Those who are actually advanced in knowledge… worship Kali-yuga because in this fallen age all perfection of life can easily be achieved by the performance of kirtana.
Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.36
Kirtan is not just spiritual meditation music; it is a philosophy and way of life. To me it represents the essence of what I learned from my dad in a critical period of his spiritual journey in the late 1970s and the most impressionable period of my growth from ages 4-5, which by divine arrangement came to coincide. He shared the principles of the kirtan lifestyle over the span of a year, not as a set curriculum, but through the course of introducing me to various powerful spiritual experiences. These included, preparing vegetarian food, offering it to the divine, and eating it as sacred prasadam or “mercy”. And an introduction to the ancient yoga-texts such as Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, with all of their profound wisdom. He also taught me about Japa which like kirtan involves mantra repetition, but unlike kirtan which is practiced congregationally, japa is practiced as private meditation. Amongst these teachings, I found gathering with others for call-and-response kirtan chanting sessions, the most exciting. My dad said that this was the most important spiritual practice for our time. But really, they all go together as parts of a complete bhakti-yoga program.
In my experience, the kirtan lifestyle is the most profound teaching there is. This is a big claim, especially considering that I have traveled all over the world shared with people of many diverse cultures. Further, I have earned several university degrees in communication and psychology, contributed to peer reviewed academic journals, taught university lectures and self-development workshops, and am currently completing a PhD. When I started university I believed that the science of human behaviour or psychology would give me stronger more satisfying answers to the human conditions of suffering and happiness, dissatisfaction and fulfillment, failure and success. After years of study, lecturing, and writing, however, my realisation is that these understandings are weak in comparison to the spiritual principles relating to kirtan that I learned from my dad. What he taught me over the span of a year, I have been realising ever since, gaining deeper realisation and appreciation with each passing year.
Do you agree that kirtan is a lifestyle as opposed to simply sacred music? What do you think of my claim that it is the most valuable thing I know? Feel free to offer any thoughts or questions on this topic.
7 replies on “Kirtan lifestyle: The most valuable thing”
I do believe Kirtan is the most valubale thing a person can ever have. Because it is not just music but very sacred being divine.
I am taught Kirtan is a simple sacred music that anybody can learn very easily and practise very easily. Even a thickhead like me can also do some simple bhajans hoping to connect to the divine energy to share my emotions , however trivial it is, with Krsna , the divine source is the beauty of it.
I wish the children ,today, could get access to learn this soul nourishing gift in a more systametic way , like attending kirtan schools, in every suburb of Sydney at least, for a start!
Apologies if I meant anything off-key!
Hey Shyam Shyam, what a wonderful vision you share of kirtan schools for children in every suburb of Sydney. Who knows? Five hundred years ago Chaitanya predicted that the day would come when kirtan would be sung in every town and village of the earth. At the time people thought it was not to be taken literally, but more a poetic way of saying that people in India would increasingly embrace kirtan. But now we see Chaitanya’s prediction is coming true as people are embracing kirtan in all the major cities and towns of the earth of the earth!
Kirtan has enabled me to connect to a joy and ecstasy that I had previously never experienced. Now, when I chant/sing I go there in a heart beat. In this space, nothing else is needed, a deep silence occurs from which the rest of my life unfolds. I am deeply grateful for the experience of kirtan in my life……
Premananda, thank you for sharing your experience of ecstasy and joy in kirtan. Kirtan enables us to quickly bypass our conditioned mind and ego to experience the bliss of the soul. Although this should not be our objective. Our focus should be loving connection with the divine. Sometimes when I sing kirtan I feel my hair stand on end and tears come to my eyes. It happens when I least expect it and when I am totally giving myself with an open heart, in surrender to the name. A sad thing is that sometimes I start thinking, “here is the bliss”, “its happening”. And as I think this way, my mind is again in the way as I focus more on trying to get the bliss rather than surrendering myself to the name, and I lose it.
K for Kirtan and K for (C)Kontagious
Kirtan is Kontagious.
I love kirtan. Infact it has been the intoxicant such that it takes me away from all anxities, fear and deep philosophy. As Sri Prahlad says in the video just don’t think about yesterday or tomorrow and focus on the present. Kirtan really helps us do that. It has no side effects except that it keeps the heart in mood that it is never satisfied and always wants more of Kirtan.
I have seen so many people still dancing on the kirtan that you sung in March 2009 at Washington DC. Though they don’t understand anything about the wordings but still they want to listen to it as it relieves their minds.
Thank You very much for the Kirtans…
Prahlada prabhuji, yes…kirtana is definitely the most valuable gift we have been bestowed with. It is truly said that Krishna Himself dances on your tongue when you sing His praises …the mahamantra being the most powerful. You have His special blessings since you are able to make so many thousands of us join in the kirtans as well. God bless!
Hare Krishna!!
Hello Sri Prahlada
Have seen you once at mangrove mountain ashram-Fantastic-loved it.Purchased your cd and feel the benefits of kirtan you have discussed in these articles.You say your studies have been weak in being able to understand people re:happiness & suffering etc.l wonder how this is so?l would imagine you feel blessed in having a father to expose you to such a wonderful life, but many who are ill have not had this future,thus struggle and have numerous problems. thanks