Tag: enthusiasm

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This makes me so happy!

L-R: Chika, Shamini, Nayantara, Bharat, and Shivendra

For years now, Ramesha and I have wanted to travel to India to work with Ananda singers there, but issue after issue and obstacle after obstacle have repeatedly gotten in the way.

We do our best to connect when people come to visit Ananda Village, or via Zoom when in-person isn’t a possibility, but still it’s been a little frustrating.

However, in this moment I’m feeling completely heartened, encouraged, and inspired by the way this group of singers from Ananda India are taking ownership of the music and forging ahead with presenting it with enthusiasm, deep attunement, and JOY!

I found Bharat’s introductory remarks to be especially impressive.

It feels like a breakthrough moment for the music in India and for our worldwide music ministry.

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New vision for Village music

Free Hot Air Balloons Adventure photo and picture

This is what our big meeting last night was about. It went really well; I feel we’re headed in some exciting new directions.

So, this is the new vision:
To broaden and expand community singing at the Village, while also presenting the highest quality and purest musical expression possible when broadcasting worldwide.

Our goal is to have MORE people singing — and in more ways — than before the pandemic. To help accomplish this we proposed three levels of involvement, depending on a person’s life circumstances, individual inclination, and energy level. Each individual gets to choose what’s right for them.

LEVEL 1 – Community All-Sing Choir 
Fun and spontaneous; melody only (or parts if you want to); once a quarter sing-alongs

LEVEL 2 – Village Choir 
Community attunement; singing in parts; two evenings a month; informal performances

LEVEL 3 – Performance Ensemble 
Commitment and follow through; regular weekly rehearsals; perform for Sunday services, as well as possible outreach and recording

What’s really fun is that more ideas came up during the meeting, from people who are enthusiastic about helping to make them happen — specifically regarding more involvement for children and families, as well as more support for “newbies” who are just learning the music.

All in all, it’s an adventurous new phase for music at Ananda Village.

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Post-meditation bliss

Free photos of Candle

Best. Long. Meditation. Ever.

For the first time in several years, I enthusiastically made it all eight hours — from start to finish — without skipping anything.

Followed by a relaxing evening with Ramesha.

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Ah, Italia!

Musicians played Vivaldi atop the artist Livio De Marchi’s floating violin in the Grand Canal in Venice. Credit…Susan Wright for The New York Times

I’m so glad my friend sent me a link to this article about a giant violin floating down the Grand Canal in Venice. I mean, talk about thinking outside the box!

The entire article is well worth reading, but I was particularly touched by these paragraphs…

De Marchi named the work “Noah’s Violin,” because like the ark, it was meant to bring a message of hope after a storm, in this case a message that promoted “art, culture and music,” he said.

And…

Leone Zannovello, the president of the consortium, said that the project had revived enthusiasm at the shipyard on the island of Giudecca, where it was made, after the darkest days of the coronavirus pandemic. Companies and individuals who weren’t part of the group even offered to help out, he said. “It was something that united us even more,” he said. “We worked with our hearts.”

This reminds me of stories I’ve read about how Swamiji would respond to a community crisis by launching a big expansive project. Something to raise energy, generate enthusiasm, and bring people together.