Bhajans vs. Chanting/Volume 5 Sw. P

[Guest guest]

There's a difference between giving your all in singing bhajans, as I

always approach it as if Amma is there in person, and trying to give

a moving performance to please your subtle ego.

 

Showing off, unfortunately can be seen in over-embellishing the

singing, with too much emotion or undisciplined technique.   Swami P

comments and expands on Amma's teachings about Bhajans in his talks

on Side B of Volume 5 of his satsang talks, called "Bhajana as a

Sadhana".

 

tom

 

Ammachi, "Prashanti " <ammasprashanti>

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.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Did you watch American Idol this season?   There were quite a few

shows where the judges expressed disappointment for the singer "going

over the top" (over singing the song, to show talent, ruining the

overall performance).

 

Perhaps you've never experienced such "over-embellishments"?   The

judgement part comes down to what's good for you as sadhana.   As

a "regular folk" satsang attendee, it really doesn't matter about

ego's.   If you're trying to do what's best for yourself and others

in attaining the highest goal, then it's very important to see the

difference between the two.

 

Swami P explains that Emotionalism is one of the Pitfalls of the

Bhakti Path (not sure if on the bhajan talk or another).   Trying too

hard always shows, and the person would benefit from what Swami P

talks about on Volume 5, Bhajan as Sadhana.

 

Leaving the judgment be, as you say, Invokes ignorance, dulling one's

Light of Awareness.

 

tom

 

Ammachi, "Devi's Daughter" <devi.daughter>

wrote:

>

> Namah sivaya,

>

> 

>

> I can sure agree with this, Prashanti! Since I see my ability to

sing as a

> god gift to me, I enjoy singing .  I like to think I am giving my

all (as

> Tom put it) .

>

> 

>

> But really.here we go.Tom, why do you want to judge someone's

efforts as

> 'over-embellishing,' or 'attaching too much emotion' to the

singing, or

> using an 'undisciplined technique'? (I think I am very emotional

and it

> comes through in many aspects of my life).  Anyway, if someone is

singing to

> Amma, to God, then that is their gift to Her.  Just leave the

judgment be. I

> think I just get tired of all the analysis.  We are just trying to

do our

> spiritual practice.

>

> 

>

> > 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.

>

> 

>

> Be LOVE,

>

> Egyirba

>

> "Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of

Congress. But I

> repeat myself."

>

>  -- Mark Twain

>

>

>

>