Explore every episode of the podcast Conscious Paths

Everything around us is vibration. Then, it is our choice to come in contact with higher quality of vibrations which can help and uplift our overall way of life.

From the very beginning of my childhood, I was around an atmosphere where spiritual dimension was already adopted in all the generations – from my great-grandmother to my youngest cousin living in the family. So, born and brought up in India, one is always surrounded by this culture of Sanatan Dharma (Hindu Dharma) – surrounded by these sounds of Mantras, Aartis, chanting, Kirtan, various ceremonies all the time happening in the family or community. If one is a little sensitive, one starts embracing it and enjoying it also.

Since always it was clear to me that I wanted to get involved with that kind of music which can uplift a person’s state of being, music which can uplift a person beyond the level of the mind. Because we already live at the level of the mind, so if thru the music one is only supported to the level of the mind, then there is no upliftment. So, this has always been my inspiration, and for that there’s no other better source of Sound than Mantra.

Divine energies are present all the time, but they are waiting for us to invoke them, to invite them, to access them – then they can help where it’s needed.

Manish Vyas

www.manishvyas.com/movie 

www.manishvyas.com/podcast

Podcast Interviewers: G. S. Sharma & Rajeev Kumar (Hyderabad, India @i_am_the_vashisth ) Thank you all.

We live in the world of vibration. Everything which exists around us is vibration, and those vibrations are affecting us - even when we can't perceive it, a particular vibration can affect a person's physiology and psychology.

Sound is vibration and we are surrounded by various different sounds - and knowingly or unknowingly they have a certain effect on us. Some sounds have a positive effect and some not so much. So it is the sound itself which is creating a positive, less positive, or negative effect on us. This is the principle behind Mantra science and how Mantra (= a certain sattvic sound) can go so much deeper in our system and help us at different levels.

Our cells are able to listen; then, if we subject our cells to a sound of a certain quality, definitely the cells' health will be enhanced, keeping the body/mind mechanism in tune.

Ayurveda is also connected to this aspect of Sound, as it is one of the first and only medical practices which went all the way down to the roots, as a lot of issues that appear in the body, have the roots in the mind. So ayurveda would treat the problem at the level of the mind, if the root was found there, and then consequently heal the physical plane. And one of the key tools used in Ayurveda is sound, because where the medicine cannot reach, the Sound can reach.

A clever, perceptive, inspiring conversation, for those interested in India and its performing arts: for Indian music lovers, for Tabla lovers, for classical music lovers and Bhakti music lovers, Alok Verma delivers a master talk about different aspects to consider in Indian music and how to connect to it with authenticity, respect, love, enjoyment, understanding.

Manish Vyas interviews Alok Verma about key aspects along the path of learning, presenting and developing Indian music. Below we share some of the most significative thoughts expressed by Alok during this talk:

"This musical journey begins but never ends: any step we take is a learning curve"

"My teacher (Guru) had shown so much love towards my playing, and so was my love for the teacher - that's when the Guru Shishya Parampara (Guru discipline tradition) started"

"I have my Indian Tabla classical roots which has been kept intact - and anywhere I play I incorporate those elements into the music: the grooves may change but in the end, the foundation and the authenticity of the material is kept intact"

"I have seen some musicians who took a couple of lessons and perform... I admire their confidence, but having a couple of lessons, these musicians have not even surfaced, have not even touched down the authenticity of what is required to learn from a Guru"

“A Raga has a feel, which is needed to deliver that Raga”

"Whether it's a bhajan, a folk song or a Bollywood song, if you compose something in raga Bhairavi and you have that foundation (of Indian classical music,) it's going to sound absolutely brilliant"

"You have to learn from the person who belongs to the country or place of the tradition"

"The student-teacher relationship as a silent-communication ("silent presence and observation") is a must"

"Kirtan cannot be taught, just like I cannot teach you how to feel sadness, because it's an emotion -- it can only be felt"

"There is a fine line between holding an instrument and really knowing how to play it"

"It is a responsibility to pass on the right knowledge to the next generation; otherwise what I am spreading across is wrong or not part of the real essence of the learning; this would feel like doing some sort of fraud to the next generation"

"I teach traditional music. Transformation comes when the student has achieved a certain standard, but when you're learning, you need to follow the tradition"

“As a Tabla player, my feet are far away from the Tabla, if a slight touch happens, I would bow down to the instrument and I would pay respect to that. Having come from that background, to see someone sitting on the instrument and jumping on it, and then performing and singing Mantras is totally wrong to me – I would never appreciate that.”

