Saturday, June 05, 2010

 

Sat Nam everyone.

Here is a picture of us (Jap Preet, Sopurkh and I) in Torrington Connecticut with our producer Bret, his wife Jane and daughter Natalia. We had a wonderful time... thank you to everyone there.

Lately I have been putting a lot of thought into how to maintain internal clarity and balance while being on tour. For me this is a moment by moment process. Here is a story that has inspired me on my journey, and that I wanted to share with you all.

There were two extremely talented and respected musicians in the Court of Guru Ram Das, the fourth Guru of the Sikhs (1534-1581), named Satta and Balwand. In fact on the day that Guru Ram Das became the fourth Guru, Satta and Balwand sang the beautiful Shabad that they composed:

Dhan Dhan Ram Das Gur, Jin Siriaa Tinaa Savaariaa.
Hail Hail to Guru Ram Das, the one who created You has exalted You.


Yogi Bhajan has taught us so much about this Shabad. I have been singing it my whole life. He taught that when you chant this Shabad it can totally transform you and bring miracles. I totally feel that kind of energy with this Shabad. It is incredible. I can only imagine what it was like for the sangat (sacred community) to hear that Shabad for the first time as it was sung by Satta and Balwand. It must have been astounding.

Hundreds of people would stream into the Court of the Guru every day, bow their heads to the Guru, give an offering for the free kitchen, listen to the Guru speak, and listen to the incredible kirtan of Satta and Balwand. People loved their kirtan so much. I can only imagine the beauty of it.

Well Satta and Balwand began to feel that since people loved their kirtan so much that it would be good to set up another hall where people could see them more often, and just be able to focus on the beautiful kirtan. So, they established another hall and left the Court of the Guru.

Everything was set to go. The invitations were sent out, and the grand opening day arrived. The doors were open, and the two musicians prepared for a huge crowd.

Nobody showed up.

How could this happen?

As the musicians sat in the empty hall, they realized in the depths of their hearts that people were attracted to the Guru, the One who they were singing the kirtan for. The One who pulls us out of our ego and confusion into our awareness and love. The One who liberates us. All this time everyone had been coming to see the Guru.

With heads bowed low they came back to the Court of the Guru and asked for forgiveness. The Guru embraced them and gave them their positions again.

This story is with me always. As we chant in every concert I see my Guru there and chant for Him. It is not always easy to maintain the focus and to remember to do that. But I find that it happens now more easily and with more strength. The moment I do this, it always shifts the energy and brings me back to that internal clarity and balance that delivers the transformation.

So whatever your path may be, may you find the way to truly worship the One.

love and blessings,

Snatam Kaur Khalsa

PS. If you would like to chant the Shabad Dhan Dhan Ram Das Gur, we have a version of it on Mother's Blessing available at www.spiritvoyage.com. Also, if you would like to find out more about Sikhism and the Sikh Gurus you can visit www.sikhnet.com

Comments:
What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing!
 
Wow, what a story! It somehow reminds me of the story of 40 muktey in the court of Guru Gobind Singh jee maharaaj! It is beautiful how the Guru accepts us back, even after we let our egos rule us....

Thanks for sharing!
And welcome back to blog world!
Love and light,
H. Kaur
 
Vaheguru! <3


bhalo bhalo rae keerthaneeaa ||
Blessed and good is such a kirtanee, who sings such Praises.

raam ramaa raamaa gun gaao ||
He sings the Glorious Praises of the Lord,

chhodd(i) maaeiaa kae dhhandh suaao ||1||
and renounces the entanglements and pursuits of Maya. ||
 
Well you showed me what true Love was all about during my first encounter with you at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, N.Y. this past Labor Day weekend. Since then I've attended your spiritual retreat in Costa Rica and have purchased dozens of your CD's to give them away as gifts.

I'm so very blessed to have witnessed your "Grace & Serenity" that I've been transformed to the Divine in such a short period of time through your blessings (your music). Thankyou...thankyou very much for sharing yourself with all of us.

Life is the precious moments of time that we share with each other from the bottom of our heart...and you certainly have shown the way!

The only way that I could ever possibly repay you for all of your teachings is to say that you are truly a divine gift from "God" and the only music that best descibes you is the hymn to the Divine Mother - which is you:

Devi Prayer - Hymn to the Divine Mother

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ0h1sb1IFI&feature=player_embedded


Namaste,
Bob Scheurer
A-Mon-Re, A Man of Light
 
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