specific music versions and intention

[Guest guest]

sat nam,

 

I would like to ask the group for some direction on a point: there are

meditations that require certain versions of mantras, and meditations

that can use any version of a required mantra. In earlier manuals it

seems there is more leeway indicated in terms of playing either the

song Yogiji played in class or " any uplifting mantra, " etc. And in

KRI's later manuals it seems that mantra versions are more

specifically indicated, by both title and artist.

 

At summer solstice it was discussed several times why we play certain

versions of mantras with tantric or other meditations, the reason

being that there is an intention encoded in the artist's performance

that makes a kriya work. Much of the music we use for tantric is

hardly meditative, with its guitar solos and dated, Western, pop/rock

instrumentation; however, the chanting has an intention that cannot

be replaced.

 

There was a story told about Guru Gobind Singh diverting his soldiers

to beg for bread from an old woman who lived alone in the countryside.

When asked why the Guru must beg for bread, Guru Gobind Singh replied

that it was not the bread he sought, but the love with which it was

cooked.

 

I have seen classes where Yogiji tells the sound guy to play a mantra,

and when that mantra is not available, he'll say something like, " Play

something lofty. " I couldn't help but wonder how that would come out

in a transcription: would it be " Play a lofty mantra " or " Play _____

by ______ " , because that was what was settled on.

 

I just finished a 90 day meditation to Wahe Guru / Jio, and then found

a copy of the instructions that specifies the version off of Raga

Sadhana 1. I did it to 20 different versions over the course of 90

sadhanas.

 

How effective was my kriya? And what do we make of all this as

teachers? I know that the intention of the student makes the

meditation effective as well, but I would also like to attain a deeper

understanding of our use of mantra.

 

many blessings,

-Baba Singh