“People who want to learn Indian music of any kind, have to find the source of those who are in the right state of that music – otherwise you wouldn’t know what is right and what is wrong. By reaching the right source, then you come to know what the real essence of this music is. Delivering Indian music, one needs to have respect and a discipline; giving justice to what is required”

“The chord system used to play Harmonium by western 'Mantra singers' did not exist in Indian music. So they sit down with 2 chords – how does that make them a singer and harmonium player?”

“If intentions are genuine, the first intention should be to go and learn from the right source"

From Gujarat, disciple of Divyang Vakil Ji, Alok Verma lives in UK since many years. He started the studies of Indian music with his dad as a small child. He's percussionist, Tabla, Dholak and Pakhawaj player, composer, multi-instrumentalist, singer and music teacher at one fot the best schools in London.  THANK YOU! @alokvermamusic 

As a kid, it was like a very natural process to grow into the atmosphere of Osho. It's like, I did not know anything else except that. It was quite a commitment in some way but really, as a kid, I did not know anything else, it was just like growing up in this... and it was perfect. And slowly-slowly everybody in the family became Sannyasin, but everybody had their voluntary decision.

Whatever it is in my life, it is thanks to Osho basically. 

Musically, with Osho, it was a very good place to experiment many things and how to use the beauty and depth of Indian music into creating something different, something which has a purpose, something which has a utility, not just entertainment - and Indian music has that capacity.

Osho's teachings and his blessings and his guidance - everything shaped this life, not only for me, but for many.

Kirtan is a very-very simple but very profound way of connecting with the divine. In Kirtan you dissolve, your ego dissolves. There is no “I”, there is only “Divinity.” 

It's a little bit like you are a statue of salt, and what happens when you enter the ocean? You become the ocean. 

What I saw in the West in the people singing mantras is that actual element of India was missing there. It is very clear that when somebody is trying to represent a certain cultural element from a certain place, it must carry its authenticity - it must carry its authentic flavour, sound, taste, fragrance... because behind that there is a long tradition and a history, and a lot of thought put behind it.  

It is about preserving this fire which has been burning since thousands of years.

Credits:

Podcast production, idea, audio, interview: Stories With Osho, YouTube channel: Divyadez HcO Watch whole interview 1 hour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbHVgwJ05OI -- Interviewers: Sufi Abheeru and Divya Aminah

Editing to short version 28': Vanesa Nau Video link: https://youtu.be/0GI5qOIf5jY

A Podcast about meeting Osho, years at the Puna Ahram, power of Indian Music, Kirtan, the Mantra-Movie, the importance of respecting the culture of India and any tradition, the blessings of the Master. www.manishvyas.com

"It is important to bring an understanding that Mantra is not just limited to a musical format which brings you to a 'nice space,' since this format does not release its full potential. Mantra is not only what makes you come into a nice space, but it is something which can also work practically on various dimensions of one's life."

"The documentary will open up on how much more Mantras have to give to people, provided that they have the right access to the information, proper understanding, proper guidance, proper practice."

www.manishvyas.com/movie 

"Namaskar Friends, In this episode, we will try to get deeper into the world of Mantras with our esteemed guest, "Manish Vyas Ji". We will try to understand the importance of a Guru/Mentor in the life of a Musician, significance of a structured learning & many other aspects of Devotional music, Bhajans & all." Nipoon Joshi, Podcaster, Delhi, India @GISTTClips

WATCH FULL PODCAST WITH VIDEO : https://youtu.be/2T2VnXHpoR8?si=jHJTlNu17l7nZAnI 

नमस्कार दोस्तों
इस एपिसोड में हम, मंत्र, शास्त्रीय संगीत, गुरु का संगीतज्ञ  के जीवन में प्रभाव, ओशो के विषय पे हमारे आज के गेस्ट "मनीष व्यास जी" से चर्चा करेंग।   

