FEELING THE PRESENCE OF THROUGH DEVOTIONAL SINGING

Transcription

1 Aum Sri Sai Ram FEELING THE PRESENCE OF GOD THROUGH DEVOTIONAL SINGING Dr. Paul Erhard Sathya Sai Baba Centers North Central Region (Region 5) Monday September 1, 2008

2 COMMUNING WITH THE INDWELLER OF OUR HEART The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 2

3 THE GOAL OF THIS RETREAT: To explore ways of using devotional music as a means of helping each one of us connect with and experience this true indweller of our heart in a more effective way. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 3

4 Bhajana Bina Sukha Santhi Nahi. Peace and happiness can be attained only by singing the glory of the Divine Name and not by wealth or worldly possessions. August 6, 2008 The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 4

5 Bhajan has to be a thrilling experience, which must leave the participants full of pure energy and elevated enthusiasm. Sathya Sai Baba The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 5

6 People have told me that they enjoyed the energy of yesterday morning s session. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 6

7 We must all put ull energy into our singing. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 7

8 Swami puts His complete energy into us. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 8

9 Children in the SSE session told me: We have to give it all your effort! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 9

10 GRACE AND EFFORT The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 10

11 Our EFFORT to move closer to God through singing from HEARTS FULL OF LOVE is matched by God s Grace. God MUST respond with GRACE by moving closer to us with HIS LOVE. We feel our love and His Love. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 11

12 Swami, why is it that of all the millions who come to you, that only a few reach the goal? The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 12

13 LACK OF INTENSITY! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 13

14 The greater the intensity of our effort, the greater will be the trill. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 14

15 Bhakti (Devotion) is an ardent prayer emanating from the cave of the heart in all sincerity and flowing in the form of a flooded river toward the Lord in the form of love. Sathya Sai Baba, October 8, 1986 The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 15

16 GANESHA SHARANAM, SHARANAM GANESHA The prayer of taking refuge in the Lord. Pray to Him to remove all our obstacles, all our problems The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 16

17 If we come to the bhajan session with mental clutter, use this opening Ganesh bhajan as a blessed opportunity to offer all the mental clutter to the Lord. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 17

18 Oh Ganesha, please, You take all the clutter. Let me be free. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 18

19 Dear Lord Ganesha, We pray from the bottom of our hearts that You help us to reside in the bottom of our hearts! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 19

20 I AM READY! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 20

21 Ganesha is ready, waiting. We simply have to ask. It is up to us to take that one step The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 21

22 Every day, dear Lord, help us to remember to take that one step! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 22

23 No effort is wasted! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 23

24 So sing with the full energy, offering our sincere yearning to move inward The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 24

25 We have total and complete faith that Ganesha will respond, must respond! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 25

26 Swami loves us and wants us to sanctify our lives. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 26

27 I have come to light the lamp of love in your hearts, and to see that it shines brighter and brighter day by day. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 27

28 I am always with you, prompting you and guiding you. Live always in that constant presence! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 28

29 When all the participants in a bhajan (session) SING IN UNISON, what sacred vibrations are produced and what Divine energies are released! When these vibrations fill the world, what changes can they not bring about! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 29

30 What does Swami mean by SINGING IN UNISON? Singing together as one voice. The key is knowing when to sing what notes. The WHEN is RHYTHM and the WHAT is PITCH The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 30

31 In group singing, the most important element is singing what we sing at exactly the same time. This gives power of intention. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 31

32 Grace and Effort. YES!!! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 32

33 THREE MAIN COMPONENTS OF A DEVOTIONAL SONG 1) WORDS 2) MUSIC 3) BHAVA (FEELING) The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 33

34 1) WORDS of a song express some kind of communication with the Divine The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 34

35 THE PURPOSE OF THE WORDS: To focus our attention inward to our heart, the seat of the spiritual dimension of life. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 35

36 The words must be clear! Make a sincere and conscious effort to articulate clearly. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 36

37 Question: Does focusing on the words and the rhythm take us away from the devotion? The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 37

38 Mere devotion is not enough. It must be regulated by reason and discrimination. Reason makes devotion a sharp instrument! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 38

39 Where is God? God is found at the point of concentration The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 39

40 GANESHA SHARANAM, SHARANAM GANESHA Lord Ganesha, I bow down to thee. I take refuge in YOU! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 40

