Pilgrim Heart with Krishna Das

Live from the 2016 Open Your Heart in Paradise Retreat, Krishna Das performs kirtan and delivers heartfelt wisdom. On this special episode of Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das touches on the power of love and the grace of the Guru. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Krishna Das imparts wisdom on the role of practice in our lives. He shows us how practice cultivates capacity through repetition and return. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das shows us how through practice we can find our way outside of the room of our ego and find liberation. Our ego can be like a dark room with no sign of an exit. Spiritual practice provides the light necessary to find our way outside of the room and into the realm of the divine. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Krishna Das answers questions about practice, desire, and enlightenment. How do we balance our desires? Does a person need to travel to the other side of the world to find enlightenment? Krishna Das addresses these questions and more on this week's episode of Pilgrim Heart. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das talks about our illusion of separateness and the reality that all is one, "sub ek." In this simple phrase, "sub ek," Maharajji summarizes the same thing wise men have always reminded us, that we are all one being. Krishna Das shows us how through practice we can dispel the illusion of separateness and begin a better way of being. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Krishna Das shares his wisdom on faith and spiritual practice. Spiritual practice is not an end in itself, it is a way to develop the strength to live a good life. KD gives a lesson on cultivating strength through spiritual practice. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das gets real about scandalous acts and relationships.   Everyone is susceptible to getting caught up in their own trip, no matter how far into their inner journey they might be. Krishna Das speaks from his heart about Maharajji and what he taught KD about love.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on, Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das answers questions about spirituality & music.   What is the best way to deal with prejudice and misconceptions about our personal practice? KD answers this and addresses where the real power of chanting and kirtan comes from. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das answers questions from students on mantra, devotion, and practice. KD comments on spending time on worrying what others believe and listening to advice on what is and is not correct spiritual practice. What is the heart of devotion? Listen as KD reminisces about past "love" and learning what love and devotion really mean to him. "Devotion is when love is not attached to an object, another person or thing. It is almost like being in love with the love." -KD See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Krishna Das takes questions from his audience about desire, grace, and the call of the guru. We are given a glimpse of KD's life after the death of Maharajji. KD speaks about the role of willpower and the importance of taking control of our lives. Where do we turn in our darkest hour? Is there anything wrong with desires, or simply how we manage them? When we hear the call of the Guru all we must respond by accepting the call with open hands and heart. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Krishna Das reminds us that our basic spiritual work is a means for gathering the inner strength necessary to be a better human being toward ourselves and others. If those who are closest to us do not feel loved, then we likely need to reevaluate the motives and intentions that shape our relationships. He also discusses some of the lesser known details of Maharajiǯs mysterious early life. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this latest Pilgrim Heart episode, "Your Future is Now", Krishna Das discusses how a human birth is an opportunity to overcome our animalistic tendencies and remove ourselves from the gravity of our own projections. In not knowing who or what we are, we learn that the only real security comes from entering into the presence of our own hearts. The names of God carry a magnetism that has the power to bring us home. The strength to let go comes from practice alone, so find what works and commit to a more peaceful you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Devotion is part of our nature, we love to be involved, we love to connect. This is the deepest connection a heart can make, this connection to deep devotion and unconditional love…” -Krishna Das Krishna Das and David Nichtern sit down for an interactive discussion on devotion, tapping into their experiences with both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, respectively. When it comes to devotion these two spiritual paths overlap is in the Vajrayana form, or tantric style of Buddhism, when a teacher appears in the form of a master/guru. This is seen to be extremely special as a focal point in practice, because they have accomplished what you yourself would like to accomplish. For even in the three refuges of Buddhism—the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha—the guru is considered the forth refuge. Krishna Das recounts how life-changing it was to experience the unconditional love that radiated from his guru, Neem Karoli Baba aka Maharaji, in India, and how slowly through just hanging out, Maharaji's presence opened their hearts. For some spiritual seekers who have had this physical experience of the guru, it’s an inspiration to see the possibility of someone exhibiting that kind of love, clarity, and timelessness, in person. David recounts his own experiences while pursuing the Buddhist path under the tutelage of Chogyam Trumpa Rinpoche, and the incredible lineage he's a part via his own personal practice. “The ring of devotion hitting the hook of the guru, the link you have to that being, in our tradition, is practice, therefore it is very, very important…the practice is the connection for us to individually continue to connect in that way, when we don’t have the luxury of knowing that kind of being in person…” At the end of this podcast, there’s a Q&A covering the following topics: -Does the spiritual path need a stage of darkness in order to attain a level of depth? -Not feeling an unconditional love connection with spiritual teacher/lineage. -The role devotion has played in Krishna Das’ singing. -Has Krishna Das found a way to love everyone, the way Neem Karoli Baba does? -The role of grace in Krishna Das’ spiritual life and how it has helped him to cultivate devotion. David Nichtern's Bio: David Nichtern is a senior teacher in the Shambhala Buddhist lineage of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. This tradition combines a contemporary, secular approach to meditation with the ancient practices and philosophies of Tibetan Buddhism. David was one of the initial American students of renowned meditation master Trungpa Rinpoche and studied closely with him soon after his arrival in the United States in 1970. David has been co-director of the LA Shambhala Center and Karme Choling Meditation Center in Vermont, as well as Director of Expansion for Shambhala Training International and Director of Buddhist Practice and Study for OM yoga. He has been a featured writer and regular contributor to The Huffington Post and leads meditation workshops around the world and online. David also works individually with meditation students in person and via Skype. He does a weekly live broadcast on Ustream (via his Facebook page) and has several online meditation workshops available through creativeLIVE.com. His DVD/CD package OM YOGA & MEDITATION WORKSHOP, created in conjunction with yoga teacher Cyndi Lee, is widely available David Nichtern is also a well known composer, producer and guitarist – a four-time Emmy winner and a two-time Grammy nominee. He is the founder of Dharma Moon and 5 Points Records. David has recorded and played with Stevie Wonder, Jerry Garcia, Lana Del Rey, Maria Muldaur, Paul Simon and many others. Among his many credits in records, film and tv, David wrote the classic song “Midnight at the Oasis” and composed the score for Christopher Guest’s film “The Big Picture”. As the Beyman Bros, he collaborated with Guest and CJ Vanston on an album “Memories of Summer as a Child” and has produced multiple records for Grammy nominated kirtan performer Krishna Das. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Krishna Das recounts one of his favorite Maharaji stories involving a miraculous act of compassion that illustrates the selfless nature of these great beings. He then tells the origin story of the ubiquitous red shirt that he has worn for so many years. Attempting to understand the true meaning of the concepts we explore is also discussed, with the caveat that our confusion and suffering are an inevitable part of the work we must do. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

KD describes the intensity of emotion with which Maharajji discussed Jesus, and the value of the teachings he studied involving stories of Christ. Organized religion is also discussed as it relates to the coopting of fundamentally pure teachings as a means of control. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.