Kaliyuga - the age of darkness. Have you heard of this? It's a concept that comes from the ancient wisdom traditions of India. This tradition divides up various periods of the world's history into Yugas or ages. They last for thousands of years and cycle through ages of truth and ages of darkness.

According to this tradition, the age we're living in is Kali-yuga the age of darkness. There is quite a large body of evidence that tells us we are living in a time of darkness. All one needs to do is turn on the evening news or visit one of India's most holy and most polluted rivers to see that there is some kind of serious decline in overall dharma (innate rightness or goodness) going on. It's true there is much compelling evidence in the outside world of an age of darkness - but we really need not go beyond our own inner experience to see the marks of Kaliyuga.

Kaliyug is this time when it isn't our first nature to seek the truth. It's this time when we have to choose to be good. We have to choose to live in harmony with nature. We have to choose to experience the love in our hearts. Left to our own devices, our own accustomed tendencies, most of us, even the most yogic, would slide. The default setting - as it were - in Kaliyuga, is suffering. We suffer and our actions cause others to suffer.

Think about a typical restaraunt meal: In order for us to eat the burger, think of the animal suffering involved. The rainforests cut down for the cow to graze, the impact of pollution to get the meat to the store. The back breaking labor that picked the salad, on and on. Just to have a simple meal, we inadvertantly commit so many "bad karmas". We almost can't help it.

In other ages, the sages tell us people are born with the knack to automatically experience the truth and make it shine though their actions. They say that in other ages, people simply live in harmony with nature and with each other and are wise and happy without effort. But in this age, each of us is born with the option to be unhappy and wicked. Each of us is born with the potential to suffer and to share our suffering with others and hurt others in myriad ways. We are also born, of course, with the truth as our essence, but that essence comes wrapped within a great game of hide-and-seek, of forgetting and remembering. In Kaliyuga, darkness, forgetfulness, and ignorance are always the easiest options. To be truly happy, joyous and free, most of us have to become skillful yogis.

With this in mind, we can choose to see this time as one of tremendous darkness - or a time of tremendous potential. I believe that many of us as souls chose to be here now - and that we made our choice with the noble purpose of learning and serving. From this point of view, it makes sense why we would opt to be born into such a time and place. A birth in Kaliyuga is a particular kind of curriculum - one that we could never study at any other age.

Swami Muktananda was very fond of saying that this world is a "university of love". If we approach the world as students, then Kaliyuga ceases to appear as a mistake or an unfortunate development. It becomes an ideal and vastly challenging learning ground for those of us who wish to learn how to love.

It's easy to love when everyone is naturally kind and just. It's easy to experience bliss when the rivers flow with sweet milk and golden light shines everywhere. But try to experience bliss in the midst of a sprawling, stinking Asian slum. Try to experience love as you listen to a corrupt politician lie to the world on television.

In this time, those of us who learn to love really learn to love. Those of us who learn to experience the truth learn to experience it in a radically unified, unconditional way.

Because of the nature of the world in this age, we have to learn to cultivate the power of discernment - the kind of discernment needed to recognize the rogue dressed in a guru's robe and the saint cloaked in the business suit. We need to develop the discrimination to see the toxins beneath the surface of a squeaky-clean shopping mall and to see God's sweet and holy face shining through the eyes of a miserable and corrupt leader. The darkness of Kaliyug makes it difficult to see clearly. Nothing is as it seems.

Mother Teresa had a beautiful expression. She referred to the dying and the lepers - her "poorest of the poor" as Christ in his most distressing disguise. This is the work of Kaliyug: the Christ - that light of God - is there, but it is there behind an array of ever more baffling disguises. The experience of truth is there, but in order to enjoy that experience, we have to put forth some effort. This course of love - with all of its tests and assignments - can be a harrowing journey. But ultimately, it's worth it.

For each person, the effort needed to traverse the path is different, but there are some tried-and-true practices given to us by the sages and siddhas that can help any of us make the most of our time here and even enjoy the course of study.

Cultivate Virtues
Virtues are those qualities in us that shine with the light of dharma and the truth. This practice is based on the idea that the truth is already present in us in all of its fullness. By cultivating these qualities - such as gentleness or fearlessness, forgiveness or contentment, we are allowing our own real nature to come forth. By doing so, we are entering into a win-win situation. We win because the power of these qualities actually propels our own sadhana. Gradually, their light takes over and predominates over our more habitual egoic tendencies. The world around us also wins, because when we cultivate these qualities, we actually bring them into the world and make our world a better place. When we are more gentle, the world we live in becomes that much gentler. It's simple, but very high. "Be the change you want to see..."

