Kirtan and Bhajan Immersion
A 4-Day Workshop Exploring the Path of Devotion through Chanting Mantras
Upcoming Dates:
Dissolve into Pure Love through the
Power of the Holy Names
“Sing from the depth of your heart. Let the heart melt in prayer. The joy of singing God’s name is unique. Leave aside all shyness and open your hearts to God.” –Mata Amritananda Mayi
This workshop invites you to immerse yourself in the art of chanting mantras, awaken the power of devotion, and explore and deepen your intimate relationship with the Beloved. Over four days, you’ll reveal your capacity to open your heart, trust, and surrender to God. Through your voice, you’ll offer your entire being, over and over, to your very Source.
This journey includes an overnight vigil in which you’ll dive into the sacred realm of devotion. To prepare for this mystical ceremony, you’ll learn different methods to awaken and fuel the fire of Bhakti in your heart.
Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of love and devotion. It is the path of lovers, in which the lover and the Beloved ultimately dissolve into Love. Bhajan and kirtan are two related practices that involve chanting to God from the depths of your heart.
God is calling you to awaken, to remember who you really are. One of the surest ways to answer this call, to cross the river of ignorance and reveal your essential nature as Pure Bliss (ananda) and Pure Love (prema), is by chanting the Holy Names. The great sage Ramakrishna affirmed that this is the most effective spiritual practice for our times.
This workshop will alternate theoretical content, somatic explorations to free the voice/body/mind, meditation on the Names, dancing as prayer, an overnight vigil in which each participant will have the opportunity to share their own prayer with the group, and, of course, a lot of chanting. We’ll also share some advice on how to start a kirtan in your hometown.
This immersive workshop is open to all those who hear the call. No musical or singing experience is required.
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Content
Theory
- Dive into Bhakti Yoga and the practice of bhajan and kirtan
- Learn the metaphysical principles behind the repetition of the Holy Names
- Explore the main deities of the Hindu pantheon, including Ganesha, Shiva, Kali, Radha, Krishna, Sita, and Ram
- Identify the different bhava (moods) for chanting and the types of kirtan (ecstatic, devotional, call and response)
Practice
- Move from chanting from the mind (performance) to chanting from the Heart (prayer)
- Practice exercises that prepare the voice and open the nadis (energetic channels), and do prostrations as a way to pray with your entire body
- Explore dance as a sacred pathway to go beyond the mind and free the voice, and perform somatic exercises that encourage surrender while chanting
- Work in small groups to prepare two chants for the vigil
“Chanting opens the heart and makes love flow within us. It releases such intoxicating bliss that simply through the nectar it generates, we can enter the abode of the Self.”
Workshop Leader(s)
Mehdi Dumondel
After studying theater, Mehdi began his spiritual journey in 2012, doing a two-month retreat in Latin America.
Since then, his thirst to know himself and to live in harmony with the world has never left...
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Schedule
Schedule subject to change.
Pricing and Practical Information
Dates and Registration
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