WHAT IS KIRTAN?

Kirtan is an energizing and joyful group practice of singing simple Sanskrit (and occasional Hebrew and English) chants set to simple and beautiful melodies. Many of the chants are mantras. A mantra is typically defined as "that which is beyond the mind." Kirtan is beyond the mind in that it is a 'right brain' experience. The right brain lives totally in the moment (Be Here Now) while the left brain ( where we spend most of our awareness ) is preoccupied with the past and the future including regrets about the past and worries about the future.

These sound vibrations roll and vibrate through the seven psychic energy centers (chakras) of the body. They gently raise what yogis call 'kundalini' energy, the energy that allows us to energize and revitalize ourselves physically and spiritually. In doing so, we come into greater awareness of our divinity or connection to Source.

Chanting calms our minds, opens our hearts, boosts our inner knowing (intuition), and energizes our beings. As explained by quantum physics, all matter vibrates and sound vibrations penetrate every cell of the body. Even black holes in the Universe have been proven to emit a sound of B flat! From a standpoint of physical healing, chanting recharges the brain cells, lowers blood pressure, balances heart rhythm, and induces relaxation and elevated moods. There is a scientific phenomenon called morphogenesis which says that a word or mantra (like Amen, Om, Shanti, Shalom, Shiva, or Ram) has a strong energy attached to it simply because it has been sung so many millions of times with a particular intention behind it on the part of the singer. For example, when we sing a Shiva chant, we instantly connect to the energy and power of all the kazillions of times the word Shiva has been repeated mentally or vocally. And Shiva is all about claiming our awareness of living in divine truth, and disconnecting from self-doubt, self-loathing, delusion, addictiveness, unhealthy ego, and other negativities. So when I sing Shiva chants, I feel like I'm giving myself huge affirmations of self-love which then enables me to go out and serve others more effectively.Kirtan is for anyone, regardless of religious belief or quality of voice. Any voice is perfect for kirtan as the focus is about the heart!

Kirtan originates from Bhakti Yoga, the spiritual path of the heart. Many people use the system of devotion to a Guru as their Bhakti Yoga path and just as many don't. There are plenty of ways to deepen consciousness. By chanting the various Sanskrit names like Sita, Ram, Krishna, Radhe, Ganesh, Shiva, etc., we can easily access the consciousness within ourselves associated with those names. It really doesn't matter what the words mean because the sound vibrations alone are a direct plug-in to the experience of Source, or God Consciousness, or whatever you choose to call it. For example, when I chant to Ram, my heart opens and I immediately zoom into that place within where I experience unconditional love and peace. And chanting as a practice builds upon itself, giving the chanter increasing equanimity and peacefulness in daily life.

Kirtan is fully participatory; I sing a line, you sing it back. I am simply sharing a spiritual practice. The repetition of the chant lines makes it possible to relax and let the chant 'sing you' after awhile, instead of you working to sing the chant. Kirtan brings you into your right brain where feelings, creativity, joy, and intuition reside. I totally love my left brain but at the same time know that the purpose of the left brain is to remember things like my zipcode, be responsible, and 'get it right'! Someone once said that people with left brain dominance are happy when they're asserting their 'correct' opinion about something, and people of right brain dominance are.... just plain happy. This is perhaps an exaggeration but you get the point!

DAVE'S INTERPRETATION OF KIRTAN

My intention is to co-create a space with you where we all feel safe to be in our feelings, whatever they are. People often experience great joy and even ecstasy as the chants increase in tempo and intensity. The energy in the room builds which is why it's so powerful to chant in a group. Sometimes people experience suppressed tears and sadness. By the end of kirtan, the array of emotions often transforms into lightness and a sense of freedom from limitation. I ask you to simply witness your feelings, and not try to change them. The willingness to be vulnerable is key to your experience. That's why I always ask people to bring and notice whatever moods they're in, not push them away. In that sense, it is truly a form of meditation. All moods are welcome!

Bring your anger, grief, silliness, jealousy, fear, joy, compulsions, addictions...it's all welcome. There's never a reason to say “I'm too depressed to go to kirtan.” See what happens. Kirtan can reduce the pull of negative habits and mind states. Swami Satchidananda once said to me “Don't ever quit smoking cigarettes. Just do meditation, spiritual readings, hatha yoga, chanting, pranayama (breathing), and.... smoking will quit you!” And that's what happened. I only ask that people come to kirtan without influence from alcohol or recreational drugs as these dull the nadis or the fine lines of energy that connect the chakras. As I see it, the point of kirtan is to get free rather than to get high.

Every kirtan is different depending upon the kirtan leader's orientation. In my kirtans, I seek to deepen my own inner authority or truth through direct experience of Source energy. The word author in Latin means 'creator.' So 'inner authority' can be defined as the state of living in a creator role, taking responsibility for how you create your life. However, the Universe has its own plan and timing so your best intended plans might unfold drastically different than what you think you're creating. And let's not forget the not-too-small concept of Karma which can change life's plans abruptly!

The chants can carry us to a place within us where in each moment, we feel totally adequate, worthy, and 'enough' just as we. In that moment, nothing more is needed. There are no 'if onlys' in 'Be Here Now' consciousness. 'If onlys' only diminish us; e.g., “If only I lived in Maui, then I'd be happy....” or “if only I were partnered, then I'd be happy” or “if only I weren't partnered, then I'd be happy” and on and on. You can use the chants to experience yourself where there is no concept of time, where there is no physical or emotional pain, and where you are whole and complete. And in this place, you also experience your own inner spiritual authority, the voice within that just 'knows' what to do and how to be.

But don't take my word! Come try kirtan and see if you will benefit from it.

WHAT TO BRING TO KIRTAN

Many people sit on cushions which are typically provided at places that teach yoga, but it is a good idea to bring your own in case they're all in use or not available. I always make sure there are some chairs as well. After all, nobody became enlightened faster by sitting on the floor. Having a straight spine is helpful as the sound vibrations roll up and down the energy centers (chakras) of the body, but above all I ask you to feel comfortable, as if you're in the living room of a dear friend. Some people bring backjacks or other supports for comfort. Also, it is important to stay hydrated so please bring water. Please do not bring any food unless you want to share an offering to share with the group afterward. We welcome this!

The melodies and drumming often induce people to get up and dance or just move around or clap along. This is totally welcome and greatly encouraged! Also, children and infants are always welcome as long as they can be taken out of the room if they are too noisy. I hope to sing with you soon!