Krishna Das
Sunday, September 9th, 2007
Last Friday night we drove up to Northampton, Massachusetts to Smith College to attend a kirtan led by Krishna Das.
I’ve been listening to Krishna Das on and off for five years as part of my wife’s collection of music she uses in her yoga practice. Going to a live kirtan is a totally different experience from listening to a CD. Well, duh! However, the offset is even more than is obvious to a casual reader here who might have experienced something like this with their favorite musician on CD vs. live. Kirtan is a participatory activity and when you get in a room with hundreds of people being led in call-response chants by a charismatic leader, it can be an incredible experience.
For those of you new to this entire genre, kirtans like these consist of a leader calling and the audience responding in unison with a musical background to hang it all on. The words one chants have meaning (usually the names of Hindu gods), but even if one drops the meaning, the psycho-physical effects of chanting are quite real. Getting your head vibrating with a bunch of other people in a room is way cool, and yes, it has a spiritual dimension if you’re open to that. But it’s great even if you’re not.
This was my forth kirtan; my first was with Snatam Kaur, my second was with WAH, and my third was with Krishna Das this past summer here in Washington, Connecticut.
Both the kirtan Krishna Das (KD) led here in Connecticut over the summer and the one we just attended in Northampton reminded me of the presentations I used to do on my personal history growing up with a learning disability, finding technology, and making a life for myself with my new-found self-confidence and new tools. KD was lost, went to India (along with Ram Das, Richard Alpert), started to find himself and came back here on a mission to spread the word on finding one’s self through the practice of kirtan. Just as my story was never offered as a formula for others to copy, KD tells his story to give context to why he does what he does, not as a formula for others to follow. He is so humble, honest, and self-deprecatingly funny in his story-telling that even if you find the whole “Hare Krishna” angle a bit too new age, he pulls you in with the “nice Jewish boy finds self in India” angle. Krishna Das is the real deal, and he’s an expert at sharing it. He’s also a fine musician and arranger and his music, while seemingly just a vehicle for chanting, is uplifting and contagious.
Frankly, I was quite skeptical about kirtan a year ago, and I could easily see going to one of these events and feeling judgmental of folks who seem to be able to turn on an ecstatic reaction at the drop of a hat. However, as one stops judging them and starts thinking only about one’s own experience, it’s a lot easier to get drawn in. This is powerful stuff if you’re open to it, and even if you just approach it as sociological field work or are just curious, the music and chanting is contagious.
On the other hand, I feel like a bit of an outsider, akin to Jody Foster in the movie Contact where, at the end, she, the scientist doesn’t have the emotional or linguistic tools to talk about the experience she had. Well, I’m just a “regular guy” who went to a few of these things, was open to them, and got sucked in. No, you won’t find me at JFK with an orange robe, a cup, and a shaved head with a knot of hair on top singing Hare Krishna and trying to convert you, but you might find me listening to a Krishna Das CD in the car and blissfully chanting the responses to KD’s calls.
When we first saw Krishna Das in Washington, Connecticut it seemed that about half the audience knew what they were getting into and the chanting was quite good (the more the better). In Northampton, a much higher percentage of people knew what they were getting into and were familiar with KD’s music. They were younger and less inhibited (college town) so the chanting was much better, and the better it got the more stoked KD and the other musicians got. I’d go see KD anywhere but if I had a choice, I’d rather see him in a context where more folks participate.
Left to right: cymbals - Nina Rao, bass guitar - Adam Bauer, tabla - Arjun Alan Bruggeman, harmonium - Krishna Das, violin - Genevieve Walker
You can get a taste of his kirtan by listening at his web site. The Greatest Hits of the Kali Yuga (CD/DVD set) has both an excellent CD and a biographical DVD on Krishna Das. We have all of his CDs; my current favorite is Pilgrim Heart.
For a bit more, see Krishna Das at Wikipedia.