00:00 - Trailer
01:14 - Introduction
03:44 - Early Years of Guest's life in Gujarat
10:10 - Life in Osho Ashram
11:44 - Training under Ustad Allah Rakha Ji
13:00 - Ishta Devata & Moving to Switzerland
17:17 - Practices which Guest follows to keep the voice melodious.
18:39 - Distinguishing between throat Vs chest singing
20:47 - Ishta Devata as a guiding light
23:53 - Do Musicians belonging from a lineage or Gharana keep certain nuances of the craft secretive.
26:05 - Hindustani Classical Music going through variations in different regions of India
28:15 - Importance of starting Early in Classical Music
32:18 - Importance of studying Classical Music in Bharat
36:20 - Balancing tradition with Innovation
40:43 - Purpose with which many Foreigners pursue Indian Classical Music
46:41 - Power of Music to do wonders
50:24 - Life at Osho Ashram
54:54 - Memorable performance anecdotes and epiphanies
58:17 - Devotional Music as a Catharsis
1:04:28 - Any Regrets in life.
1:07:31 - Contributions of Visuals & storytelling in Music
1:09:39 - Guest's take on Sufism
1:17:46 - Guest's team
1:18:45 - What kind of opportunities you are looking forward to?
1:22:09 - How can creators & Music enthusiasts get in touch with you.
1:23:37 - Info on all the upcoming projects.

The tradition of Mantra is Mantra-Chanting, what is known as Mantra Japa, and Manish explains how to use it in "listening-meditation," which can be a very powerful technique to soothe the mind, remain attentive and integrate the energy within.

Mostly, as we know, we live on the level of 'body and mind' and most of the energy goes into dealing with issues on these fields. So if Mantra is used in the right way, it has the capacity to take us beyond the physicality and the mental planes, to come in contact with the real being. Here is where the potential of 'mantra listening' comes in.

If we observe ourselves, we can see that our whole struggle in our outer life is to 'become something' and that is very, very exhausting. A meditation technique using Mantra can simply bring us into a space of "just-being" and that's the highest outcome of Mantra meditation technique, involving energy awakening, energy rising and energy settling.

Sufi music provides a space to experience closeness with divinity and love, and Sufis have always been inclined towards the musical expressions of their poetries.

A warmhearted talk, where Manish describes his latest album, Salaam E Sufi, explaining how the Sufi path has inspired the seven tracks on his new CD along many years on his musical journey as composer: "Sufi songs have this flavor of Love, Ishq Haqiqi: the love affair with the Truth."

Sufism is a path of love, devotion and surrender. And when surrender happens, one journey ends and another journey begins: a journey of total trust, peace and freedom.

Sufi mystics wrote some amazing poetries down the centuries and down the ages, where they expressed their longing for dissolving into nothingness (dissolving of the ego) and these songs in "Salaam E Sufi" reflect the ideas inspired by the Sufis in a musical interpretation. These Sufi poetries are drenched with this kind of love and longing for the Supreme, that which is eternal.

"The only lasting beauty is the beauty of the heart." Rumi

Music at the beginning and end of the podcast, from the album "Salaam E Sufi".
www.manishvyas.com/sufi

#music #poetry #sufi #kabir #bulleshah #trust #bliss #innerjourney

“The highest goal of a Yoga practitioner should be to come to a level where one is maintaining one’s balance perfectly all the time. Ups and downs are part of life, situations are never in our hands, but how to deal with them is in our hands.”

These are the words of Dr. Hansaji Yogendra, director of the Yoga Institute in Mumbai. She’s a mentor and role model to millions of lives and has conducted more than fifty thousand powerful sessions on yog, wellness and mental health.

We were fortunate enough to meet her in person whole working on the ongoing documentary project about Mantra. In this podcast, we present a talk where we discussed subjects related to Yoga and Mantra, and the aspects involved in both practices. We present here part of this short but powerful conversation, and the clear vision of a great wise referent who is highly experienced and is able to express the key aspects involved along the path of yoga, answering questions such as what should be the highest goal of a yoga practitioner.

Some quotes of Hansaji:

“Every yoga teacher should aim at having mastery over their minds.”

“What we are teaching, every human should learn, because it’s the foundation of life, on which then you build whatever you want to build; but the life formation has to be strong.”

“In the west, yoga has become very commercial, having as aim to earn money. Technology of yoga (asana, pranayama, etc.) has become very popular, but they are not yogis, because they are dealing only with their bodies.”

“For inner peace, for spirituality, the world is looking at India; people come to India due to soul-pain.”

“When the student is ready, the whole nature will help to move ahead in life.”

Short Reference: Hansa Yogendra (born 1947) is an Indian yoga guru, author, researcher and media personality. She is director of The Yoga Institute in Mumbai, founded by her father-in-law Shri Yogendra. It is a government recognized non-profit organization and the oldest organized yoga center in the world, founded in 1918. She was presenter of the television series Yoga for Better Living, aired in 1980s. She is the chair of the Yoga Certification Committee and President of the International Board of Yoga, and Vice President of the Indian Yoga Association.