Chant God's Name
All of the great scriptures and sages tell us that in Kaliyuga, chanting the name of the Lord is the supreme and most direct means for attaining the highest state. This has been my experience also. Whenever things are at their darkest - inside of my own being or outside in the world - chanting never fails to penetrate through the gloom.

When we chant out loud, the sound vibrations themselves resonate through physical matter, our bodies included. When we feel overwhelmed and knocked around 'out there' there's no better therapy than a good chanting session. And then, as you go back into the fray, your actions are suffused with the power of the mantras. Again, the world is uplifted.

There is no shortage of chanting CDs online. Find one that works for you. Check out Krishna Das or go online and listen to tons of free streaming chants by Gauravani.

Meditate
Sitting meditation is a supreme means for overcoming the Kaliyuga blues. No matter what the yuga brings, our inner place of meditation can be a source of unconditional reprieve and respite. In meditation, we withdraw from the outside world into the pure consciousness inside. Our practice is a time each day when we can enter deeply into a space of purity and truth. As we steep our attention there, our way of feeling and being begins to resonate with the purity and stillness of that inner sanctum. When we return to the world outside, our choices and way of interacting with the world is uplifted and blessed. Regular meditation gives us the power to navigate through our lives in a centred, steady, loving way.

Contemplate
Contemplation is the practice of using the power of our minds to apply yogic wisdom to our lives. Through contemplation, we learn to look past the appearances of people, places, things, and events. One of the great weapons of Kaliyuga is confusion. Nothing is as it appears to be. Things that appear to be holy or good turn out to be corrupt; surfaces that appear dirty or inauspicious conceal inner treasures. Through contemplation we learn to look with eyes of wisdom.

We can practice contemplation along with our sitting meditation practice. Many yogis like to keep a journal for contemplation near their meditation seat. We can use our journal to record insights or to engage in dialog with our own wiser, more enlightened 'inner Self'. A great defense against Kaliyuga is the simple practice of examining our lives day-by-day and strategizing ways in which to approach our circumstances from the vantage point of love and wisdom. Taking time out to work with our journals like this gives us prep time so that we're ready to act in the highest way when circumstances arise.

Stick Together
In this time, the power of satsanga- good company- cannot be overstated. It's important to surround yourself with people who help bring out the best in you. Good company is that company that constantly helps you to keep growing and keep expanding. In the University of Love, it's good to have some study buddies. Find people with whom you can share insights about sadhana. Meditate together, chant God's name and help each other learn to love. It can be very difficult to do sadhana in Kaliyuga - we won't find much support 'out there'. When we do find like-minded souls who share our love for the truth, it's a good idea to keep them close and enjoy their company again and again.

The scriptures say that at the end of Kaliyuga, when the darkness reaches its peak, a being will arise - an avatar - Kalki, to banish the darkness and usher in the next golden Satyuga. Personally, I don't want to wait for Kalki to appear. At least I will not wait for him or her to appear as a separate person or figure. It may be that this time the avatar will take a different form all together. It may be that he will take the form of that Force in each of us … that energy rising inside as you read this. No matter what Kaliyug throws at us, this quiet power there beneath our thoughts, there pulsing within our hearts is an option that we can choose. Each of us has the power to choose - darkness or gold - for ourselves and for the world in which we live.

As we each practice on our own in little ways and join forces with others to choose that gold again and again, the darkness does begin to lift. Gradually, we begin to graduate from the University of Love and the Golden Age in all its glory begins to dawn - in our hearts, in our homes, in our lives.

This is the work of Kaliyuga: the Christ is there, but behind an array of baffling disguises.

See more at harshada.org

Every year we do something remarkable: We take a small group of hardcore meditation students and visit the heart of Maharashtra, India for a 10 day pilgrimage retreat.

I can't say enough about it. People's lives are never the same after the India trip. The group is small- less than 10 people and we go to totally out of the way places to walk  in the footsteps of the ancient masters. I can't say its for everyone- but if you love Indian food, chanting, adventure, meditation and high voltage Grace, come along. This year's retreat will take place during the Ganapati (Ganesh) festival.

