(not necessarily in that order)
I’m paraphrasing the beautiful quote of Yogananda’s — “The instrument is blessed by that which flows through it” — and applying it to our little apartment.
Lots of music is flowing through our living space as all our music-making happens from home right now. Here are a couple of photos of Ramesha offering a mini-kirtan of devotional chants. It was beautiful.
A Facebook friend (who I haven’t seen since high school!) was describing a recent meltdown moment and, in sympathy, I replied with one of my own…
“I hear you! My meltdown was last Friday. That’s when the resident physician connected with the community where I live gave us all a really strong talk and we started shutting everything down. It was intense. The funny thing is that my husband and I co-direct the music ministry but sort of take our music for granted… except for that evening! I was feeling the heaviness of it all and getting lower and lower… and I finally turned to him and said, “let’s sing something!” And it really helped! Whatever tools we’ve assembled over time are now getting used for real. Stay strong and healthy, my friend!💗“
This was just a quick Facebook post in support of a friend. But as I checked it for typos, I realized there was a lot of food for thought contained in that paragraph. Starting with how can I possibly take our music for grated? and why am I so surprised when it helps?
Now I’m seeing that one of the silver linings of this crisis for me is being forced to act on what I know, and really use the tools and resources at my disposal. Including the full use of this music I love.
Tonight’s global sing-along went really well. It was clearly meeting a need for many people…including me!
Later I was reflecting on how “healing” this music is. And I realized I should add “for me” at the end of that sentence. Because, in truth, there are many varieties of “healing music”; I’ve experienced that myself more than once.
But the music of Ananda — Swami Kriyananda’s music — is, for me, the ultimate healing music. Jeannie put it beautifully when she gave a class recently. I don’t recall her exact words, but she described how…out of all the possible sound vibrations… Yogananda, and then Swami, gave us the gift of music that is perfectly calibrated to Master’s ray, perfectly attuned to Swami and Ananda…and the creation of spiritual community.
So it’s not that I don’t appreciate and value “other” music. As a lifelong musician, I have been exposed to, and truly like, an extremely wide range of music (I think many of my current friends would be surprised if they knew).😎
It’s like Swamiji’s analogy about the futility of trying to decide who’s got the best mother: it’s not something you can weigh dispassionately — your mother is your mother. Of course you love her best. Same with your Guru; other people’s gurus are perfect for them, but your Guru is your Guru. Of course you love him best!
And that’s how it is for me with Ananda Music. It’s my music, in the sense of being my dharma and very possibly my surest path to God. Of course I love it best!
It’s wonderful to see how the challenges and uncertainties of this time are starting to be balanced out by outpourings of courage, generosity, creativity, and compassion.
Museums are offering virtual tours; opera companies are offering free HD web streaming; Ivy League colleges are offering free online courses.
Ananda communities and teaching centers around the world are offering everything online: Sunday services; how to meditate; live sadhanas; energization; and more.
It’s like everyone is asking, “What can I give? What can I do?”
Well, Ramesha and I are no exception! But after asking ourselves those questions for a few days we were still unclear as to the best way to offer what we have to give.
Then I happened to receive an email announcement from the singing phenomenon known as Choir! Choir! Choir! — announcing their Choir!ntine: EPIC Social Distan-Sing-Along! — and realized this is what we could offer to our community as well…the opportunity to gather as a global family and sing together. To experience the reality that our bodies might be separated but we’re always united in spirit!
Soooo…the first session of our Joyous Global Sing-Along starts tomorrow night (Tuesdays are when our Ananda Village choir usually rehearses) at 7:00 pm Pacific time via Facebook Live on our Ananda Music Facebook page.
We’re really looking forward to doing our part to balance the challenges and uncertainties of this time. Come join us! 🙂
The woodland devas are secluding and so are we!
“Social distancing” already meant more time at home, though we did think we would be heading out to sing for Sunday service this morning. Divine Mother had other ideas, however!
The snow kept three out of four of us Joy Singers at home, so Prashad got to do all the music by himself…and rose to the challenge beautifully. 🙂
In the meantime, Ramesha and I stayed inside and watched it snow…
This beautiful flower is growing right in front of our parking area. And I realize this is how I want to be. Maybe something is hard; maybe it seems like there’s just no way….but I won’t take “no” for an answer!
Feeling so much gratitude for the clarity and wisdom of Dr Peter, Ananda Village’s resident physician, as we seek the balance between under-reacting and over-reacting. Also feeling so grateful to have so much support and so many resources for dealing with this challenging time. Thank you, God!
It seems to me that we’re all — the entire human family! — currently engaged in an intense practice of Nishkam Karma or “action without attachment to the fruit of the action”.
Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita (verse 47, chapter 2): To action alone hast thou a right and never at all to its fruits; let not the fruits of action be thy motive; neither let there be in thee any attachment to inaction.
Of course, this is not an attitude that most of the world endorses. In fact, the exact opposite is usually the norm. But hey! even though I know the concept of Nishkam Karma and seek to apply it in my life, it’s still not easy to see my plans get changed or to not know whether the thing I’m working towards is actually going to be able to happen or not!
But then I read about the San Francisco Symphony cancelling their final tour with Michael Tilson Thomas directing. And Major League Baseball delaying the start of their season. And entire school districts closing for three, four, even six weeks! And it does put things here at Ananda Village in perspective. 😕
Spent another evening with the Living Discipleship program sharing Swami Kriyananda’s songs for children — a fun and powerful experience, as always! When I got home and started writing tonight’s blog post, I spontaneously decided to write out one phrase from each of the songs we sang.
Looking at the random selection of lyrics I’m struck by how these words are like the verbal equivalent of nutrient-dense foods. What a blessing for children to absorb such wisdom wrapped up in joyful melodies!
Sing out a blessing to ev’ryone!
Just live in joy, be free inside.
Let me feel Thy strength in me. Give me joy to share.
God is our dearest treasure.
Guide me, Lord, throughout this day; in all I do, in all I say.
All the world is my friend when I learn how to share my love.
Move, all you mountains that stand in my way, nothing can stop my progress!
Thank You, God, for your love.💕
Later bedtimes, later mornings. It seems to be gradual but inexorable… and the time change certainly didn’t help matters any. 🙁
I guess I’m going to have to get really strict with myself (yet) again!