I'm still looking for two cymbal players to join us. Please step forward if you have interest.
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Inspirational Corner from The Spiritual Teaching of Ramana Maharshi
Who am I?
The gross body which is composed of the seven humors, I am not; the five cognitive sense-organs (hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell) which apprehend their respective objects (sound, touch, color, taste and odor) I am not; the five conative sense-organs (speech, locomotion, grasping, excretion and procreation) which have as their respective functions speaking, moving, grasping, excreting and enjoying, I am not; the five vital airs (prana, etc...) which perform respectively the five functions of in-breathing, etc..., I am not; even the mind which thinks, I am not; the nescience too, which is endowed only with the residual impressions of objects, and in which there are no objects and no functionings, I am not.
If I am none of these, then who am I?
After negating all of the above-mentioned as "not this, not this", that Awareness which alone remains; That I am.
What is the method of practice?
As the Self of a person who tries to attain Self-realization is not different from him and as there is nothing other than or superior to him to be attained by him, Self-realization being only the realization of one's own nature, the seeker of Liberation realizes, without doubts or misconceptions, his real nature by distinguishing the eternal from the transient, and never swerves from his natural state. This is known as the practice of knowledge. This is the enquiry leading to Self-realization.
What is the light of consciousness?
It is the self-luminous existence-consciousness which reveals to the seer the world of names and forms both inside and outside. The existence of this existence-consciousness can be inferred by the objects illuminated by it. It does not become the object of consciousness.
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Kirtan
with Rick Roberts and friends
Every 1st and 3rd Saturday
...is a time
for people to come together, open their hearts and sing. For years
chanting has helped people to effortlessly reach a state of quiet and
stillness that easliy leads to meditation. While it's true that we can
chant in our car or in the solitude of our home, there's nothing like
chanting with others and with live musicians. Every kirtan is different
depending on the energy of the group, but as the evening progresses one
becomes saturated with the Name, the mind becomes one-pointed and
dropping into a deep state of meditation becomes effortless.
Suggested donation is $10 but please remember that a donation is not necessary. Anything is
appreciated, and all are welcome regardless of their ability to pay.
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Kirtan