On The Road With Krishna Das

Well, this week I'm on tour playing guitar with Krishna Das. Last night we played at the Warfield Theater in San Francisco and now we're heading to Arizona to play at the Mesa Performing Arts Center.

Hanging with KD and the posse is always about dharma and music mixed together --- my favorite combo. KD was a disciple of Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaji) in India in the early 70's, at the same time as I was starting to study with Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in the U.S. Both of our teachers were considered to be mahasiddhas, great beings who's expression was always authentic, direct and beyond the boundaries of conventional mind.

KD also takes teachings with lots of the Tibetan Buddhist teachers (including the Dalai Lama) and we have (between kirtan sessions) an ongoing dialog that spans spiritual practice, life issues, men and women, basketball scores, you name it. We are also the same age, similar background (Jewish on our parents' side as he would say), and even unknowingly went to the same basketball camp when we were teenagers.

It is a delightful hang and a terrific friendship. Also I just produced his latest record (Heart As Wide As The World) which was a wonderful collaboration and is currently racing up the charts!

So I thought I would just take this opportunity to ask KD a few questions and lob them and his answers up on our blog here to share with the Huff Post readers:

DN: KD, what do you think the differences and similarities are between the practice you do and the traditional Buddhist practices?

KD: I've never taken formal initiation from a Buddhist master, although I've taken many teachings with some of the greatest lamas. This is not out of disrespect, but because of the fact that my guru encompasses all these teachings. I only have one head and that has already been offered!

I have great faith in the bodhisattva teachings and I try to follow those principles in my life and in my practice. For me my guru was a manifestation of that --- I don't see him as a Hindu particularly. He was beyond the manifestation of any particular religion.

DN: How's the tour going so far? Any highlights?

KD: Finding a rest spot at the right time is so far the big highlight! Another highlight has been that even with all this new way of touring (bus) and larger venues, that we're still able to enter into the deep heart space together with the everyone who is coming.

DN: How's life on the bus?

KD: The bus is great. It's a real treat to be hurtling through space at 75 mph with people I love and who share the same commitment to the chanting.

DN: Any thoughts on your new album, Heart as Wide as the World?

KD: I'm really happy at people's responses so far, everybody really seems to embrace it. For me, it was a culmination of a whole life of musical joy. Rock and roll brought so much joy and happiness to my life and chanting has saved my life in so many ways, saved my heart. For both to be happening at the same time is almost too much fun!

DN: Anything you want to add to the folks out there who are hearing and being inspired by your chanting and your music?

KD: If it feels good, go for it with everything you've got, 100 percent. It will continue to get deeper and deeper, and bring more and more strength to deal with the difficult stuff that happens in life, as well as cutting down the amount of time that we spend in negative states of mind. This is the real fruit of the practice; that we gradually but inevitably live more deeply in our own being.

DN: Thank you KD. Really looking forward to the rest of the tour (check krishnadas.com for schedule). It is an honor and a pleasure to share this journey with you!

 

 

 

Follow David Nichtern on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidnichtern

Comments

[shutterbabe]

01:22 PM on 04/03/2010

p.s. David, you are a wonderful musician. Your gifts contributed to the magic of this night.

[shutterbabe]

01:18 PM on 04/03/2010

Dear David, I was introduced to Krishna Das's chanting at my yoga studio many years ago. KD would often visit our humble dwelling and we were blessed with the experience of rising together in an intimate holy environment. As time passed, of course, his venues and audience became much larger. I was honored to be present when he toured my city a few days ago. The evening was an exquisite one. A theater than usually resonates with modern music of every kind became a temple the moment KD gently walked onto the stage.

I had the honor of speaking with KD during the intermission. He was sitting on the stage in relaxed manner, greeting people in the gentlest way. I am usually quite shy but walked up to him and we spoke for some moments. I thanked KD for his beautiful chants that I listen to everyday. I told him I had been ill for over a year and his music gives me strength and peace. He took my hand, stared into my eyes, and bowed our heads together in a silent prayer. I cried in appreciation; I wept because he is indeed an enlightened soul who is fulfilling the highest of purposes with his life and song.

