Krishna Das - Chants of a Lifetime

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PRAISE FOR CHANTS OF A LIFETIME

Krishna Das offers a gift of lovethis candid, lively, and helpful guide to the path that opens the heart. Chants of a Lifetime is an instant spiritual classic.

Daniel Goleman, the author of Emotional Intelligence

In Chants of a Lifetime , Krishna Das opens a door to a world of boundless love. This is a book about a real and transformational pathincluding all of lifes challenges, inspiration, and uncertainty. It serves as an invitation to unwavering happiness.

Sharon Salzberg, the author of Lovingkindness:
The Revolutionary Art of Happiness

Knowing the sweet power and depth of Krishna Dass singing, I was delighted to see, in this honest testament, how he got there. This book shows how Kirtan (singing the names of God) enters into our spiritual heart and then lights it up.

Ram Dass, the author of Be Here Now

Like a night of ecstatic chanting, this book throws open the doors of the heart. Krishna Das writes like he sings: with earthy, quirky, luminous clarity. Chants of a Lifetime is a reminder that simply uttering any of the many names of the Beloved has the power to free us from ourselves, and make of our hearts an offering to the One. May we never again forget. May we never stop singing.

Mirabai Starr, the author of new translations of John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila

OTHER TITLES BY KRISHNA DAS

Flow of Grace (book-with-CD), 2007

Heart As Wide As the World (CD), 2010

Heart Full of Soul (2-CD set), 2008

Gathering in the Light (CD), 2007

All One (CD), 2005

Greatest Hits of the Kali Yuga (CD/DVD set), 2004

One Life at a Time (DVD), 2004/2000

Door of Faith (CD), 2003

A Drop of the Ocean (CD), 2003

Pilgrim of the Heart (3-CD set), 2001

Breath of the Heart (CD), 2001

Live... on Earth (For a Limited Time Only) (2-CD set), 2000

Pilgrim Heart (CD), 1998

One Track Heart (CD), 1996

All of these titles are available at krishnadas.com

Copyright 2010 by Krishna Das

Published and distributed in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.: www.hayhouse.com Published and distributed in Australia by: Hay House Australia Pty. Ltd.: www.hayhouse.com.au Published and distributed in the United Kingdom by: Hay House UK, Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.uk Published and distributed in the Republic of South Africa by: Hay House SA (Pty), Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.za Distributed in Canada by: Raincoast: www.raincoast.com Published in India by: Hay House Publishers India: www.hayhouse.co.in

Design: Jami Goddess
Interior photos/images: Courtesy of the author, except where indicated

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private useother than for fair use as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviewswithout prior written permission of the publisher.

The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Das, Krishna.
Chants of a lifetime : searching for a heart of gold / Krishna Das.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-4019-2022-7 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Das, Krishna, 1947-2. Singers. 3. MusicPhilosophy and aesthetics. I. Title.
ML420.D158A3 2010
782.345dc22

2009032081

Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4019-2022-7

Tradepaper ISBN: 978-1-4019-3137-7

Digital ISBN: 978-1-4019-2771-4

14 13 12 11 5 4 3 2

1st edition, February 2010

2nd edition, March 2011

Printed in The United States of America

CONTENTS

Planting Seeds

Sri Neem Karoli BabaOcean of Compassion, Abode of Grace. (Courtesy of Balaram Das.)

This book is an offering to my guru, Neem Karoli Baba,
The One Love living in the hearts of all beings.

To Sri Siddhi Ma,
The full moon of devotion,
Shining brightly through the dark night of my soul.

To Ram Dass, my elder guru-brother,
through whom I first met Maharaj-ji.
In Sri Rams own words, I can never repay
the debt I owe to this monkey!

To all of the old devotees from whom I learned so much about love.

To all saints and sages, of all spiritual traditions.

To all of the pilgrims on the Path of Love.

To Kainchi, my home in the hills.

Sri Siddhi Mathe Full Moon of Pure Devotion. (Courtesy of Jaya Prasada.)

Guru and disciple, 1971. (Courtesy of Chaitanya.)

A fter almost three years of living in India in the presence of my guru, Neem Karoli Baba, he asked me to return to America. Sitting in front of him, at what would turn out to be the last time I saw him, I was petrified. When I left the States, I had given everything away, even my jeans. I imagined that I would always stay in India. Now I was being sent back. Where will I go? What will I do? I wondered in a panic. I didnt want to ask him what I should do when I got there, but I suddenly blurted out in anguish, Maharaj-ji! How can I serve you in America?

Maharaj-ji looked at me with mock disgust and said, What? If you ask how you should serve, then it is no longer service. Do what you want.