Richard, I very much enjoyed reading about your experience in getting acquainted with, and going to two Krishna Das concerts. It mirrors my experience a bit. I’d never heard of him before I went to his concert with you and Anne in Washington, CT. What a fantastic experience! Krishna Das is the real thing, a superb singer and musician. His interpretations of kirtans from India are performed so beautifully, in a genuine, completely heartfelt manner. I’ve never had an interest in the Hare Krishnas, but as you indicate, KD’s music isn’t meant to influence anyone about religion. It’s about the path he took, and the resulting discovery that he should share his singing with anyone who would listen. He’s now getting some well-deserved success. I really enjoyed the earthiness and honesty in the way he sings those simple lyrics, which are very rich and deeply affecting, thanks to his wonderful voice and the accompanying music. I’m going to see him perform again, as soon as possible. And I agree that his Pilgrim Heart CD is great.
Gary: I knew you’d have a similar take. I’m delighted we got to have this experience together. Maybe we can find a kirtan to attend in December, I’ll start looking.
As a yoga teacher (on hiatus), you have inspired me to check out Krishna Das.
Blessings,
Danny
Danny: Thanks for the kind feedback. I’m quite sure that you will enjoy his CDs and if you have a chance to attend one of his you kirtans will enjoy that even more. Do let me know what you think.
Richard,
I didn’t see KD at Smith but I saw him 2 days later in Montague.
What an uplifting experience! The only word I can think of is
“spiritual”. It was like being in a church setting. I went with a
friend. He had never been to a Kirtan. I had gone once and found it
truly refreshing and uplifting. At the chiropractor’s office I work in,
we have Krishna Das playing along with other singers. Since I
started working there, I now have a collection of KD’s cd’s that I
lister to all the time.
And about 3 weeks after the KD kirtan, I attended a kirtan at the
Helen Hills Hills Chapel on the Smith College campus. The singer
was Sat Kartar. There weren’t a lot of people there, but in some
ways is was better; because most everyone had been to a kirtan
before and so that made it especially “spiritual” and moving.
I would love to see KD again.
And my understanding is that Snatum Kaur will be retuning to
Northampton sometime in March ‘08. Hope to see you there!
Elaine: I’m delighted you got to see KD, he’s the real article, so to speak. I’d have loved to have heard him down in DC with the Dali Lama recently, that would have been spectacular to have two of my heros together. Wow.
Yes, one has to be a bit careful which of one’s friends one drags to these things as they can be uncomfortable for some. It’s less KD or Snatam or the leader, more the ecstatic people in the audience. Some of that looks forced to me although I don’t really care anymore and I can see past it, but others might not be able to and it might put them off which in turn would make the person more into it uncomfortable.
We have yet to go to a less “high end” kirtan, just Snatam once, Wah once, and KD twice. There’s one in West Hartford that sounds good. Maybe someday. They’re all good but KD is in another class in my mind, he’s definitely a holy man and I too now listen to his chants in my car and chant along. Makes traffic on the way to Kennedy airport sort of melt away.
I’ll be happy to come up to see Snatam in March, please don’t hesitate to be in touch, maybe we can meet up. Thanks for your “report” Elaine, glad you enjoyed it.
Hi Richard,
I totally agree that chanting with Krishna Das when more people are participating is the way to go. He was recently in the Pacific Northwest and I went to both his Vancouver, BC and Seattle, WA kirtans. This was my first time at Vancouver and my third at Seattle.
The church in Vancouver was huge and 1200 tickets had been sold (it was sold out). I thought “wow, we’ll blow the roof off this place!” I was amazed though at how many people were not singing. The people in the pew in front of me were sitting there like they were watching a movie!
Seattle, as usual, was so much better! The church is smaller and we had about 600 people there, but the sound was incredible, as was the electricity in the building.
Although I’d probably trek to Vancouver again, my preference is definitely Seattle. I’ve been chanting now for a little over three years and attribute at least part of my recuperation from a serious illness to the peacefulness that chanting gave me. There is more on my personal experience with chanting in the Krishna Das section of my website http://carmay.com/Krishna_Das.
