Tryambaka, Yogini, Shiva Shakti, Satchitananda, Sanjana, Lillie, Ambika were on retreat with JaiNarain, MahaLakshmi and SriLakshmi joining for Sunday. There was kirtan, chanting, discourse and prasad with the focus on Shiva Christ consciousness.

Sunday: music, readings and chanting

Monday kirtan

JaiNarain read a discourse given by Swamiji at a kirtan at Corfton Rd in 1989:

From Swamiji’s discourse: Doubt is a dark cloud, a dark sun, a parasol. Close the parasol and the sun is seen. No need to know what the sun is, just follow the ray. Power of worship makes the unmanifest manifest. It is both light and darkness, and beyond both of them. The right spirit is ignorant of scripture; it is the revealer of scriptures. Get the right spirit and you will see the Spirit of God, scripture understood by the cosmic ray of God intelligence. Read more

With music, readings, chanting, and feasting we gathered to celebrate Gurudev’s birthday—a blissful occasion to sing, dance, reflect, reconnect, and give thanks. Hosted by Yogini and Rohan, and with tremendous support from Sanjana, the gathering brought together devotees, both present and remembered, in a spirit of joy and appreciation. It was a day of shared devotion, where words and melodies intertwined to celebrate the birthday of our Great Master.

Ramakrishna is the greatest mantra in this age; whoever will take his name with faith will have devotion and liberation Mahapurushji, For Seekers of God

Here is the kirtan in five parts:

Part 1: Tryambaka leads songs to Gurudev, with Girish accompanying on drums. Julie reads from the Srimad Bhagavatam. Sita Devi sings I was sitting pondering the wonders of the universe. Aum chanting; RajaRam leads You’ve gotta have faith and Ramakrishna. Reading from the GSR from John. Yogini sings All that exists art Thou. JaiNarain read an account of Ramakrishna’s birthday celebration from 1994 at Newbury.

Part 2: Sanjana sings God is the subtleness of the subtle. Yogini sings There Shiva dances. RajaRam sings Om Durga, Sarasvati, Om Lakshmi, Om Kali. Tryambaka leads I am a true lover of Sri Ramakrishna, Kali, Kali, Mai

Part 3: Tryambaka leads bhajans, SitaRam and Hanuman.

Part 4: Tribute to Radhani. Memoir and songs

Part 5: Shanti sings It starts with a word Aum. Bhajans. Aarthi. Bhajans. Hari Om leads Sri Ram chant.

Satchitananda, Sanjana and Sarasvati welcomed devotees to a blissful kirtan at Glen Lodge.

Thank you!

The kirtan opened with a song to Hanuman, Sita and Rama from Tryambaka. Hari Om led a plain chant from Universal prayers, followed by Self and other songs. Swargananda read an account of a vision of Ramakrishna from Vivekananda. Tryambaka and Yogini led songs and bhajans. Girish’s tabla playing lifted the music even higher.

Yogini led a beautiful bhajan to Ganesh. Tryambaka led songs to Ganga Mai. JaiNarain read a discourse from September 13 1997 . Yogini led songs to Swamiji and the Gayatri Mantra

Sanjana shared her spiritual insights and led a hymn to the Mother Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu.

Yogini led another wonderful bhajan to Shiva

MahaLakshmi read a passage by Sister Ruth Burrows about Mary and the contemplative life, followed by songs to Mary from Sri Lakshmi, Sanjana and Yogini

Tryambaka led songs and bhajans to Sita, Rama, Hari, Kali, Krishna and Radha.

Yogini, Sanjana, Tryambaka and Girish led music for the Sunday kirtan.