Everything begins with a seed. The ancient scriptures describe this seed, or bija, as sonic in origin. They paint mystical pictures of a primordial sound from which the entire cosmos sprang. They describe planets, stars and galaxies as being magically strung together...
Jai Uttal: Singing to the Inner Vastness of the Heart
Jai Uttal’s eclectic East meets West sound has put his music at the forefront of the world fusion movement. Jai’s musical roots embrace a rich variety of cultures and traditions that span the globe and the centuries. From the hillbilly music of the Appalachian...
Chanting from the Soul: An Interview with Krishna Das, Part 2
Profiled by Time magazine and nominated for a Grammy, Krishna Das is regarded as America’s leading “chantmaster.” Each year Krishna Das gives a workshop in Yogaville and he graciously agreed to be interviewed. Krishna Das talks about his Guru, his path, and falling in...
Kirtan and the World’s Sacred Chant Traditions
If we look into creation narratives from different cultures, in almost every case the world is said to come into being through sound, through chant. Kirtan is the essence of Yoga, for by chanting the holy names, we experience a linking, a union, with the Divine. In...
The Healing and Transformative Power of Chanting
An internationally acknowledged master teacher, Jonathan Goldman has studied with masters of sound from both the scientific and spiritual traditions, including the Dalai Lama’s Chanting Gyuto and Gyume Monks. In this interview he gives an overview of some of the...
Artist Spotlight: Karnamrita Dasi
“Enchanting”, “haunting”, “utterly sublime”—just a few words that do not even begin to describe "Dasi," the first album by Karnamrita Dasi. Karnamrita has been chanting since early childhood. She has the voice of a gandharva (angel) and her songs of women saints are...