Now echoing in my being are his loving words about the " Victory of One's Own Heart" and the very bliss of looking into his eyes.

Namaste,
JIll

[Ed and Deb Shapiro]

11:54 AM on 04/03/2010

Sita Ram!

[Lisa Ryder]

12:35 AM on 04/02/2010

Thank you for sharing your adventures and talent xox

[BenTrem]

11:36 PM on 04/01/2010

Everything I know I learned "on the bus" *grin*

Communalism ... I loved doing sound and lights for the kidz, but there was something missing. It was missing in the 90s, it was missing in the 80s ... I noticed it missing in the 70s. Something about utilitarianism.

Do folk recall this? "To treat people as means to an end, or to treat them as a means in themselves" ... Kant.
What I recall of the 1960s, and what I learned, is that "productivity" is not disconnected from having individuals blossom ... and I'm talking stuff like change tires on the bus while parked on the shoulder of a highway, or figuring out why the RTTY is locked up. (I went on to SigInt and NORAD/SAC and such ... after my stint in the military ... before Soto Zen ... so shall I say it was all mis-guided because the yuppies who abandoned their principles find me offensive?! heh ... ironic, nae?)

Hanuman ... I love that KD gifted me that ... me, who so appreciated the distinction of /kasung/ and /kusung/ ... heh

Mangalam!

[superfrog]

08:24 PM on 04/01/2010

This music is amazing I love it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx28ZAScN2Q&feature=related

[khanti]

08:11 PM on 04/01/2010

Basically many teachers/gurus of various Hindu sects share the same morality and philosophy with Buddhism that is why Shariputta and Moggallana before joining the Buddha's teaching both were Hindu teachers with their own followers. They gained the first stage of sainthood just by listening to a single stanza of the Buddha and became arahants in a very short time. What really singled out the Buddha’ teachings from Bhraminism and other ascetic practices even at that time is anicca, duka and anatta. Impermanence, sufferings and non-self. Hindu taught about a permanent soul/self(atta, attman) wherease Buddha taught that there is no permanent soul/self (anatta, anatman). That is why Gotama Buddha is a fully enlightened Buddha., the perfection of wisdom(panna). Clinging to a permanent soul/self will have an ego. The saying that there is no absolute in Buddhism stems from here.

[Toni Bernhard]

07:30 PM on 04/01/2010

I love the teachings of Neem Karoli Baba. I talk about him in the book I've written about living well with chronic illness. He told his disciples: "Never put anyone out of your heart." It's such a beautiful teaching. When you're chronically ill, others don't always treat you well and friends can fall out of your life. But becoming bitter and resentful only increases your suffering. I've kept Neem Karoli Baba's words close to my heart these past nine years of illness.

Toni Bernhard
www.howtobesick.com

[UltimateLifestyle]

06:54 PM on 04/01/2010

Beautiful!

Ram Das has a very inspirational and positive message to share with the entire world. He is a role model for the aging generations on how to grow old gracefully and how to embrace our final years.

If he ever comes out to New Zealand, we will be blessed.

Lara Jane
Founder of the Ultimate Lifestyle Project
http://ultimatelifestyleproject/com/aging-gracefully

[Ed and Deb Shapiro]

04:08 PM on 04/01/2010

Hi guys - KD & DN just between the 2 of you is a world of talent!

We look forward to doing an interview with you for Oprah.com/spirit tomorrow

and then your great night in Denver

Hare Krishna,

Ed

[Cooltoad]

01:55 PM on 04/01/2010

Mothership Yoga Lounge in Truth or Consequences........ That will make for a nice facebook status

[Shayna Samuels]

12:59 PM on 04/01/2010

Amazing show in Los Angeles!!! Love both of you. Come visit us at the Mothership Yoga Lounge in Truth or Consequences!!