Kirtan is a shared time of devotional chanting, with short periods of meditation. Chanting is a spiritual practice that opens the heart and allows for an experience of deep inner stillness and connection with the divine presence within.
We will chant together in our beautiful temple sanctuary with the theme of Divine Mother.
Mother of East and West
(from “God as Divine Mother” by Swami Kriyananda)
There are many ways in which a devotee can worship God. In the Western World, the Father and Son relationship between God and the worshiper is prevalent. In India, the Mother and Son relationship between God and the devotee is preferred because the father’s love is conditioned by reason, whereas mother’s love is not conditioned by anything. The greatest sinner is still a son, to his mother.
When God is invoked as a Divine Mother, the devotee removes all the diffidence born of the consciousness of sin and thinks: “Well, Divine Mother, naughty or good, I am Thy child, and as such must find forgiveness under all circumstances, no matter what I have done.”
The Form Dearest to Our Hearts
The classic Hindu symbols for the Divine Mother—Durga, Uma, Tara, Parvati, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati, and others—while helpful insofar as they draw our attention to different aspects of the Infinite Being, are not the images necessarily to which feeling most instantly responds from its innermost being, as to an ancient memory. When it comes to giving our unconditional love to God as our Divine Mother, the most meaningful image will always be that which is most meaningful, personally, to ourselves. Whatever image we hold dearest in our hearts, then, we should accept as our own. We should then view that consciousness as loving us transcendently, unconditionally, as wanting nothing from us in return but our own true and highest good.
Going Beyond Form
Hinduism doesn’t tell us in what specific form to visualize the Divine Mother. Indeed, it tells us to go beyond images—to visualize Her with expanding love in the world around us: in the flowers, in the sunset, in everything that seems to us most touching, beautiful, and inspiring. Then, it tells us, intuit Her smile behind our every lofty sentiment; and finally, visualize Her as nirakara, “formless.”
The Divine Mother is hidden just behind the dawn, sun, night, thoughts, feelings, pride, and wisdom which you daily experience. During your daily experience, always think of Divine Mother.
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No experience necessary! We will share the words to the chants, which are usually in English and occasionally in Sanskrit. Our musicians use harmoniums, guitars and a harp.
Please come and join us for our monthly kirtans. All are welcome.
This is a free event. Donations are appreciated.
