I Hugged 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.”

~Krishna Das

I hugged Krishna Das.  Then I made him laugh so hard that he leaned over and hugged me again.  But that wasn’t even the best part of my night.

The greatest surprise of my Yoga Teacher Training and my Yoga Journey this year has been my introduction to kirtan.  I feel kirtan is this gold covered, diamond studded, silver laced, jewel encrusted, wrapped in silk gift I’ve been given by the Universe.  Kirtan has changed everything for me.

And last night I sat third row from the stage as Krishna Das chanted among his beautiful accompanying musicians.  In between chants when he talked, I felt like he was talking to me. When he chanted, I closed my eyes and sang from my heart. And I left the venue soaked and dripping in LOVE.

I want my gifts that I share with the world to rest on people like the sound of kirtan.
I want to be a leader like Krishna Das, who ends his concert in stillness, peace, and silence.
Who’s message to others is to live with an open heart and let go of fear.
I want my commitment and devotion to my path be my reason behind everything.

I only wish to soak the world in LOVE.
Beginning with myself.

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To learn about Krishna Das go HERE and to hear what he says about chanting go HERE.

To learn more about what kirtan is go HERE.