A conversation with a being who lifts and illuminates others around him.

Bruno Wildhaber was born in Interlaken, Switzerland and studied and lived many years in the US. He’s a doctor, writer, teacher, public talker, life coach… and, as he says, a “lifelong learner.”

Bruno’s vision, direction, work and dream is to create a healthy community where everyone is ok and in balance within the first circle: “just oneself,” uncontaminated from outer inputs and acquired conditionings – then, that inner harmony from the first circle will create ripples and expand throughout all the outer circles (family, friends, work, school, society…) into the whole universe, creating naturally peace and harmony.

It’s interesting to see how different paths can lead to the purification of the mind. We hear this talk, and realize that so many earnest paths conduct to the same destination, to the search of truth, to the highest realization, to the place where one is not affected any more by the yin and yan of life, simply remaining in the middle, in the balance point.

Bruno’s path has been that of learning through experience, hardship, observation, reflection, investigation, discrimination, analysis, self-inquiry. It probably started when he had to experience many challenges in early life, which gave him a vision of what not to give energy to, what to discard from one’s life, what futile and inmature stuff not to apprehend from the outer world, what not to take, what to let go. This led him to a life of introspection and a sincere practice of ‘being with oneself’, as he refers to the first circle, which, as a consequence gave birth to a new vision, to the manifestation of the sadguru - inner guru, inner wisdom - in life. He says pain has been a great teacher, but the power of the re-birth from darkness to light, together with the right understanding, brings along the best possible version of oneself; by trusting and being taken to higher energetic realms, where there is more light and consequently peace.

All this self inner work led him to be able to help people later in life. After having worked on the field of medicine and body-mind healing, Bruno diverted his time and focus to the study and comprehension of the human psyche, which he currently shares with people through his work, his books, talks and personal consultations.

It was a pleasure to be able to interview Bruno; he is a true inspiration for all those who access his work or are able to connect with him through his publications.

Quotes from the interview:

“Premature degeneration within the body begins with something that confuses the system.”

“If one has emotional and mental issues, then, there’s a friction in the expression of one’s spiritual self, which manifests as disease.”

“Every single person has an antena going from oneself to the universal intelligence, where all information – present, past, future – is available to us.”

“The light only can enter you through your scars, through your pain.”

“Only outside the circle of confidence can we grow. Inside the circle of confidence, you will stagnate – you will be comfortable but you won’t grow.”

“Why don’t we learn to love to learn?” (about the education system)

“We have a one-sided educational system.”

“The school teacher was a perfect mentor for me: how not to teach, how not to be with children…”

“The smallest thing holds back the greatest force.”

“We have to create alchemy again.”

“There is value in suffering.”

“The truth is that you are alone.”

“Understand the laws of nature and follow them.”

Bruno Wildhaber: www.brunowild.com

Published books:

Hashashin (2018)

Ein Hemd allein fliegt in Richtung Wolkenwelt (2022)

Upcoming books:

Bells

Blood

A very inspiring, honest, touching and mature talk with the outstanding Bansuri player from India, Milind Date, that surely will spark any student or lover of Indian music, connecting them to India and its magical music and learning paths.

Some of the main subjects covered in this interview conducted by Manish Vyas:

The relationship with the music Guru and the blessing of such invaluable guidance in the path of a student.

“At some point, I was thinking, what can I give to my Guru in return? I though a lot about it – I came to the conclusion that the best thing I could give him in return was to play the best as possible, because that was the only reason why he was teaching me. So that became very clear.” 

Key aspects and requirements to be a student of Indian music.

“I have practised eighteen, nineteen, twenty hours a day easily. Not once, not twice… many, many times. I would wake up at three in the morning. I have practised a lot. That entire inspiration came from my Guruji, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia.”

The importance of understanding Ragas (moods of the music based on sets of notes) and what they express.

“Every serious student of Indian classical music is a composer, because in our learning system, from day-one a student starts to create his own music.” 

A total different approach to the western music system. The depth of Indian music goes much beyond the technique and the music itself.

“The entire household of my Guruji kept me in the right direction. Right from the second class, I knew why I was going there.”

“If you learn Indian music, you need a lot of love towards the classical music of India and its thousands of years of tradition. You learn a lot of things besides music. It’s not just to pick up an instrument and make some sounds out of it.”

The tight relationship between spirituality, meditation and music.

“My way of meditation is through the sound: the purity of sound, the purity of the Raga. The spiritual connection is possible because of the purity of sound, purity of thoughts and purity of music. If that is achieved, you’re lucky.”  

