If you want something thought provoking and exciting to do this weekend, come along to the Neo Humanistic Education Conference online. Its free and it's going to be amazing. Theres such a diverse range of presentations being offered by over 70 presenters from all over the globe. My one is called Nourishing the Land, Touching the Heart and Raising the Spirit with the Supra Aesthetic Science of Kiirtan, which I talk briefly about. I end this podcast with a very old kiirtan of mine from NZ.   

Emere, is a mezzo soprano from Aotearoa and volunteer in the  Feeding Programme in Auckland. She embraces her spiritual connection with the Tangata Whenua, the Indigenous people of the land, and with her singing, weaves together a beautiful garland of songs and kiirtans to lead her weekly group meditation.    

Late night kiirtan can be so peaceful and really help you connect spiritually and have a deep sleep. Listen and sing along to this avarta 'turning' kiirtan, six short kiirtans in a row.. 

Didi is an avadhutika, an amazing woman who helped to construct a Music School at Uma Nivas in India, a dhyan mandir 'meditation temple' in Brazil and is now working in Europe. In this interview she shares her different kiirtan experiences and sends out an encouraging message to others who are perhaps new to Kiirtan. Listen here to her interview and her original kiirtan.  

In my second Avarta Kiirtan I speak briefly about the powerful ideation of this spiritual music practice, then sing some old kiirtans, popular in Australia and NZ in the 80s. Join in and sing these with me, and experience the blissful effects. 

Turning kiirtan or Avarta Kiirtan is one of the hidden secrets of self transformation. Tonight I give a brief description of the ideation that goes with each of the six kiirtans in Avarta kiirtan  a musical/spiritual practice given by Shrii Shrii Anandamurtiji. There are two versions as far as I know, but I am giving the one I was taught many years ago. I then sing a short twelve minute avarta kiirtan in the hope that you will join with me. Its so incredibly beautiful and helpful to do before sleep. 

Sadhana aka Lorraine Duttta has been an amazing artist and spiritualist all her life. Tonight we talk about her art and her spiritual experiences with Baba when he was giving spiritual demonstrations explaining life, death and ego in 1969 as well as kiirtan in 1970. It is an honour and a privilege to hear her about her experiences and deep insights into life and art.  I end with an old kiirtan, that Anandii reminded me about today.    

There is no place on earth like Rarh for kiirtan- its powerfully ecstatic, its transcendental and a a supra aesthetic science according to Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar. Today I talk a little about my own experience of it and Caitanya Mahaprabhu's saying.. to the words of Rarh, to the tunes of Rarh I shall sing kiirtan..  as he would travel through Rarh on his way to Puri. I end by singing Hari Bolo in Daspera Rag, a traditional Rarhi kiirtan sung at the beginning. Click below to get the link to see it on You Tube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJvLcXs7yh8

This is Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's Motto and very profound guidance for a kiirtaniya. He was an example of what he preached  and  included everyone into his spiritual community no matter what caste or background, though it was very controversial at the time.  I then sing a bhajan i heard many years ago, called I love you till the Day I die, although I don't know who wrote it. 

Anandii Shares her Experiences of Dance, Singing, Creative Writing and more recently.. Kiirtan. Coming from a supportive creative background growing up, Anandii finds new meaning and motivation in her creative expression through the Yogic path of meditation.  Anandii was one of the younger participants in the Kiirtan Course and brought such a joy and enthusiasm to the sessions. She ends by singing her own kiirtan acapella style.