Bhajans vs. Chanting the Divine Name -Nandu

[Guest guest]

to be able to sit at Amma's feet and sing to Her Name to Her must be

a blessing beyond words.  i am living it vicariously thru your post.

 

Ammachi, "vallathnkumar" <vallathn> wrote:

>

> Pahaari Maa,

> Amma's group's bhajans are usually a mixture of simple repeated

names

> and more complex bhajans (both musically and in their words), and

> whether Amma is leading them or not, I have found this mix.  Why do

> you come to the conclusion that the singers who sing complex

bhajans

> are showing off?  That might be the case sometimes, but there are

many

> who like to sing and listen to complex bhajans, and they are also

> 'simple devotees'. 

>

> But in any case, for those with the vasana to show off their

singing,

> the Ashram setting is a nice opportunity, instead of playing air

> guitar in front of their mirrors in their bedrooms.

>

> I have tried to show off during bhajans (and I am only an average

> singer), and Amma (and other satsang people) have been so sweet to

me,

> treating me like a child showing off its talents to its mother. 

Their

> attitude by itself reduces my ego.

>

> Nandu

>

> Ammachi, Ardis Jackson <ardis1@> wrote:

> >

> > I disagree wholeheartedly with your interpretation.  True

Satsang and

> > all it contains arises from a place of devotion, unconditional

love and

> > selflessness (non-egoity).  Performance is ego based.  It

interests me

> > that you come to the conclusion that someone who disagrees with

you is

> > "misinterpreting" the performance, does not have the same gift

and

> > might be a bit jealous.  The satsangs about which I wrote were

in the

> > hands of the professional bhajan singers.  They had learned

specific

> > and complex styles.  The simple devotee who wanted to

participate, even

> > if they were gifted, did not feel an opening to share.  On the

other

> > hand, Shree Maa, a master musician, always encouraged everyone

to learn

> > and participate.  Her devotion, and that of her disciples and

devotees,

> > was evident at every satsang.  It was never a "performance".  It

was

> > centered in the Self.

> >

> > Pahari  Maa

> >

> >

> > On Jun 3, 2006, at 12:56 PM, Prashanti wrote:

> >

> > >  Showing off... interesting choice of words since the

PERFORMANCE of

> > > music,

> > >  singing, dancing, seems to involve by its very action the

> principle of

> > >  putting on some kind of show or demonstrating one's devotion

through

> > > the art

> > >  of celestial harmony.

> > >

> > >  What comes to mind as an alternative interpretation is what

my

> > > auntie-nuns

> > >  used to tell me about singing hymns.  Growing up Catholic in

the

> age

> > > I did,

> > >  we didn't have the same "sung" Masses or the community

pressure

> on the

> > >  priests to incant their versing with angelic qualities..  But

> singing,

> > > I was

> > >  always reminded, was like a direct line to God's ears.  So

there

> > > remains for

> > >  me a very cosmic quality to the opportunity to raise one's

voice in

> > > song.

> > >  "May it be pleasing to God."

> > >

> > >  If you sing beautifully, it is usually such a blessing to

engage in

> > > that act

> > >  that the joy which overcomes you perhaps could be

misinterpreted by

> > > someone

> > >  who does not have the same gift and who might be a bit

jealous. But

> > > you have

> > >  to dance like noone's watching, sing like you're alone in the

> shower,

> > > and

> > >  let the outsiders with judgment say what they will.

> > >

> > >

> > >