You will visit places NO TOURISTS EVER see.

We follow a retreat schedule every day with meditation, yoga, satsang, chanting and amazing adventures!

You can see more details here
http://banyaneducation.com/whatsnew.html

If you scroll down you can see a previous entry with more details.

In yoga schools and living rooms around the country, the ancient practice of Kirtan is taking off like never before. Kirtan artists like Krishna Das and Jai Uttal have become household names (in the houses where yoga people live anyway).  But what is it? Is it singing? Is it yoga? And where did it come from?

The word Kirtan is shorthand for namasankirtana, a Sanskrit word meaning loosely “coming together to sing the names of God”. Over the millennia countless chants have been created by seekers expressing their love for the Divine in all its myriad forms.

Usually the chants are made up of short Sanskrit phrases or mantras set to music and sung in call-and-response manner. Musicians play Indian instruments like the harmonium, tabla, mrdanga and cymbals to keep time and help everyone stay with the melody of the chant. Sometimes Kirtan sessions are done sitting down- other times people will stand and dance and move their bodies as they chant.

The ancient science of yoga developed by the ancient sages of India as a holistic approach designed to help people open themselves and evolve towards the state of liberation. Kirtan is a form of yoga designed to open the heart the same way that baddhakonasana is designed to open the hips. It comes from the tradition of bhakti yoga- the yoga of devotion. The bhakti practitioner moves towards union with the One by cultivating intense feelings of love, devotion, and longing for the Divine in its many forms. Among bhakti practices, Kirtan is key. By singing out loud, the seeker gives voice to their love and devotion- by gathering with other seekers, the power of devotion is multiplied and a natural and sacred celebration is created.

Origins of Kirtan
The practice of mantra repetition is ancient- much older than recorded history. In the lineage that I come from, kirtan emerged as a popular practice in India in between 800 and 1700 ce during a period known as the “bhakti movement”. Before the bhakti movement, esoteric knowledge in India was reserved for an elite class of male Brahmin priests or cloistered sanyassins (monks). Most of the ancient scriptures of India were composed in Sanskrit and were only accessible to those fortunate enough to be versed in the language. In most societies, common people were expected only to worship God and obey religious law. Understanding was not important and the inner experience of union with God was often thought of as heretical. 

The bhakti movement came about when great yogis and saints such as Jnaneshwar, Tukaram and Kabir, Namdev and Mirabai composed devotional songs written in common languages like Hindi, Marathi and Urdu. They wrote poems about their inner experience and the path towards enlightenment -and then set the poems to catchy melodies and rhythms.  Because they were set to music they were attractive to anyone.

The saints would then host gatherings and travel to villages and sing their poems for people regardless of their social position or gender. They would teach the songs to people as way of conveying the essence of mystical knowledge. They also freely introduced ancient mantras to the masses and encouraged them with their music to sing the mantras out loud over and over again. As audiences began to taste the inner experience the saints were singing about, they began dancing and singing along with the chorus of the songs- singing the mantras they learned from the saints. This is how the modern tradition of Kirtan was born in India. While the practice of Kirtan began with Hindus, it eventually influenced the Sufi tradition in Islam as well as the devotional practices of the Sikh religion.

The Name Migrates
As yoga and Eastern philosophy came west with yogis such as Swami Vivekananda, Swami Ram Tirth and others, small numbers of western devotees began to practice Kirtan. In the mid 1960’s, the Hare Krishna movement brought the practice of Kirtan front-and-center. Hare Krishna founder and Guru, AC Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada, educated westerners about the practice of chanting and eventually built a worldwide movement based around the chanting the name of Krishna. According to the story, he arrived in New York in 1966 and went to Tomkins Square Park- a central spot in the American hippy scene- and sat down by himself with a small pair of cymbals chanting. Gradually others joined in. Now the organization he founded, International Society of Krishna Consciousness, has a community with over a quarter million devotees in 71 countries. Every Friday in NYC there is still a wonderful chanting session that takes place in Prabupada’s original storefront temple on 2nd Ave.

