Tag: Swami Kriyananda

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Someday?

During our three years with Ananda in Los Angeles, we tried everything we could think of to get Ananda Music in front of more people. Swami Kriyananda was there for part of that time as well, pushing us to put out more energy, get out of our comfort zones, and perform more.

One idea we had was to create a movement focused on the power of uplifting music to help people. We called it…

Music Can…
 …the choice is yours!

…and we listed all the ways music can be “good” for you.

Discover how music can:
• Make you healthier
• Strengthen your immune system
• Decrease your stress
• Help you feel more relaxed
• Improve your sleep
• Increase your optimism
• Help you through hard times
• Raise your consciousness
• Strengthen your determination
• Help you cope
• Build your faith
• Ignite your motivation
• Open your heart
• Uplift you
• Inspire you
• Energize you
• Comfort you
• Heal your life
• Help you find joy & peace within
• And much, much more!

Now that I think about it, we actually did quite a bit with this, including the creation of a “Positive Music pledge” and a musical program called “The Positive Music Experience”. Then our marching orders changed and we ended up moving back to Ananda Village.

But who knows? Maybe someday the “Music Can” movement will sweep the globe!

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Cloisters

No hint of anything interesting to write, so I’ll share a beautiful recording of one of Swami Kriyananda’s most well-known songs instead.

ananda-singers_cloisters

Long I’ve called You, my Lord,
Long I’ve called You.
Many years I have longed for Your sight;
Bathed the darkness with tears of devotion,
Offered candles in prayer to Your light.
How much longer, Friend,
Must I cry Your name?
I am Yours, ever Yours.
Will You come?

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Music as entertainment


“Music is so much more than entertainment. It doesn’t merely reflect a state of consciousness: It also generates it.”
–Swami Kriyananda

It’s not that music can’t ever be entertainment. It’s just that we can benefit greatly from recognizing that it’s much more than “just” entertainment.

The next time you’re listening to your favorite music, notice where your consciousness is and whether your energy is going up the spine or down. Then ask yourself if where that music is taking you is where you really want to go.

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Concert plans

The 50th anniversary concert–the first full concert in the new Temple of Light, happening the evening of Thursday, July 4–is shaping up to be a doozy!

There will be a small but highly accomplished orchestra, accompanying a 120-voice choir! We’ve got sixteen choir members coming from Ananda Assisi; thirteen singers are joining us from various Ananda centers in India; and one singer is coming from Isreal. This is in addition to the singers and musicians from every Ananda community and a number of meditation groups throughout the USA.

The program will consist of some of Swamiji’s most beloved songs and instrumental pieces–including a portion of Life Is a Quest for Joy; a selection from the Secrets of Love CD, and a beautifully choreographed dance to Invocation to the Woodland Devas.

It promises to be an unforgettable experience; if you can’t be with us in person, be sure and check out the live broadcast (click here for more info).

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Secret weapon

Lots of thoughts and ideas chasing themselves through my mind, but I’m finding it difficult to grab hold of any particular one long enough to figure out what i want to say about it!

Of course, the more I try the more my mind veers away in yet another direction, until all I’m feeling is increasing restlessness. What to do?!?

Time to utilize my “secret weapon”: music. Swamiji singing Peace never fails to calm my heart and still my mind. Just what the doctor ordered!

Peace by Swami Kriyananda (aka J. Donald Walters)
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Service is joy

Today was Rajarsi Day at Ananda Village…and what a day it was! (Thanks for the wonderful photo, Barbara Bingham!)

Every year we honor Rajarsi Janakananda (aka James Lynn)–self-made millionaire and foremost disciple of Paramhansa Yogananda–with a community-wide workday. This year was extra special because devotees from all over the Ananda world joined in helping to finish the new Temple of Light.

I served in the kitchen and was struck anew by how much joy is generated when we consciously dedicate everything we do to God! Plus soooo much gets accomplished when there’s lots of joy and energy levels are high.

In fact, all those willing hands make miracles happen, just like Swamiji’s song says:

Many hands make a miracle:
Let’s all join hands together!
Life on earth is so wonderful
When people laugh and dance and struggle as friends:
Then all their dreams achieve their ends.