I hope one day to be able to go to a weekend retreat with KD as I’m sure it’s a super experience.
Carole
Carole: Wow, great, thanks for your comment and for the link to your site.
I agree, there is power in numbers in chanting and equally, if many people are new to it or self-conscious it brings the energy down. However, one has to allow for new folks as the message spreads and attending a kirtan for the first time, one can be a bit overwhelmed, not to mention, both KD and Snatum Kaur don’t do a great job designing handouts of the chants. The only reason I chanted more between hearing KD for the first time and the second time is because I listened to his CDs and chanted in the car, learning the cadence and some of the words. Both would do their audiences a favor if they designed better handouts with larger type that can be seen in the semi darkness.
KD did a weekend retreat near us at Omega this past summer. We didn’t go for a friend of ours did and she loved it.
He and others will be back here in March for an all day kirtan. Not sure if I’m going to go to it as I’m not sure I could stay on for that long. We’ll see…
Be well. Thanks for checking in.
Since I went to both Vancouver and Seattle, I can tell you that it’s not KD’s people who design the handouts. They are done by the local groups. It would be good if he had a pre-designed one and sent it as a pdf to the places he was going to go to. Then he’d have more control over what the handouts looked like. And I agree that the fonts should be larger. Once they dim the lights, it’s very hard to see that small print.
I’m hoping that he does a retreat out here somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. We have some beautiful places for a retreat.
Carole
Hi Richard,
What program are you using for your blog? I have another website that I want to put a blog on, and can’t seem to find one on the net that I’m happy with. I like the way your’s looks as it’s clean and neat. If you could email me at cm@carmay.com and let me know, I’d appreciate it.
Thanks,
Carole
Carole: The program is WordPress and you can read the details by clicking on the About tab at the top of any screen. Glad you like the way this site looks and works.
Thanks, Richard. I decided against the blog and went for KrishnaDas.net :)
Carole
So, you registered a domain and pointed it at the same site. Good thinking. I wonder how KD will feel about your domain? Might be a good idea to run it by his manager.
It’s actually not pointing to my domain. It’s all on its own now. I still have the section on my website, but KrishnaDas.net is an entity unto itself. I would think he’d be flattered :-)
Carole: no, you miss my point. KrishnaDas.net points at a site that you control, it’s not his site and while it’s great that you’ve put up a site all about him and his work, you might want to pass this by his business manager just to stay in her good graces. I doubt they’ll have any problems with it but it’s generally good netiquete to ask.
Well, their office is closed till after the new year, so I figured maybe you were right. I pulled the whole site down. I now just have one page on my site about chanting. And that’s it.
Carole: Didn’t mean to make you paranoid. My guess is Nina (his manager) will be fine but you never know and it’s best to check first. If I were them I’d buy up some domains that are close to theirs and point them all to their site. Not their style though so I doubt they will.
Anyway, have a great holiday and let us know how this works out.
Namaste.
Hi Richard;
I hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season.
I wish you a wonderful, happy and blessed New Year!
I’m looking forward to 2008, especially the spring time!!!!!! KD will
be back in the Western Mass area!!!!!!!
He will be in Stockbridge in March and in Northampton sometimes in
April (April’s date TBA).
I’m already marking my calendar. My employer gave me a Snatam
Kaur cd for Christmas. She wanted to give me a KD cd, but she
didn’t know which one ’cause I’m collecting so many of them. So
I asked for Snatam’s “Shanti” “Peace”. That was one of the first
cd’s I heard when I started working there, and I fell in love with
that wonderful spiritual music!!!!!!
Looking forward to the spring and enjoying and participating in
some wonderful spritual kirtans!!!!!!
Have a Happy New Year!
Namaste
Elaine: Thanks for your kind thoughts and the same back to you.
We’ve been listening to a new CD, Invocation produced by Ty Burhoe. Highly recommended. KD is on it, among others. Excellent.