Indian music in the West and the problem of cultural (mis)appropriation.

“When you’re learning Indian music without understanding the fundamentals of it, even if you are talented and can imitate or fake, it is going to mislead people. You should find a Guru –  youtube is not a Guru."

 
About:

Milind Date is a renowned musician from Pune, India. A Bansuri player and composer, who has grasped the essence of Indian culture through his art. Known as the ‘Virtuoso’ and a ‘Stage King’ for his immaculate Indian bamboo flute playing, Milind is one of the senior-most disciples of Bansuri legend, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia. Milind's roots are in Indian classical music, but he also plays compositions for films, devotional music, fusion, world music and jazz among other genres. He has released several albums of his own production, as well as he contributed to hundreds of other third-party projects.

Milind started learning Bansuri and Indian classical music when he was around fifteen years old. Soon after, he met Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia from Mumbai, who became his Guru: a world-renowned name in the world of Indian classical music and Bansuri flute… one of the most amazing contemporary flute players in the world and of all times.

Thank you Milind for this wonderful contribution and inspiration!

Links:

webpage: www.milind.date

Bandcamp: milinddate.bandcamp.com

Song at the end of podcast: Govindam (Manish Vyas), Bansuri-flute by Milind Date

An enriching conversation for anyone interested in Indian music, for enjoyment, for personal learning or simply for cultural interest or curiosity about the  endless world of Indian music, which highly differs from western music, even in the most subtle aspects.

Palash Dholakia is a sincere student and professional musician of Indian vocal. He studied bachelor and masters in music at Saurashtra University and is disciple of Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty (a classical vocalist, composer, lyricist and gurudev of the Patiala-Kasur gharana; considered to be one of the proverbial figures of Indian classical music.)

Palash breathed Indian music since he can remember, born in the state of Gujarat, he lived in a family where his ancestors were all deeply connected to classical music. He witnessed as a child his grandfather having conversations with Pandit Ravi Shankar, to whom he was very close. Through this early connection and exposure to refined sources of Indian music, he carries these sounds in his innermost being.

"WHATEVER I AM IN MUSIC, IS ONLY THROUGH THIS BEAUTY OF RAGA MUSIC. I FOUND A BEAUTIFUL WAY OF LIVING — MUSIC ALSO TAUGHT ME THE ART OF LIVING."

A tradition like no other.

We talked about the value for a musician to grow up in the atmosphere of Indian music, the vocal training, the learning attitude, the discipline of the learning, the blessing to find a Guru and the meaning of a Guru in one's path. One can feel that when one embodies a tradition, it is not an effort to communicate in such a clear, humble and competent way showing a total love and deep commitment on the chosen path.

"INDIAN MUSIC IS BASED ON SPONTANEITY, THAT'S WHY THERE'S NO SYLLABUS IN INDIAN MUSIC LEARNING.  THAT'S WHY THERE'S SUCH A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WESTERN AND EASTERN WAY OF LEARNING MUSIC... WE FOLLOW THE GURU-DISCIPLE TRADITION."

The role of a Guru.

The role of a Guru-disciple relationship is to develop oneself as a good human being and as a good musician. A Guru is a much larger scale than a teacher, that's why it is so hard to find a true Guru. A Guru gives you the right understanding.

"MUSIC WILL DEVELOP YOU AS A SIMPLE BEING, BECAUSE BY SEEING THE VASTNESS OF THIS MUSIC WE SEE HOW SMALL WE ARE IN FRONT OF IT. THE ULTIMATE PATH IN INDIAN MUSIC IS TO REACH THAT DIVINITY."

About Mantras presented with music.

Mantras, which are very precious and are from India, need Indian music training and language pronunciation in order to catch the original, authentic sound. Truthfulness is key.

Summary of themes covered in the talk.

• the attitude of simplicity and gratitude
• Indian music learning requires to go inwards
• it's not about performing and entertainment
• being a performer is not a goal but a by-product
• this is a personal journey and it takes time
• commiting to a Guru with blind trust
• the wonder and power of ragas
• mantra singing requires proper learning of Indian music first
• nothing in this path is about fame, glamour and success
• the importance of developing both the learning and sharing skills

Palash finsihes the interview singing a brief piece in Raag Gunkali, a raag based on Bhairav Thaat.

