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Sounds of Liberation Benefit Concerts Boston Jan 12 & NYC Jan 13, 2018

Such an honor and delight to listen and Chant with this wonderful woman Ani Choying Drolma. I was enchanted by her voice on a CD playing in Tibetan restaurant downtown years ago, and to meet her magnetic personality and hear of the great work she’s done for girls, is such a blessing. She led the chanting along with Krishna Das, and Lama Tenzin in benefit for Shedrub Development Fund here in NYC and Boston. Tashi Delek!

Here are some photos from two lovely evenings ... Boston Jan 12 & NYC Jan 13, 2018.
Krishna Das, Ani Choying Drolma, Manose Newa and Lama Tenzin Sangpo, together with musicians Noah Hoffeld on cello, Mark Egan on bass, Arjun Bruggeman on tabla, me on kartal, and music director John McDowell.

CHITHEADS Podcast: Nina Rao on Kirtan, Hanuman and Devotion

I had a nice chat with Jacob Kyle of Chitheads about things I love. Here's a post from him: 

"This week's episode with Nina Rao Chant is out today. For anyone with an interest in Kirtan, the subject of devotion, and Hanuman, this one's for you.
Thank you, Nina, for your heart-centered approach to it all. I need conversations like this to pull me down from the cold rafters of my mind and to remind me that it's all about love..."

listen here

Listen to Podcast

Listen to Podcast

Summer Retreat With Nina! June 23-25 Kripalu, MA

June 23-25, 2017: Immerse in the Ocean of Chant, Mantra, and Song. You can reserve you spot to chant all weekend long at the wonderful Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health website Kripalu.org. Please write to me if you have any questions about the retreat. Here is some information and registration link. I do hope you will join me. Ram Ram.

This retreat is for everyone; no chanting experience required.

Immerse yourself in the sacred practice of chant from the spiritual traditions of India to quiet your mind and open your heart. Whether you are an experienced chanter or a beginner, come explore practices that transform you from the inside out, including

*Group japa (mantra repetition)
*Asana practice led by Amanda Harding that connects body and mind with breath and movement, *accompanied by live chanting and music by Nina Rao and friends
*Group chanting of prayers and kirtan (call-and-response chanting)
*Simple mantra repetition
*Recitation of specific prayers such as the Hanuman Chalisa, Lalita Saharasranam, and Mahishasura Mardini Stotram
*Puja (devotional offerings)

Take time out to retreat into the heart space and create a sustainable personal practice that fits into your daily routine at home. Word sheets will be provided, as well as reading and audio lists for support after the retreat. By spending time with like-minded seekers and practicing together, you strengthen your own practice and find that inner place of refuge to which you can always return.

MORE INFO & REGISTER HERE

Nina Rao on Synchronicity with Noah Lampert

My guest today is Kirtan singer and lovely person, Nina Rao.Nina learned traditional chants (bhajans) from her grandfather in a village in south India when she was nine years old. The chants quietly stayed with her until she rediscovered chanting with Krishna Das in New York in 1996.Her childhood was spent living in and moving between many countries around the world and when she settled in New York her working life began in the banking world, switched to organizing and leading photographic wildlife safaris in Africa and India, and now for many years, is Krishna Das' business manager and assistant.

Topics Discussed:

  • Nina's worldly and inner journeys

  • The concept of a Guru

  • Kirtan as a regular practice

  • The power of sound/music

  • The concept of Home

  • The evolution of the Kirtan movement in the West

  • Understanding the "why" behind focusing on a particular path

  • The importance of an open heart

Mahalo Maui

Mahalo Aloha. A big thank you to all who shared in Spring on Maui. Here I am with Baba Ram Dass. 

Photo by John Phaneuf for me to remember by.

Enjoy this YouTube playlist of some of the chants that we did together in Maui including the new Tashi Lama Chenno...
These are the wonderful musicians I had a chance to chant with: Benjy Wertheimer, Mark Gorman, Genevieve Walker, Heather Wertheimer, Trevor Hall, and Daniel Johnson.

Synchronicity Podcast with Nina Rao

My guest today is Kirtan singer and lovely person, Nina Rao. Nina learned traditional chants (bhajans) from her grandfather in a village in south India when she nine years old. The chants quietly stayed with her until she rediscovered chanting with Krishna Das in New York in 1996.

My guest today is Kirtan singer and lovely person, Nina Rao. Nina learned traditional chants (bhajans) from her grandfather in a village in south India when she nine years old. The chants quietly stayed with her until she rediscovered chanting with Krishna Das in New York in 1996. Her childhood was spent living in and moving between many countries around the world and when she settled in New York her working life began in the banking world, switched to organizing and leading photographic wildlife safaris in Africa and India, and now for many years, is Krishna Das' business manager and assistant. Topics Discussed

Nina's worldly and inner journeys The concept of a Guru Kirtan as a regular practice The power of sound/music The concept of Home The evolution of the Kirtan movement in the West Understanding the "why" behind focusing on a particular path The importance of an open heart

To find out more about Nina visit her website: ninaraochant.com This week's book giveaway is Tom Robbins, "Skinny Legs and All." To enter the weekly book giveaway contests join the Synchronicity Community right here: eepurl.com/bSWrqT And of course subscribe to Synchronicity today because it's a smart thing to do.