Deepen the Loving Presence Within & Develop Inner Strength Through Devotional Chanting With Krishna Das

Module 1 — Gathering in the Heart Space: Welcome & Overview With Chanting (August 12)

If we find a better way to go through these days, it will reverberate throughout our lives.
— Krishna Das

In this opening module, KD will lay out the foundation of this course and begin sharing his experiences on the spiritual path. Your understanding of life will expand, and the possibility of living each day with powerful joy will unfold for you.

He’ll share teachings he’s received from Buddhism, Hinduism, Tantra, and more. And you’ll discover how there will be a LOT of spontaneity as KD responds in the moment to the group dynamic and its needs… beginning with a powerful guided chant.

In this module, you’ll:

Start this session (as you will every session!) with the Hanumat Stawan — a prayer, invocation, and mantra all in one
Gather in the virtual heart space with your fellow participants to experience new breakthroughs
Learn how KD’s time in India profoundly influenced him, providing a whole new context for living in the world
Explore different wisdom traditions and practices KD has been immersed in over the last 50 years — including how these varied wisdom streams influenced him, complementing each other as they filled the lake of his heart
Participate in a guided chant, “Sri Ram Jai Ram,” “Hare Ram,” or similar

Module 2 — The Practice of the Repetition of the Name (August 19)

One of KD’s most beloved chanting practices is Repetition of the Name — meaning the Divine name (or names) of God.

In this module, he’ll share how every aspect of his life has been positively affected by this powerful practice.

He’ll also explain how many of the spiritual benefits of this practice can’t be explained using the intellect — instead, you’ll feel it from within as you expose yourself to all the different aspects of practice.

During this session, you’ll explore:

How the Sacred Names are revealed names that come from within — and have been spoken in this world, revealed by the Great Beings who manifest Truth
The practice of Kirtan, chanting with melody, music, and quiet recitation
Powerful devotional poetry chosen in the moment, for the moment — perhaps from Kabir, Namdev, Rumi, Mirabai, or Tukaram
How taking refuge in the depth of your own heart can conquer fear, anxiety, and suffering
The underlying philosophies behind Repetition of the Name, illuminated by stories of these saints: Sri Ramakrishna, Ramana Maharshi, Neem Karoli Baba, and Anandamayi Ma

Module 3 — Dr. Robert Svoboda: The Ramayana (August 26)

This week, KD welcomes a special guest and friend, Dr. Robert Svoboda — who’s been immersed in Indian spiritual culture for many years and is the first Westerner to graduate from a college of Ayurveda and become licensed to practice Ayurveda in India.

Throughout this module, the two will share how the spiritual culture of India has impacted their lives. You’ll hear stories about their gurus and teachers… and how they still feel these presences intimately in their lives.

During this module, Robert and KD will guide you to:

Understand why the Ramayana, a sacred ancient text, still provides a framework for living your life in this day and age
Explore short readings and chanting prayers, including Sita’s Prayer and Rudraashtak
Develop the “wiring” for unconditional love through the practice of devotional (Bhakti) yoga
Explore the recognition and ripening of Real Love — a love that transcends romantic or emotional love
Receive practices for opening your heart, calming your mind, and developing altruistic intentions towards all beings, including yourself

Module 4 — The Hanuman Chalisa (September 2)

This week you’ll dig deep into one of the most revered hymns of the Indian devotional tradition, the Hanuman Chalisa… and how chanting its 40 powerful verses can align you with a deep flow of Grace — an inner presence that can remove obstacles on your path, fill you with divine energy, and allow positive desires to be fulfilled.

As you’ll discover, many people who’ve heard KD chant the Hanuman Chalisa live or in his recordings have made it a part of their own regular practice — and you may decide to bring it into yours, too…

As KD guides you to study the Hanuman Chalisa, you’ll explore:

What it means that this prayer is also mahamantra
The powerful story of how KD was encouraged to learn the 40 verses of this transformational prayer
Why chanting the Hanuman Chalisa has been the most powerful root practice in KD’s spiritual work
KD’s pronunciation recording and transliteration text to help you recite this chant
A guided chanting as KD leads you to sing the Hanuman Chalisa with musical accompaniment

Module 5 — Hanuman & the Path of Service, Devotion & Surrender (September 9)

How to transcend the ego and find a way to live in the world that is deeply fulfilling. By studying Hanuman, we can learn what service meant to Him and develop the same strength that He has through devotional practice.

How did Hanuman look upon Ram, who was Ram to Him? How is it possible to be fully active in the world with all its negativities and difficulties, and still be completely and still be immersed in Love? We’ll engage in spiritual practices that will develop this ability.

This week, KD will share:

His understanding of the mystery of “All One”
Powerful stories of Hanuman that will deepen your connection to Hanuman as the Breath of God
Discussion of the many different forms of Hanuman: baby Hanuman, 5-faced Hanuman, Warrior Hanuman
Guided devotional chants to Hanuman that expand on the Hanuman Chalisa
Guided spiritual and meditation practices that will open you to being fully engage in life and immersed in love
The way in which being with his guru Neem Karoli Baba opened his understanding of these spiritual realities

Module 6 — Puja & Prayers (September 16)

This week, you’ll discover the power of puja and prayers. Puja, long-form mantra chanting, can be formal and ceremonial, done in a group — or it can be part of your personal practice.

As you’ll discover, doing puja offers a way of entering into deeper communion with the Universe by invoking and bowing to the presence of Great Beings.

These beings radiate love and compassion and can help lift the veil of illusion — showing you the beauty of your true being.

In this module, you’ll explore:

How doing puja is a way of collecting the mind, creating an atmosphere of sincerity and whole-hearted intention
KD’s experience of doing puja in the temples of India
KD’s stories about the Tewaris, his Indian parents — and what he learned from them about living in a spiritual way
Powerful lessons from Devi (Goddess) puja, including prayers, verses, and hymns such as Narayani Stuti, Sri Argala Stotram, and Devyaparadha Kshamapana Stotram
A guided chant with KD

Module 7 — Sharon Salzberg’s Loving-Kindness Practice Philosophy (September 23)

This week you’ll explore the Loving-Kindness practice and how it’s been so useful to KD over the years.

To lead you in meditation and share powerful insights about this practice, KD will welcome meditation teacher Sharon Salzberg, a central figure in the field of meditation, New York Times bestselling author, and co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society.

As you’ll discover, Loving-Kindness is a uniquely powerful practice for Westerners who suffer from self-loathing, negative self-image, and similar struggles.

In this module, KD and Sharon will share:

Sharon’s crucial role in bringing meditation and mindfulness practices to the West and into mainstream culture
The story of how Sharon and KD met in Bodhgaya, India in 1970 at the site of the bodhi tree where the Buddha was enlightened
Sharon’s guided Metta (Loving-Kindness) meditation and teachings about this practice
How Metta and devotional practices complement each other and move you more deeply into your own heart

Module 8 — Integrating These Practices in Your Life (September 30)

In this closing module, KD will share the ceremonial closing of a puja, with arti (a ritual in which light is offered to a deity)… and sing “Jaya Jagadisha Hare,” a song taught to Western devotees by K.K. Sah, a dear elder and Indian devotee.

As you bring this exploration to a close, you’ll:

Participate in a longer guided chanting session
Review past modules and explore how to put all these teachings into practice — including a chance to ask anything you’ve been wondering during a Q&A session with KD
Discover how the puja, prayers, and chants that KD’s been doing all these years continue to deepen and ripen his being… and how they can do the same for you
Receive KD’s guidance for continuing your own spiritual practice …

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