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Kirtan
with Rick Roberts and friends
Yoga Center Amherst
17 kellogg ave | amherst, ma
Saturday, November 7
7:30 - 9 pm
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Om shanti, shanti, shanti
On Sunday a friend of mine chose to spend her
birthday with friends and family in a day of meditation, ecstatic chanting and
ceremony. What a gift to give oneself! One of the chants we did on Sunday is
the same verse we open every Kirtan with, the shanti path from the Yajur Veda,
which ends with Om shanti, shanti, shanti.
Shanti is a Sanskrit word we usually see translated as
peace, i.e. calmness, tranquility, quiet, rest, repose. Shanti can also mean alleviation
or removal, i.e. of the suffering that prevents us from experiencing peace. So
when we chant shanti three times we can think of allaying three types of
suffering.
The first type of suffering is that which comes from our own
bodies and minds. This can be a simple stubbed toe or a major illness, or the various
negative thought patterns that can cause us to suffer.
The second type of suffering is that which comes to us
directly from other beings, like an insect bite, or maybe an angry word from a
neighbor.
The third type of suffering is that which comes from larger
more universal patterns in life like weather patterns or major geological shifts.
This type of suffering is said to come from the gods.
By chanting shanti three times we ask that all these types
of suffering be quelled so that we can experience peace.
This Saturday I hope you can join us at Yoga Center Amherst from
7:30 - 9pm for an evening of chanting followed by a short meditation. And I'm
happy to announce that Lindel Hart and I will be offering another afternoon of
contemplative practice on November 29th, 3-6pm at Hart Yoga in Shelburne Falls.
Inspiration this month comes from three vastly different
perspectives: Rumi, the Zen Sandokai and J.D. Lang. Enjoy!
(and congratulations to Dave on his new CD!)
How precious our time together here truly is! |
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nine bows to the musicians!
who continue to give so much
Gurucharan........................tabla
Kevin Germain....................yayli tanbur
Dona O'Dou........................tamboura
Divya Shinn........................vocals
Rick Roberts......................harmonium |
Inspirational Corner
Rumi - The Ocean Moving All Night
Stay with us. Don't sink to the bottom like a fish going to
sleep. Be with the ocean moving steadily all night, not scattered
like a rainstorm.
The spring we're looking for is somewhere in this murkiness.
See the night-lights up there traveling together, the candle awake in its gold
dish.
Don't slide into the cracks of ground like spilled mercury.
When the full moon comes out, look around.
Sandokai (excerpt)
(The Harmony of Difference and Equality)
Hearing the words, understand the meaning;
don't set up
standards of your own.
If you don't understand the way right before you,
how
will you know the path as you walk?
Practice is not a matter of far or near,
but if you are confused, mountains and rivers block your way.
I respectfully urge you who study the mystery,
don't pass
your days and nights in vain.
R. D. Lang - knots
Before one goes through the gate
one may not be aware there is a gate
One may think there is a gate to go through
and look a long time for it
without finding it
One may find it and
it may not open
If it opens one may be through it
As one goes through it
one sees that the gate one went through
was the self that went through it
no one went through a gate
there was no gate to go through
no one ever found a gate
no one ever realized there was never a gate
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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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