Benefits of Bhajan Singing

[Guest guest]

Dear Ones,

 

We always sing devotional songs at every event. I noticed that I can

arrive at the center completely tired and achey, but after the

bhajans, I'm refreshed and revived. I used to suffer from depression.

I noticed that an hour and a half of bhajans wouldlift my darkest

mood.

 

It must be partly the context -- to me Ammachi IS the context, but I

notice my attitude toward others has changed too. My attitude and

actions in relation to the homeless has quietly transformed. Rather

than fearing them or resenting their begging, I now see them as

America's Untouchables, those who disturb the economic ritual

purity of the finanically better functioning. I see my part in

creating the situation they suffer too. Now I look forward to helping

them because they are myfamily as much as you are.

 

Have any of you noticed benefits from singing devotional songs?

 

A nice new chance to talk about benefits of bhajan singing has come

up. My proposal to present a paper in March 2002 on "Malayalam Songs

to the Goddess: Growing Towards Compassion" to the West Coast

Conference of the American Academy of Religion (at St. Mary's College

in Moraga) has been accepted. I received the official notice of

acceptance yesterday. It is another example of Amma's grace and a

chance to share some of our blessings. I thought it would be fun to

include what Amma's children on the internet have to say. Very

modern and up-to-date: research using the internet!

 

I will not use your name associated with anything you say without

your permission. If you write something that I want to also include

in my master's thesis on the transformational power of devotional

singing at the M.A. Center in San Ramon, I will again ask your

permission. If anybody wants to see the final paper for the AAR

conference, I'll be happy to send it.

 

So have you noticed any benefit from singing devotional songs,

especially songs to the goddess(Puranic or our favorite Amma)? It

may be easier for you to share your experiences, if they are private,

by emailing me directly at aikya. I am looking for

concrete examples of changes you have seen in yourself, your life,

your relationships with others and with your world. It may help you

get started to remember experiences singing your favorite chant or

bhajan. It may help to think of times when you were sad or angry and

bhajan singing helped. It may help to remember how others around you

changed due to bhajan singing.

 

I appreciate your loving help.

 

Aikya