41 2) MUSIC The part of a song that is the aspect of singing. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 41

42 THE PURPOSE OF THE MUSIC: to amplify the power of the words and bring the words to life. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 42

43 MELODY, the Bhajan tune, is comprised of PITCH (Raga: swaras) and RHYTHM (Tala: beats) The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 43

44 2.a.) PITCH: The relative highness and lowness of the notes (frequency, or number of vibrations) The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 44

45 RAGA: The notes of a particular Bhajan are derived from one raga (scale). The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 45

46 GANESHA SHARANAM: Raga HAMSADHWANI: sa re2 ga2 pa ni2 sa sa ni2 pa ga2 re2 sa The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 46

47 The effort we make to gain this knowledge and understanding is our effort to remove mental fog. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 47

48 Always be clear! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 48

49 To sing the swaras properly, it is necessary to orient every pitch to sa. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 49

50 Sing swaras with the drone. Good practice: hear the drone, generate the pitch of a swara in your head first, then sing it. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 50

51 SWARAS (notes) of the song with equal rhythm: s s n s s p g p s n s s n r r n r r n r n p n r r s g g g r g g r g r s r g g r r r r g r s s s r g r s s The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 51

52 NOTICE: The shape of the melody. It mirrors something about Ganesh: The shape of the melodic line creates an image of bowing down. The first phrase also creates the shape of Ganesh s elephant trunk. The 2 nd and 3 rd phrase build in intensity by going successively to higher notes. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 52

53 s s n s s p g p s n s s n r r n r r n r n p n r r s g g g r g g r g r s r g g r r r r g r s s s r g r s s The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 53

54 2.b.) RHYTHM: Refers to when the different syllables of the song are sung in the continuum of time. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 54

55 COUNT and CLAP: The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 55

56 Add the drum, sing and clap The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 56

57 D D. D D D D. D D D D D. D. D D. D D D D. D D D D D D D D, D D D D D D. D D D D D D D., D D D D D D D D D D D D D D. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 57

58 WORDS AND RHTYHM COMBINED The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 58

59 CLAIRTY OF THE WORDS: Being very conscious of every word you are singing The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 59

60 CLARITY OF THE WORDS: Making the text, the lyrics, easy to grasp for people who are less familiar with the bhajan. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 60

61 Making the effort to sing the words clearly: Do we want the Lord to be able to understand us? Make it easy for Him! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 61

62 EXPERIENCE AND BRING OUT THE ENERGY OF EACH SYLLABLE OF EACH WORD. The energy of these words is important The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 62

63 BRINGING OUT THE CONSONANTS AND VOWELS The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 63

64 PITCH AND RHYTHM COMBINED: sing and clap The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 64

65 s s. n s s p. g p s n s. s. n r. r n r r. n r n p n r r s, g g g r g g. r g r s r g g., r r r r g r s s s r g r s s. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 65

66 THE POWER OF DEVOTIONAL SINGING The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 66

67 When all the participants in a bhajan (session) SING IN UNISON, what sacred vibrations are produced and what Divine energies are released! When these vibrations fill the world, what changes can they not bring about! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 67

68 What does Swami mean by SINGING IN UNISON? Singing together as one voice. The key is knowing when to sing what notes. The WHEN is RHYTHM and the WHAT is PITCH The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 68

69 In group singing, the most important element is singing what we sing at exactly the same time. This gives power of intention. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 69

70 The ABC of excellent group singing is Always Be Counting the RHYTHM. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 70

71 This requires in inner counting. This inner counting brings life to the music. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 71

72 COUNT and CLAP: The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 72

73 Always Be Counting The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 73

74 When everybody is counting (feeling the inner rhythmic pulse) everybody can sing with confidence and power. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 74

75 Everyone can move forward like a Lion, rather than follow like sheep The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 75

76 The Drum is our focal point toward which we all must orient. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 76

77 Always be listening to the drum to keep track of the beat of the music. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 77

78 When we sing with confidence, the doors of our heart opens automatically and we really get into the singing. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 78

79 Sing Ganesha again: count, clap, sing with confidence. BE TOGETHER! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 79