Since the sixties, many western practitioners have taken up the practice of namasankirtana. Popular yoga teachers like John Friend and others have begun including Kirtan artists in their workshops and retreats.  Nowadays, a seeker can find a whole variety of different kirtan styles on tape, CD- even on on-line music sources like ITUNES. The styles vary widely- from the traditional Indian temple style of chanting to chants that include electric guitar and drum sets. My favorite is at Gauravani.com. Gaura is a Washington DC based Vaishnava devotee with hundreds of free downloads of live chants. Some of these are the most ecstatic recordings available anywhere.

I’ve been practicing yoga for more than 20 years now and I find that chanting provides a indisposable and beloved part of my spiritual life. When I chant, I’m able to bring myself through a gradual process of opening. When I first begin- it sometimes feels awkward. I feel hyperaware of the quality of music or the environment where I’m chanting. As the chant goes on and I give myself to the process, I gradually let go and begin to feel the subtler vibration of the chant. The rhythm, the mantras and the other voices around me begin to penetrate my mind and bring me more in touch with the feelings in my heart. Sometimes my awareness goes through layers of boredom or emotion. Other times the chanting takes me directly into a deep place of love and joy. Whatever happens, by the end of the chant- something has shifted. Often, I find myself swept into a profound state of ecstasy while I’m chanting. Some of the highest moments in my spiritual journey have happened during kirtan sessions.

There are number of things that make Kirtan a powerful a practice: It’s accessible- anyone can do it. Even if they can’t sing, they can throw themselves into the practice bolstered by the support and voices of the others in the room.  The mantras that we sing in kirtans are very special. They are known as chaitanya- alive with energy. The syllables themselves create the sound vibrations that bring the human mind into a sense of its own divinity. Because of this words like ram, shiva, ma, kali, and so on are given as names to the various divinities in the Hindu pantheon. The great Saint Tukaram maharaj used to say that when we chant, god is literally dancing on our tongues. 

June is Chanting Season in NYC!

June 12 Gauravani and his amazing band will lead a Kirtan session in Soho.
Details online
June 13 Rathyatra- the Hare Krishna festival of Chariots. At noon a dancing, chanting, ecstatic parade will start dancing their way down 5th Ave. from 59th Street to the Free Public Vegetarian Feast at Washington Square Park.  I will be there dancing with a number of students and friends- come join our little contingent!
June 14 Radha Krishna Temple in Brooklyn- Chanting, free food, love from 3pm until late at night.

Also... we will be doing lots of kirtan and visiting some of the birthplaces of the Bhakti Movement during our India retreat this August. Click here for details.

Monday, June 22, 2009
Meditating to Awaken
Posted by Elevated Existence Magazine at 10:54 PM

Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting meditation teacher, David Harshada Wagner at East West Bookstore in New York City to celebrate the release of his new meditation CD called "Meditation for Everyone."

Although his name was new to me, something drew me to the invitation in my e-mail inbox, and I decided to attend the event, and stay for the meditation class following - which happens to takes place every Wednesday night at East West Yoga next door to the bookstore. And I’m so glad I did!

Harshada is the founder and director of Banyan Education in New York, a writer, meditation teacher and a yogi, who travels around the world teaching people to go within and connect with a higher power, and also teaches mediation to soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

When he spoke last Wednesday night in the café at East West Books, he told the audience his goal is to get everyone to know their own soul.

"There is a part in each and every human being that yearns to be connected to the world around us, the people around us and to source energy or God," said Harshada. "In teaching meditation, I feel I’m giving people from all walks of life a way to connect with God."

He explained that most people who try mediation for the first time complain it is impossible or boring to do, and his goal is to change that view. "I present mediation so it's more like a hot bath and less like a cold shower," he joked.
The new CD offers three guided mediations that can be done by the expert of the novice, and Harashada's voice guides the listener into and out of each one – all approximately 15 minutes each.

"The CD is a user-friendly approach to mediation, mediations crafted for anyone," he said. "I lead you in and out, but the most important part is the chunk in the middle where I do nothing. It's in the gap."

I had the pleasure of sitting in on the class where Harshada not only guided a large group of us through a series of meditations, but also spoke about the goal of meditation – not just to get quiet and relax, but to go within and awaken to who we really are, to find the God energy within us, and to discover a new type of awareness. And the experience was amazing. I found time stood still for me, and I what was surely at least 10 minutes felt like only seconds.

If you happen to be around on a Wednesday night in New York City, I recommend taking his class at East West near Union Square. If not, I recommend his new CD. And I thank Harshada for the wonderful experience. I will surely be dropping by again!