Guest guest Posted June 10, 2007 Report Share Posted June 10, 2007 Note: forwarded message attached. Download prohibited? No problem! CHAT from any browser, without download. Sai on Conducting Bhajans Have the bhajans on as many days as possible or at least once a week. Have them in a central place where all can come. The Holy Man and the Psychiatrist, 132 When you sing bhajans, dwell on the meaning of the song and the message of each name and form of God. Sai Bhajana Mala, 30 You cannot insist that in the bhajans only songs on Sathya Sai should be sung! Fanaticism of that kind I very much dislike and condemn ... You betray your ignorance of the truth when you stick to any one of my names and avoid the rest. SSS, VIII, 75 Bhajan must spread good-will, love, ecstasy; it must cleanse the polluted atmosphere; it must invite all to share in the joy and peace. The nagarsankirtan (congregational singing of bhajans) must be radiating devotion and love. The ananda I derive from bhajan I do not derive from anything else. That is the reason I am emphasizing these points. Fill every moment with energy, enthusiasm, and effort. SSS, VIII, 47-48 Some persons attending bhajans do not move their lips at all. They may say that they are singing the songs mentally within themselves. This is not proper ... You must sing the names aloud, full-throated, as far as the voice can reach. Only then the Divine will respond in full measure and shower His grace. No one will go to the rescue of a drowning man if his cries are feeble. SS, 35, April 1992, 70 Together with melody and rhythm, you have to impart feeling to your singing to make the bhajan a sacred offering to the Divine. A tune without feeling is an infliction. Giving up conceit and exhibitionism, you must sing the bhajans in a spirit of humility and devotion. That is the right way to perform bhajans. Sai Bhajana Mala, 30 Bhajan must be a felt experience. Do not sing with one eye on the effect the song makes on the listeners and the other on the effect it makes on God. SSS, VIII, 60 Bhajans have to be sung and offered to God in an attitude of utter humility; they are not to be taken as exercises in an exhibition of talents or as competitions for mastery of musical skill. They have to please the Lord, not your fans. SSS, IX, 177 Bhajans should be sung with complete obliviousness to the body. Devotional fervor is more important than musical skill. SS, June 1996, 156 Pay attention to the tune, the meaning, the variety, the voice, the raga (rhythm), the tala (beat), and other fine points of the bhajans. Sai Bhajana Mala, 30 Let your heart pant for God, then the raga (rhythm) and tala (beat) will automatically be pleasant and correct. SSS, VII, 60 Do not monopolize the time in bhajans, by singing one song for six or ten minutes, repeating the same line often. Repeat each line twice and no more. Have only two speeds; one slow and the other, fast. In this way you can have in one hour of bhajan, more songs on more forms, more tunes and more variety, giving more people a chance. SSS, VII, 438 Let those with a good voice and musical talent lead; the keertan (singing the name of God) must be pleasant, it should not jar on the ear. If your voice is grating or out of tune, do not disturb the melody, but, repeat the namavali (song reciting the name of God) in your mind. SSS, VII, 177-178 If your voice is not pleasant or sweet, keep quiet; that is the best service you can do.Do not cause discontent or disharmony, insisting on singing because you are an office-bearer. Sai Bhajana Mala, 31 After bhajans ... there should be meditation for five to ten minutes.People should return from bhajan carrying the elevated, uplifted and sublime mood created by the atmosphere at the bhajan. Therefore, after the bhajan people should disperse quietly, maintaining silence. Then the joy and peace derived at the bhajan will linger and abide in the heart. Sai Bhajana Mala, 31 Have [bhajans] . . . as simple as you can and without competitive pomp or show; reduce expenses to a minimum, for God cares for the inner yearning and not the outer trappings. Even this small unavoidable expenditure must be silently shared, spontaneously ... not collected by means of a plate ... or a subscription or donation list. SSS, VI, 220 OM SAI RAM Looking for people who are YOUR TYPE? Find them here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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