In another Bhakti-steeped podcast, Krishna Das sings kirtan and answers questions about practice on the spiritual path, surrender, sexuality, death, clinging, and Maharaj-ji’s love.
This episode of Pilgrim Heart welcomes you into the Hanging Out in the Heart Space livestream session from April 1st 2021, where Krishna Das offers the chants “Namoh,” “Jaya Jagatambe,” and the “Hanuman Chalisa” amidst answering a stream of audience inquiries.
Open to Krishna Das & Michael Sternfeld’s new Bhakti course on the Ramayana: Hanuman’s Leap of Faith
‘Namoh’ Kirtan // Practice on the Spiritual Path
To start the podcast, Krishna Das begins with a chant to his Guru, Neem Karoli Baba, in the form of the song “Namoh” off of his album Trust in the Heart. From here, he shares a funny story from tour life as a kirtan wallah, before opening the floor to audience questions around mantra practice, choosing a spiritual path, surrender and grace, as well how to work with sexuality.
“We all have problems in life and we have to deal with them. It’s very hard to see them clearly sometimes and it’s very hard to know the best thing to do. But we don’t have to know the best thing to do, we just have to do the best we can and try to work through these issues—that’s the whole path.” – Krishna Das
Jack Kornfield shares how to guide your own practice, on Ep. 138 of Heart Wisdom
Death, Mind, & Clinging // Maharaj-ji & Love (26:00)
Diving deeper into his bag of questions, Krishna Das sheds light on if he ever disagreed with Ram Dass’ teachings and gives insight on the possibility of letting go of our ego during the process of death. Through this lens, KD shares how practicing now will help us become kinder humans later, and more apt to be ready for whatever difficulties come our way. Next, he discusses the special love felt through the presence of Maharaj-ji.
“If you don’t practice now, if you don’t develop insight and understanding now, and don’t develop the ability to let go of negative states of mind now, then you won’t be able to when your connection to the body is dissolving.” – Krishna Das
Jack Kornfield opens our hearts to the mystery of death & impermanence, on Ep. 134 of Heart Wisdom
Jaya Jagatambe // Hanuman Chalisa (45:00)
To close the podcast, Krishna Das sings kirtan, leading moving versions of “Jaya Jagatambe,” a chant to the Divine Mother; as well as the Hanuman Chalisa, a devotional hymn to Sri Hanuman-ji.
“If we know anything about path at all, if we know that there might be a way to live in this world in a good way, with an open-heart, maybe some peace of mind—if we know anything about this it’s only because of the Great Beings that have gone before us. Out of their love, out of their kindness, they left some footprints for us to follow.” – Krishna Das