Jyoshna - From Nothingness To Empowerment

Its great to be making plans for the Launch of the Unity Hours III Kiirtan Album with Dadao as he is so enthusiastic and encouraging. So the Launch is happening at 8.30 pm on Saturday the 19th at the Global RAWA. I shall be accompanied by Erik Azzopardi on piano and Kavita on Khol and percussion. Dadao shares his inspiration, and insight into the current affairs. We appreciate his service to artis...

Having the Confidence to Take Risks and Dive fully into the Creative Process Truly Pays Off  as you can hear in this interview with Morgan Davies, musician and ethnomusicologist from London, as he discusses the process of making his solo album "grey Matter'. The personal narrative that runs through this album takes one on a journey that ends with a universal message of love that permeates eve...

In this interview Vimukti tells us about how her animals are getting on and her fascinating Australian Cockatoo rescue story. She talks about the use of the pentatonic Reverie harp to be played to animals in need at the Animal Sanctuary and leaves us with some really good tips about what to do when you find an animal in distress on the road. I end with a kiirtan that she knows and everyone can sin...

Not only was it a divine night, but also a brilliant day at the Neo Humanist Conference. I managed to get to a few presentations by Liila Hass, Sohail Inayatulla and Erik Jacobson and they were all very thought provoking and inspiring. I end tonights podcast with a bhajan that I wrote in September, that I have added a few more verses to recently.  Thanks for listening and I welcome any commen...

Liila Hass will also be speaking at the Neo Humanist Conference on the weekend- on Gender Justice and Women's Leadership, it will be amazing.  Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/Gurukul. Conference.2020/    

If you want something thought provoking and exciting to do this weekend, come along to the Neo Humanistic Education Conference online. Its free and it's going to be amazing. Theres such a diverse range of presentations being offered by over 70 presenters from all over the globe. My one is called Nourishing the Land, Touching the Heart and Raising the Spirit with the Supra Aesthetic Science of Kiir...

Emere, is a mezzo soprano from Aotearoa and volunteer in the  Feeding Programme in Auckland. She embraces her spiritual connection with the Tangata Whenua, the Indigenous people of the land, and with her singing, weaves together a beautiful garland of songs and kiirtans to lead her weekly group meditation.    

Late night kiirtan can be so peaceful and really help you connect spiritually and have a deep sleep. Listen and sing along to this avarta 'turning' kiirtan, six short kiirtans in a row.. 

Didi is an avadhutika , an amazing woman who helped to construct a Music School at Uma Nivas in India, a dhyan mandir 'meditation temple' in Brazil and is now working in Europe. In this interview she shares her different kiirtan experiences and sends out an encouraging message to others who are perhaps new to Kiirtan. Listen here to her interview and her original kiirtan.  

In my second Avarta Kiirtan I speak briefly about the powerful ideation of this spiritual music practice, then sing some old kiirtans, popular in Australia and NZ in the 80s. Join in and sing these with me, and experience the blissful effects. 

Turning kiirtan or Avarta Kiirtan is one of the hidden secrets of self transformation. Tonight I give a brief description of the ideation that goes with each of the six kiirtans in Avarta kiirtan  a musical/spiritual practice given by Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. There are two versions as far as I know, but I am giving the one I was taught many years ago. I then sing a short twelve minute avart...

Sadhana aka Lorraine Duttta has been an amazing artist and spiritualist all her life. Tonight we talk about her art and her spiritual experiences with Baba when he was giving spiritual demonstrations explaining life, death and ego in 1969 as well as kiirtan in 1970. It is an honour and a privilege to hear her about her experiences and deep insights into life and art.  I end with an old kiirta...

There is no place on earth like Rarh for kiirtan- its powerfully ecstatic, its transcendental and a a supra aesthetic science according to Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar. Today I talk a little about my own experience of it and Caitanya Mahaprabhu's saying.. to the words of Rarh, to the tunes of Rarh I shall sing kiirtan. .  as he would travel through Rarh on his way to Puri. I end by singing Hari Bolo...

