Many people have requested audios from the week of the Summer Solstice camp, so here are a few for you all. If you haven’t already downloaded the mp3s by Ustad Narinder Singh and Murli Manohar (teachers of Chardikala Jatha) I suggest that you check those ones out too!
The first set of audio clips are from the all night Rensabai Kirtan on the last night of Summer Solstice Camp. I don’t know who the musicians are who sang for some of them so didn’t include that. Then there are a some of other recordings of Snatam Kaur, Chardikala Jatha, and others who you might recognize.
Many of you have seen or heard of Chardikala Jatha who are quite inspiring and do amazing kirtan. You might have wondered where they have learned to do raag kirtan? For quite a few years they have been studying music in Amritsar. This summer we were very fortunate to have a visit with their teachers Ustad Narinder Singh Sandhu and Ustad Murli Manohar (tabla). I have met them a few times in India but never had a chance to hear them play kirtan. Apparently he doesn’t do recordings so I guess we were able to get the first recordings of him doing kirtan during his visit. The week of the Summer Solstice Camp
Summer Solstice Camp - Rensabai Kirtan
he played quite a few times. It was an amazing experience to listen to live. There was so much energy! The voice of Ustad and the skill in the tablas was awesome! I enjoyed it all so much.
Every evening during the week of Summer Solstice camp here in Espanola, NM… there was always different things to do in the evening. With over 1400 people there is are normally at least 4 different things you can do at any given time. One of the evening fun things was to hang out at the "Yogi Tea Cafe". Every night different musicians (and participants of Solstice) would play all different kinds of music. Everyone hangs out, eats snacks and treats and drinks yummy hot yogi tea while listening to the music. Some times it was meditative music, but more often it was something that got you going.
Here is a unique video clip from my little digital camera of Guru Jai Singh, Pritpal Singh and others playing some music. I think it is bluegrass/country music, but I’m not expert in this area. It was quite fun to listen to. The lyrics to most of the songs were related to Sikhs and the 3HO lifestyle so we could all relate to to it.
Well Summer Solstice Sadhana Camp is over and like always it was an awesome experience! Me and my son Narayan, along with over 1500 people were at the camp. Narayan had so much fun and didn’t want to leave. He and his friends would roam wild most of the days having fun and enjoying the freedom. By the end of the day he would crash (sleep) hard and then do it all over again the next day. I had walky-talkies for the first few days to keep track up him, but then the batteries died. Oh well, so much for the high tech gadgets.
One thing which I think is cool about solstice is that everyone from all backgrounds, countries and status all come together to meditate and work on their self spiritually. Everyone takes part in the camp and has a karma seva, so everyone helps with something. Summer Solstice is not an easy "relax" camp at the beach. Everyone camps out in tents and has to deal with the harsh elements of New Mexico. The camp is up in the mountains at around 7,000 feet above sea level and the sun can be quite hot and intense. New Mexico is a dry climate so mixed with the summer heat and being outside in the elements all day for a week can be intense. You have to drink lots of water and electrolytes and stay out of the sun to keep cool. Getting up early in the morning for Sadhana and then many going to sleep late from all the night time fun and activities. By the end of the week one is ready for a vacation. hahaha!
When I was up at camp I remember thinking about how it is such an equalizer being there. Rich, poor, famous, unknown, etc all go through the same thing and have to deal with it all. There is no luxury suite for the unprivileged (unless you bring a maharaja tent with generator, fridge, bed, A/C… Hahaha) . Also because of the environment you have to dress a certain way in order to stay cool and comfortable. Everyone tends to just blend in. The person next to you could be a movie star millionaire and you wouldn’t know it. There are so many people it would be hard to know them all anyway!
In previous years I have taken a lot of pictures and videos, but this year I needed a break from it all so didn’t really capture much. Here are some of the pictures that I did take. The people in the sound booth recorded a bunch of the audio, so when I get the files I’ll post them too.
It’s late Saturday night and I am going through some of the raw audio files from one of the Summer Solstice Camp Gurdwaras (June 2006), editing out some of the Shabads that I like. Then I come across this one: "Ik ardaas bhaat keerat kee gur raamdaas raakho sarnaa-ee" (shabad text), sung by two of my favorite young musicians (Dileep Kaur and Nirinjan Kaur, both from Canada). Quite a few of my friends have been gifted with such beautiful voices that really come from the heart and take me to another place (Hari Bhajan Kaur and Snatam Kaur included as my favorites!).
Press the play button below (if you are not already hearing the shabad) & read on
As I listen to this Shabad my stress from the day just seems to melt away. I feel myself start to breath deeper; inhaling in, and out, as my muscles relax and my eyes close. I feel myself travel to another place in my mind; sitting before Guru Ram Das Ji; tears of joy flowing down my face as his gentle glance seems to take all my pain and troubles away. I feel the warmth of the Guru surround me, re-assuring me that everything is taken care of, and all is in his hands. The love of the Guru has awakened my heart and roused my soul. Wahe Guru! It is such a blessing we all have as Sikhs to have such a Guru! Yet, we only need to "wake up" and surrender to our Guru. Leaving all your sorrow, worries, pain and troubles for him to take care of. God can revolve the earth, so he surely can take care of your affairs!
As you listen to the shabad; close your eyes; slow your breath down; consciously breathing in slowly, and very deeply (through your nose), filling your whole lungs. Then slowly exhale and let your breath out. Continue this long and deep breathing (in and out) as you listen to the shabad, feeling the Gurus Bani fuse/join with every cell in your body (Ang Sang Wahe Guru!).
Shabad Translation in English: "I am overflowing with sins and demerits; I have no merits or virtues at all. I abandoned the Ambrosial Nectar, and I drank poison instead. I am attached to Maya, and deluded by doubt; I have fallen in love with my children and spouse. I have heard that the most exalted Path of all is the Sangat, the Guru’s Congregation. Joining it, the fear of death is taken away. Keerat the poet offers this one prayer: O Guru Raam Daas, save me! Take me into Your Sanctuary!" - SGGS Page 1406 - Swaiyas In Praise Of The Fourth Mehl, Bal
Musicians: Dileep Kaur and Nirinjan Kaur (Vancover - Canada)
One of the things I do every morning is sift through my list of some Sikh blogs that have been updated the day before. It’s a great way to feel connected with different people and see what is going on in different parts of the world. People express themselves on blogs in a totally different way, so you get a very personal view into people’s lives.
This summer there were so many cool young Sikhs that visited us here in Espanola, New Mexico (USA). They came from all over the world. It was so great to have the time to learn and share with each other. It is these types of things that I think build bridges of understanding and form bonds which last a lifetime.
The past few days I have been coming accross different people’s blogs which have pictures and their experiences from their visit here. It is cool "taking the blog pulse" and reading about different people’s thoughts during time here. Here are a few blogs that share different stuff. You might have to scroll down a bit on some of the blogs depending on when you read this.
Happy Birthday Sukha Singh ji! All of us here really enjoyed your company. I wanted to have more time to hang out with you all, but had my hands full with Narayan and Helping Arjan get ready for Charanjeet. Such is the life as a family man. Gone are the days when I was single and could just do whatever I wanted. Hahaha…
Some of you watched the video that I posted earlier with Snatam Kaur and Guru Ganesha Singh at Peace Prayer Day, and wanted just the audio of the Kirtan Sohila at the end. So, here you go… Kirtan Sohila recited by Snatam Kaur (ending the Peace Prayer Day).
Snatam Kaur and Guru Ganesha Singh end the annual Peace Prayer Day with some beautiful music. Here are a few short cuts from the evening, and ending with everyone doing Kirtan Sohila.
