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Kirtana standards: Lost over time?

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"Srila Prabhupada's Kirtana Standards," installment 2: Introduction (part 1) Background When I first came to ISKCON, in 1968, kīrtana was simple. We chanted Hare Kṛṣṇa in easy-to-follow tunes with karatālas and mṛdaṅgas, with the emphasis on hearing and chanting the holy name. Over time, devotees became more expert in playing the instruments. But we basically followed the simple pattern of kīrtana we had learned from Śrīla Prabhupāda. Kīrtana now has become quite different—and not always better. Innovations have appeared. Some trends and fashions have turned into norms. And over … [Read more...] about Kirtana standards: Lost over time?

“Srila Prabhupada’s Kirtana Standards” (Draft Preface)

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Installment 1: Preface etan nirvidyamānānāmicchatām akuto-bhayamyogināṁ nṛpa nirṇītaṁharer nāmānukīrtanam “O King, constant chanting of the holy name of the Lord after the ways of the great authorities is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all, including those who are free from all material desires, those who are desirous of all material enjoyment, and also those who are self-satisfied by dint of transcendental knowledge.” (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 2.1.11) This is a book about anukīrtanam—chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa by following “the ways of great authorities,” and specifically … [Read more...] about “Srila Prabhupada’s Kirtana Standards” (Draft Preface)

The Kirtana Standards book: Draft going online

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Among my current projects is a small handbook on kirtana, tentatively called Srila Prabhupada’s Kirtana Standards, developed from a seminar I’ve given. I have a finished draft and am adjusting it according to comments I’ve received. I’m going to start putting the draft here online, in parts, one after another, so that more devotees can read it and help me improve it. I especially welcome comments—suggestions, criticisms, questions, whatever. Among other things: If you were personally present with Srila Prabhupada and received or heard instructions from him about kirtana, or were present at an … [Read more...] about The Kirtana Standards book: Draft going online

Srila Prabhupada’s kirtana standards

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Last December at the Mayapur Institute I gave a four-day seminar about Srila Prabhupada's standards for kirtana. The seminar is now online, starting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fb5Cv6RYLI.Thank you to Pradyumna Misra Dasa for the shooting and editing. The full set of videos is available on the Dhama Media YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzN7cEEDufL4W-lg-p-8kFA/videos. Also available there is a version with a voice-over translation in Russian. … [Read more...] about Srila Prabhupada’s kirtana standards

Staying connected

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While so many of us are staying in one place, I'm doing an online talk and discussion on Srimad-Bhagavatam on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings from 8 to 9 pm EST. To join, you can click here: https://zoom.us/j/558762270. Or use the Zoom app, with meeting ID 558 762 260. UPDATE: Zoom conferences now all require a password. To get the password for these Srimad-Bhagavatam discussions, you can write to me. … [Read more...] about Staying connected

A lot to learn from Chicken Little

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In an old fable, Chicken Little (in Britain, we hear, it’s Henny Penny) gets hit on the head by a leaf or an acorn and panics, thinking the sky is falling. Here, for the internet age, is a slightly updated retelling I find amusing and instructive: The Story of Chicken Little. In 1943, during World War II, Walt Disney Productions made an animated version of the tale, at the request of the United States government, with the aim of counteracting Nazi propaganda tactics. To say nothing about ordinary folks, by false propaganda even sincere people dedicated to following a spiritual path … [Read more...] about A lot to learn from Chicken Little