This is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's Motto and very profound guidance for a kiirtaniya. He was an example of what he preached  and  included everyone into his spiritual community no matter what caste or background, though it was very controversial at the time.  I then sing a bhajan i heard many years ago, called I love you till the Day I die, although I don't know who wrote it. 

Anandii Shares her Experiences of Dance, Singing, Creative Writing and more recently.. Kiirtan . Coming from a supportive creative background growing up, Anandii finds new meaning and motivation in her creative expression through the Yogic path of meditation.  Anandii was one of the younger participants in the Kiirtan Course and brought such a joy and enthusiasm to the sessions. She ends by s...

How to Cook Delicious Traditional Thanksgiving Recipes the Alternative Way ..Just imagine.. Candied Sweet Potatoes, Baked Nut Loaf with Vegan Gravy, Corn Bread Stuffing as a Main. Then for Dessert - Pumpkin Pie and Pekan Pie with Vegan cream - Were we in Heaven?? Really... Just get out your pens and scribble these scrumptious recipes down for your next Thanksgiving dinner, you wont regret it! Join...

Listen to MIirabaii speak about here childhood experiences with music - how so many of us are thwarted in our musical development when we are growing up by insensitive comments. But, it doesn't stop us, the music and dance, it lives on! She also speaks about, how inspiring the local Women's Chorus she joined is, that it's like a village or Big Family, where the participants always find something s...

Tonight we talk briefly about Maetri's inspiring experiences at LFT Yogic Training and the Kiirtan Academy Week long Kiirtan Course.  Maetri is from Newfoundland in Canada and is now living at Sunrise and involved in lots of activities on the farm including her film projects.  We end by singing a newish kiirtan that I wrote at Sunrise and called Longing Heart Kiirtan .    ...

Kavita talks briefly about the use of drums in western kiirtan,  about the sacred connection between  a drummer and her drum, and playing together with the singer, not just as an accompanist but as a collaborator. She also plays the three basic kiirtan rhythms for us, then I play a gentle kiirtan to end the session. 

Talking tonight about Kiirtan Sequences -the internal story line going on inside when singing kiirtan and secret associations that no one could ever guess.  I am singing the sequence- Kiirtan for Dad , Do I Exist and Ananda Sutram Kiirtan - because they tell stories about NZ for me.  Why don't you create a kiirtan sequence too and share it with me? 

Its been four days now of connecting with people from different part of the world to share the experiences on a subject very dear to our hearts - Kiirtan.  We are exploring new and traditional ways of developing the voice, dance and instrumental music from within a tradition that is so rich we could go on forever!  AT the end I share a kiirtan for someone in our community who passed away...

Madhumita and I speak her transformational experiences recently in her life and music. These experiences have her feeling empowered and in a spiritual flow. WE end with her playing a kiirtan on piano and singing 'Baba Nam kevalam 'Love is all there is'. 

I talk briefly about the First session of the Second Online Kiirtan Course.  There is so much diversity at the Kiirtan Academy, or should I say, diversity in Unity, and something there for everyone! I end the talk with an old kiirtan I wrote at Yoga Training in Australia years ago. Dada Nabhaniilananda recorded it not knowing I wrote it, so here it is, the original!.  

Listening to my Unity Hours III Kiirtan album I feel very happy with it. I am very grateful for the opportunity to share it with you all soon and want to say thank you to Michael Lloyd for mixing it and his family for being so amazing!. Thanks also to the musicians who played on it, Kapil for the photos, Kavita for the artwork, my dear family, and friends who contributed in many significant ways,...

Tonight Didi Ananda Prama shares her wonderful recipes for Diipavali .. One of the favourites from West Africa is the delicious and very nutritious Peanut Soup.  Then I sing the Diiipavali song from Prabhat Samgiit.