In his book, Chants of a Lifetime: Searching for a Heart of Gold, author Krishna Das takes us on his journey of self discovery and his quest to find peace and harmony. In colorful detail, Das describes his self destructive youth and his lifelong pursuit of a full understanding of life. All through his life, Das struggles to understand his purpose and explores different avenues, always feeling, with a deep conviction, that there is something more.
Das’s life changes when he travels to India and meets Neem Karoli Baba. Baba, or Maharaj-ji, as he is referred to by his followers, opens Das’s eyes to a higher spirituality and is the catalyst that changes his life.
This book is very much an homage to Maharaj-ji and the intense love and admiration that Das has for him is evident throughout.
Krishna Das is drawn to the practice of Bhakti Yoga – the yoga of devotion and the practice of kirtan which translates to “chanting the divine names” and goes on to explain how these practices allow him to find love and inner peace.
Through this process, Krishna Das gains a fuller understanding of love and life itself. He states: “Learning to be ourselves, seeing life as our teacher rather than as something that happens to us, all this is based on the faith that there is something to learn and something to become.”
I found it interesting that even in different cultures and at different times in history, the concept of the “Golden Rule” permeates the teaching of all of the great guru’s and philosophers of life. On this topic, Das quotes Shirdi Sai Baba with these words:
“Whoever or whatever creature comes to you, do not drive away but receive with due consideration. Give food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, and clothes to the naked. Bear with others reproach. Speak only gentle words. This is the way to happiness. The world maintains a wall – the wall of differentiation between oneself and others, between you and me.
Destroy this wall.”
Krishna Das describes the practices that he has learned and draws you into his world as he travels back to the United States and shares his chanting with people there.
As an added bonus with this book, Das has included a cd containing a number of the chants that he has recorded. The haunting music and beautiful tone of his voice is incredibly peaceful and helps the listener to better appreciate his story.
I found Chants of a Lifetime to be an interesting read and would recommend it to anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of Bhakti Yoga, Kirtan chanting or the stories of others journey for peace and a fuller understanding of life.
For more information, visit Hay House at http://www.hayhouse.com/details.php?id=4593&utm_id=3313
Or Barnes & Noble at http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Chants-of-a-Lifetime/Krishna-Das/e/9781401920227/?itm=1&USRI=chants+of+a+lifetime
Please note that Hay House supplied the book Chants of a Lifetime at no charge in exchange for being considered for review. My written review of this book is an honest reflection of my feelings towards it. Cam
Das’s life changes when he travels to India and meets Neem Karoli Baba. Baba, or Maharaj-ji, as he is referred to by his followers, opens Das’s eyes to a higher spirituality and is the catalyst that changes his life.
This book is very much an homage to Maharaj-ji and the intense love and admiration that Das has for him is evident throughout.
Krishna Das is drawn to the practice of Bhakti Yoga – the yoga of devotion and the practice of kirtan which translates to “chanting the divine names” and goes on to explain how these practices allow him to find love and inner peace.
Through this process, Krishna Das gains a fuller understanding of love and life itself. He states: “Learning to be ourselves, seeing life as our teacher rather than as something that happens to us, all this is based on the faith that there is something to learn and something to become.”
I found it interesting that even in different cultures and at different times in history, the concept of the “Golden Rule” permeates the teaching of all of the great guru’s and philosophers of life. On this topic, Das quotes Shirdi Sai Baba with these words:
“Whoever or whatever creature comes to you, do not drive away but receive with due consideration. Give food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, and clothes to the naked. Bear with others reproach. Speak only gentle words. This is the way to happiness. The world maintains a wall – the wall of differentiation between oneself and others, between you and me.
Destroy this wall.”
Krishna Das describes the practices that he has learned and draws you into his world as he travels back to the United States and shares his chanting with people there.
As an added bonus with this book, Das has included a cd containing a number of the chants that he has recorded. The haunting music and beautiful tone of his voice is incredibly peaceful and helps the listener to better appreciate his story.
I found Chants of a Lifetime to be an interesting read and would recommend it to anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of Bhakti Yoga, Kirtan chanting or the stories of others journey for peace and a fuller understanding of life.
For more information, visit Hay House at http://www.hayhouse.com/details.php?id=4593&utm_id=3313
Or Barnes & Noble at http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Chants-of-a-Lifetime/Krishna-Das/e/9781401920227/?itm=1&USRI=chants+of+a+lifetime
Please note that Hay House supplied the book Chants of a Lifetime at no charge in exchange for being considered for review. My written review of this book is an honest reflection of my feelings towards it. Cam
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