appeared in RUDRAMANDIR Newsletter February 2009 
by Lloyd Barde

Music arises from the realm of simultaneity, it takes us to a level where time becomes a circle. Here one thing does not follow another in a regular line of sequence. Somehow at that depth, all times are present together; the joys and losses of your past, the wonder of the present and the unknown possibilities of the future; music plays out of this profound simultaneity. Here memory and possibility come together in an invisible embrace.
From Beauty by John O’Donohue


One of the oldest sacred music traditions of the world, the kirtan call-and-response chanting genre comes to us from India. Kirtan — singing for the Divine — is a form of yoga that engages the heart, evoking emotion and joy, and this experience can carry us effortlessly to a place of quiet and stillness. Using ancient Sanskrit mantras, as well as other traditional phrases from many languages, the kirtan calls upon sacred energies which serve to silence the mind , remove obstacles, and bring us back to the center of our being. It’s heart-opening.

Kirtan’s new Western forms are intriguing, making prodigious use of well-established Indian motifs along with the sounds and sensibilities of diverse ethnic cultures; it combines the music of the ancient world with the tones of modernity. The diversity of those touched by kirtan is historically astounding. Exactly how new is it? Call-and-response chanting is found in the very basis of religion, and it was developed into a meticulously well-defined system of knowledge in India.

What is wonderful about the kirtan experience is that anyone can sing to the Divine. The practice doesn’t require formal training. It doesn’t require physical flexibility. Unlike practices such as asana and silent meditation, which call for persistence, chanting can be immediately "successful" with just a little bit of good intention. Therein lies the beauty of this practice.

To feel how much grace can be consciously experienced within a group that is open-heartedly calling upon energies from the Divine gives us access to a most wonderful mystery! Many find this form of chanting raises their vibration and as a group brings these energies into greater harmony.

For me, it taps a wellspring of tears of joy, and releases many blissful states of Oneness. And within that bliss, gems of life-guiding insight seem to appear frequently, for which my gratitude to the singers, players, and all who came before them abounds!.

Having participated in kirtan for many years, I can say for sure that any qualms I had about my singing voice dissipated quickly, along with concern for correct pronunciation. All of that turned into an “I’ve got a lot of devotion I’m here to share” mentality. The experience of kirtan opens a doorway that stills my mind, guides me into the here-and-now, and dispels the notion that I’m in control. It amplifies my heart so I can clearly hear the calls that reside deep within, inviting me to recline into a spacious place of guidance. It deepens my connection with God, as I joyfully and effortlessly ride leaps of faith towards increasingly greater peace, passion and purpose.

I become immersed in the magic of a life filled with grace-risen dreams that are juicier and more ravishing than my own small mind could have possibly devised alone!

I feel waves of ecstasy in allowing myself to be transported into the power of the chant. It grants me the wisdom to learn that the external is truly just a reflection of what lies within. It helps me experientially to learn that in each moment we are being showered with the most perfect, ever-flowing grace. In this river of love, life becomes its own source of love, gratitude and devotion.