80 WORDS, PTICH & RHYTHM COMBINED The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 80

81 3) BHAVA: THE EXPERIENCE OF SINGING WITH EMOTIONAL ENERGY The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 81

82 Man is also essentially an embodiment of love. Man s love is becoming polluted because it is diverted towards worldly things. It is not possible to get the reflection of the beautiful divine Lord in a heart which is polluted. Sathya Sai Baba, October 8, 1986 The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 82

83 Bhajans must be a felt experience (not a mechanical experience). Do not sing with one eye on the effect the song makes on the listeners and the other, on the effect it makes on God. Let your heart PANT for God. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 83

84 The Bhava is our feeling of sincerely praying to the Lord to protect us and remove obstacles that stand before us. We have to make a great effort to focus and direct our attention and energy on God, to focus and direct the prayer deep into our heart. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 84

85 Singing with this intense feeling takes us within so that real devotion can happen: The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 85

86 PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: WORDS PITCH RHYTHM BHAVA The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 86

87 Bhakti (Devotion) is an ardent prayer emanating from the cave of the heart in all sincerity and flowing in the form of a flooded river toward the Lord in the form of love. Sathya Sai Baba, October 8, 1986 The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 87

88 Intensity Of Love Intensity Of Yearning Intensity Of Adoration The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 88

89 Swami, why is it that of all the millions who come to you, that only a few reach the goal? The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 89

90 LACK OF INTENSITY! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 90

91 BEING CLEAR ON WHY WE ARE SINGING BHAJANS The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 91

92 When all the participants in a bhajan (session) SING IN UNISON, what sacred vibrations are produced and what Divine energies are released! When these vibrations fill the world, what changes can they not bring about! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 92

93 Be aware of singing together in Unity with those around you. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 93

94 THE ROLE OF THE LEAD SINGER: to make the song easy for others to follow The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 94

95 Words must be c l e a r l y a r t I c u l a t e d The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 95

96 THE ROLE OF THE INSTRUMENTS The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 96

97 To provide all the singers with the PITCH and RHYTHM framework. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 97

98 Remember: The Drum is the focal point toward which we all must orient our singing, i.e. to keep track of the beat of the music. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 98

99 "Musical instruments used during bhajans should not drown the voice of the singer and who follow. If there is more than one instrument used, maintain balance among instruments along with singing." The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 99

100 Using our awareness of the aspects of Pitch and Rhythm, let us sing together as a unified spiritual army of love. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 10

101 Thus, while putting in the effort to sing with love, we have to also be sure put in the effort as a group to Always Be Careful (ABC) of Pitch and Rhythm. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 10

102 We have to force ourselves to sing with love, to feel that flow of the love of devotion. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 10

103 GANESHA SHARANAM, SHARANAM GANESHA Lord Ganesha, I bow down to thee. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 10

104 Our intention must be clear! We are praying to the Lord to protect us and remove obstacles. This is not a selfish prayer. We are praying to the Lord to protect all humanity! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 10

105 SING Ganesha with heartfelt love, adoration, and full faith and The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 10

106 Remember!: Always Be Careful (ABC of Pitch and Rhythm The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 10

107 Bhakti (Devotion) is an ardent prayer emanating from the cave of the heart in all sincerity and flowing in the form of a flooded river toward the Lord in the form of love. Sathya Sai Baba, October 8, 1986 The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 10

108 Bada (big) Chitta (Sat CHITananda - awareness) Chora (Stealer) Brindavana (heart of everyone) Sanchara (one who moves) The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 10

109 One who moves in the heart constantly waiting for us to open our hearts with love. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 10

110 Love is the key, so open the doors! The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 11

111 Gopala, Gopala, he Murali Gopala The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 11

112 Gopala cowherd, one who tends the gentle animals, animals who provide nourishment to mankind. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 11

113 Murali - flute with nine wholes. Swami says that our body is the murali, the flute thru which He plays His Divine music. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 11

114 May we all be flutes in His Hand. Let us sing His melody. We ll sing at His command. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 11

115 Govardhana dhara - He lifts the mountain of worries & holds it He protects us from the unending storm and fury of life. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 11

116 Gopala bala - Young Gopala The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 11

117 Gopi Manohara Radhe Gopala - One who enables the gopies to rejoice, the gopala of Radha. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 11

118 Swami says that 16,000 Gopis are none other than the petals of the Sahassara Chakra. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 11

119 As energy rises the balanced bloom of the flower enables us to merge with God. The 18th North Central Region Sai Conference and Retreat 11