Many hands make a miracle:
People climbing together!
Soon we reach to the pinnacle
Of every mountain peak we hazard as one.
We’ll lift our hands to welcome the sun!
We lift our hands to welcome the sun!

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The impossible question

“What’s your favorite piece of Ananda Music?” or “Which of Swami Kriyananda’s songs is your favorite?”

The short answer is usually: “Whichever one I’m singing (or playing or listening to) right now.”

The long answer is to explain that the best I can do is narrow it down to my top twenty favorites (which will probably be thirty or forty by the time I’ve finished the list!).

And that won’t include instrumentals…

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The way of Ananda Music

I’ve been thinking about how Ananda is not just a physical location–the place I live. It’s also the way I live.

Similarly, Ananda Music is not just the physical sounds–the sheet music, recordings, and performances in which I participate. It’s also the way I participate–as a disciple and devotee first and foremost…seeking to get my little “self” out of the way, so that my higher “Self” can express through the music.

This is what makes Ananda choirs and singing ensembles powerful far beyond our actual musical skills. Every singer is doing their best to be ever more open and receptive to the divine flow. And, sure enough, grace shows up!

Which brings to mind one of my favorite quotes by my guru, Paramhansa Yogananda*: The instrument is blessed by that which flows through it.

So true.

* Yesterday I incorrectly attributed this quote to Swami Kriyananda. Sorry!

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Spontaneity

Another way in which I let doubt block my creativity is with spontaneous photos and videos. I’ll be in the moment, having fun or experiencing something that I feel to capture and share, so I’ll grab a quick snapshot or video on my smartphone.

But then the overthinking kicks in: Is it too silly? Will people understand? Is it done well enough? Maybe I’d better wait until I have time to write the perfect caption. Etcetera, etcetera… (what a fun word to see written out)! And you guessed it: months later I run across those moments, still in my photos folder!

No more! I’m now going to share three spur-of-the-moment videos that I took three(!) years ago during a short vacation in Ashland. While strolling through Lithia Park I was inspired by the flowers, the trees, and the river, and started thinking of Swami’s song, Channels. After some doing, I persuaded Ramesha to sing the pertinent verse of the song while I took shaky videos. Yeah, it is pretty silly…but it was fun!

Update: I completely forgot I was the one singing “Flowers”! If I had remembered I probably wouldn’t have posted it; guess the joke’s on me! 🙂

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Happy Birthday, Swamiji!

Today, May 19, is the birthday of Swami Kriyananda (aka J. Donald Walters). He would have been 93 years old today and—in a roundabout kind of way—this blog post is in his honor. Swamiji (that’s what I call him, out of respect and gratitude) gave me so very much, but probably his biggest gift to me was that he composed the music to which I’ve dedicated my life for the past twenty years.

Of course, as a professional flutist I loved playing his instrumentals, then over the years I sang so much of Swamiji’s music that I sort of became a singer! More important than any of that, however, is that I found my dharma, my life’s purpose—to be a promoter, cheerleader, and advocate for Ananda Music.

So, the thing is that I actually created this blog at the beginning of the year, but—after establishing the ground work—I found myself unable to commit any words to paper (or internet, I guess I should say). I understood the reason why: DOUBT. Doubt that I had anything worth saying. Doubt that I could express clearly anything I did think of to say. Doubt, doubt, doubt…!

It’s been a big part of the story of my life and it was a relief a number of years ago to finally have it explained to me in terms of astrology. Not that it changed anything, but at least I gained some perspective around it.

The truth is that lots and lots of thoughts and ideas—especially about music—come to me and they inspire me enough that I write them down, then tuck them away. The other day I found a collection of these little slips of paper and realized that by allowing doubts to stifle my self-expression, I’m blocking any possibility of Swamiji using me as a potential channel of inspiration to others. And that’s not okay.

So, in honor of Swamiji’s birthday, I’m officially launching this blog. And I’ll share my thoughts and ideas no matter what doubts may come.

Thank you, Swamiji.