Kirtan: An Evening of Chanting

Join us for a beautiful evening of chanting and conversation. We will chant in Sanskrit accompanied by drums and percussion, you are welcome to bring any instruments you have to co-create this experience.

Kirtan is an uplifting chanting practice from the Bhakti Yoga tradition, we will chant melodious mantras in call and response, it is a great way to become familiar with the ancient mantras within yoga. These mantras can bring us into our hearts and uplift our spirits, evoking feelings of strength, courage, love and joy.

We will also discuss some of the philosophies of yoga, to deepen our knowledge and understanding of the yogic path. No previous experience needed, and you don't need to be a singer either. Come with an open mind and open heart!

Satsang Definition: gathering in community to deepen knowledge and understanding of yogic teachings and philosophy.

Kirtan is the yoga of the heart, it is a devotional practice in which we come together to sing, chant and repeat sacred and melodious mantras, names and qualities of the highest vibrations. In a typical Kirtan, the leader plays a Harmonium and leads a series of sacred chants, accompanied by a drummer, chimes and other percussionists. Kirtan is a call and response practice that builds in speed and energy, creating a meditative and ecstatic atmosphere.

The Sanskrit word "Kirtan" (कीर्तन) means to "sing the name", we sing names and qualities that can invoke higher and more expaned states within us. Although it is a spiritual practice is has no dogma, anyone from any belief system is welcome to join in Kirtan. It is encouraged that one brings their own belief system to the practice and even chant to the names of their tradition, in this way Kirtan is a uniting practice that transcends all beliefs. Like all music, Kirtan has the ability to bring people from all walks of life together, in one voice, one rhythm, one intention.

If one does not relate to the mantras, then they can tune into the vibrations and feelings when chanting. "Mantra" (मंत्र) is derived from two Sanskrit words: "manas", which means "mind" and "tra" which means "instrument" or "tool". So "Mantra" can be roughly translated to mean "a tool for the mind". Ultimately the mantras job in Kirtan is to calm the mind and heart, through Kirtan we can very naturally experience higher states of consciousness; joy, love, freedom, bliss, wholeness.

"Chanting is apart of my family's tradition. At my Lao family gatherings, monks would come to share blessings on special occasions; new homes, births, weddings and funerals. I remember the first time my mum asked me if i wanted to sit with her for the monks blessing. I was about 12 years old.

I didn't know what was being said, it wasn't a language I knew, and it wasn't a state I could understand. It was a repeititve gurgle, a low otherworldly vibratory transmission that I couldn't access at the time.

I didn't experience chanting again until my late 20's. I was undertaking my first Vipassana, 10 days of silent meditation in a temple in Thailand. At the end of each day we sat down to chant, after 14 hours of silent meditation, we chanted 'Namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammā saṃ buddhassa", and was bought back to my childhood. The words I heard on repeat at family gatherings, were finally making sense."

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