er, I was with some friends last night. These friends like to chant bhajan. One asked even, 'is this alright with you?' I answered 'sure'. I did not really think I would vaporize, or implode. It was more like, hearing a departed lover's name, or an old love song. Inside, I was emotionally resistant, but I didn't really think the bhajan would 'hurt me', per se. I thought maybe there would be some metaphysical activity, but such metaphysical activity takes place in me ALL THE TIME. I don't like having anything shut off to me, out of fear.

Here I am to report, that without this clenching, and mind fuddle, and emotional confusion, bhajan enacted by shiny happy people is all right. I do not have to solve any conundrum, I do not have to 'surrender', I do not have to sift through every layer of life. I can just sit and hear, and feel the vibes of my friends. I do not have to figure out if this Krsna is real. The people, the karatalas and mrdangas, (dear old things!) are not harmful on any level. Small children become excited to dance, pat the drums with their little hands, or simply gnaw arhythmically on handy books. The nice smelling incense is free to rise, and perfume my clothes. (well hey, it beats cigarette smoke by a mile). By unclenching my associations, I was able to simply hear these pleasing words and voices, and just keep breathing in and out. The salient feature was the people simply singing.

The great dragon of fear was reduced to a little lizard, so hapless and green. It had served its purpose, and now joins the great amalgam of the vestigial menagerie in my imagination. Who's next?

okay so namaste you all.

Good thing you didn't Vaporize! I found it very cute how the one lil one w/hair so fair, was trying repeatedly to get you to join in. Did you notice? I like your Voice, thanks for your association here and elsewhere

Apres Laulyam, this is just lovely. Thank you for sharing!

I have been in a lamenting mood today, regretting that my awareness of the coming death, of all sorry ends, of decrepitude and despair, imposes itself on the good moments in life and spoils them. It's so unproductive. But how can I unthink what I do think? Perhaps you have found the solution: not to unthink what one thinks, for the thought will resist. Maybe rather I should shrink the thought. From a dragon to a hapless green lizard.

I will give it a try...

Yes Meta, how could I not notice. She is very direct and tender. Language is her second language. Boy, did I ever feel like Rick from Casablanca....'Sam, I thought I told you never to play that!'..................anyways, thanks for your association also. In despite of your long hairs, your presence exudes a sort of Cosmic Teddy Bear acceptance; in your company, even the most steel hearted mercenary starts thinking of hugs.


Dhyana;

I feel sorrowful like you say, sometimes, and it does indeed sap the joy from any little thing. It is unproductive, except for this aspect. It can sometimes make you so weary, that you can treat yourself a little tenderly. You might brush your own hair, or take yourself for a walk, or give yourself a cup of tea, as if you were some surly stranger. For myself, since I am stubborn and selfish, it's the beginning of an inkling of compassion...........for yourself, too. As if, you find yourself sitting facing a corner. 'How long you been here?' 'I don't remember'. 'Well for heaven's sake, whoever told you to go sit in a corner, they're long gone, possibly chewing gum and listening to some boom-box and shooting hoops. Turn your chair around. Go read what softbrain put in the 'Favourite quotes' section. You got all the time in the world to lament. You can always go back and pick it up later.' Go ahead and sigh. Even crying is good, it washes you out. It is not bad, sometimes it's necessary.

Darwin;

I let go of the gurus and books. Here's a song for you...by Steely Dan

'In the corner
Of my eye
I saw you in rudys
You were very high
You were high
It was a cryin disgrace
They saw your face

On the counter
By your keys
Was a book of numbers
And your remedies
One of these
Surely will screen out the sorrow
But where are you tomorrow

I cant cry anymore
While you run around
Break away
Just when it
Seems so clear
That its
Over now
Drink your big black cow
And get out of here

Down to greene street
There you go
Lookin so outrageous
And they tell you so
You should know
How all the pros play the game
You change your name

Like a gangster
On the run
You will stagger homeward
To your precious one
Im the one
Who must make everything right
Talk it out till daylight

I dont care anymore
Why you run around
Break away
Just when it
Seems so clear
That its
Over now
Drink your big black cow
And get out of here'

I mean to say, sometimes we just gotta 'drink our big black cow, and get out of here.'
Peace.

I completely agree, I still listen to kirtans and such whenever I get the chance. If it is sung well, it is nice music, and any good music makes me tap my feet and nod my head to it's beat.

Over at Epiphenom, Tom Rees has commented on a new (2009) study suggesting that communal singing fosters greater group co-operation: Group Cohesion and the community sing. The abstract of the paper itself is also interesting.

1966 ISKCON motto: "STAY HIGH FOREVER! NO MORE COMING DOWN!"

Come on, Brainiac!

First Born Believers: How Your Brain Creates God, and now the suggestion that kirtana is nothing more than "communal singing"?

Why must some people attempt to reduce the genuine, deeply-felt spiritual experiences of others, which utterly transcend the material realm, to something mundane?

I don't see the spiritualists (of whatever persuasion) here on GR dissing the atheist and agnostic members, so why the apparent condescension, minimization and invalidation of those of us who truly and undeniably experience the presence of the Lord in the Holy Names and elsewhere?

Um, I wasn't aware I was "dissing" anyone or their experiences. All I did was point to a recent study about the (positive) effects of communal singing. Experience of the Lord's presence may well be a subjective consideration, but the participation in the activity doesn't prevent all kinds of people extracting different types of enjoyment from it. Like I said, I still listen to kirtans sometimes, and also like Apres, I don't have to figure out if Krishna is real.

By the way, I am not an atheist or agnostic.

Sorry, then. I must have misunderstood your post.