"GOING DEEP INTO ONESELF ONE CAN EXPLORE THE MUSIC WITH MUCH MORE DEPTH" —Palash Dholakia

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Links:
facebook: Palash Dholakia | Facebook
instagram: @palashdholakia

podcasts Manish Vyas : manishvyas.com/podcast

Ram and Sonali Banerjee are originally from India living in England and since the last seven years they have been organising the World Yoga Festival in the outskirts of London, which has been getting more and more local and international response, having become a referent in the true world of Yoga in the west.

Initially they started the project just knowing that Europe needed an authentic Yoga Festival presentation, and that's how the first festival happened in the summer of 2016 and subsequent years, having brought thousands of people together along these years in a green field site with beautiful nature right outside London. The festival happens each year in the summer, towards end of July and lasts for four days.

"The totality of Yoga, that is what we want to bring." Ram

What they envision to bring to the festival is a glimpse of the authentic nature of Yoga, which is not about "stretching and excercising" as often understood in the west; they have taken a vision in the eight limbs of Yoga considering all the aspects, in order to keep the lineage transparent and true.

The activities range from asana, pranayam, meditation, yogic techniques, use of sound - until Advait Vedanta and Sanskrit lessons... and much more. They also keep the true flavour of the yogic path from India by serving wonderful Indian and other vegetarian food and keeping the festival away from alchohol. This allows them to create a beautiful energy and atmosphere for any Yoga practitioner, for a seeker, or for anyone interested in the sciences from India for the wellness of the body-mind system. The musical programs are also a way to bring an atmosphere of celebration and joy to the gathering.

Manish Vyas will be present also with his band offering a Mantra - Kirtan concert in the evening of July 29, 2022 plus a Naad Yoga Workshop next morning. That is how in this opportunity, Manish is interviewing the founders of this project, to share with the world their incredible vision.

"In Yoga, you don't have to re-invent a lot - you just have to maintain it, continue it, keep the authenticity and everything will be fine." Ram

If you are interested in the path of Yoga, wherever you are in the world and wherever you are in the path, there will be something for that (and the next step beyond) waiting for you at this unique  festival.

+ Information about the festival Summer-2022: World Yoga Festival |Berkshire |United Kingdom

Transcription of the Interview in our Blog

Youtube video

Music from India is a path of eternal learning. In this path the concept of "continuously learning" is one of the key aspects to understand from the beginning, before undertaking this magic journey. This is so because in Indian music we always remain a student, we never stop learning.

Manish talks about the journey of learning music from India, including singing, instruments, its language, Mantra singing, and many other important dimensions:

- the cultural input where the student will also be representing a whole tradition behind the teaching
- the importance of the strong foundation in the sense that music from India follows the lineage system, therefore, the main ingredient should be love: doing it for the love of it and nothing else; this love will automatically generate respect
- the key ingredients in learning arts and music from India are trust and patience
- the connection with the essence of this music can only be learned from a proper trained teacher and experienced musician; making the source of learning the first key aspect of the process

How the learning of music happens in India and how it happens in the West is really "East and West", meaning completely opposite in the system and in the approach. Though this gap will never meet, and that is ok, it is important that the student at least becomes aware of the cultural aspect of India: this will help the process of learning in the right direction and with the right attititude.

When one is learning music in India, one is breathing the music in all aspects and situations that emerge in the surroundings. Meaning, we breath music! ...through the rhythm of the streets, the colors, the sounds, the energy. This should try to be incorporated as much as possible for people learning around the world who are not in the atmosphere of India. Remaining in the "mahol" of music, in the atmosphere of music is one of the key aspects of learning.

And last but not least, knowing and remembering that in India we are disciples forever. No Pandit, Ustad, Master, Guru or music genius from India will ever say "I am a master", "I have arrived." And their lies its beauty, its power, its heritage.

More details, videos and information about learning music from India with Manish Vyas: www.manishvyas.com/lessons

For every person in India, Shiva means a lot — and Manish is not an exception. That is why he has worked on a very special album exclusively for Lord Shiva, which will be his 2021 yearly release. Powerful yet meditative vibrations: ADIYOGI, publishing worldwide on December 11, 2021. A ten track CD of almost seventy minutes.

The album in the praise of Shiva features beautiful texts, verses and poetries praising His presence, His raw beauty, His wisdom, His amazing being. “As far as Sanatan Dharma is concerned there are thousands of mantras and other prayers and texts written in Sanskrit dedicated to Shiva,” explains Manish.

The music composed for these amazing ancient texts displays different ragas carefully chosen to fulfill the energy required; as well as the singing which must be presented with perfect application of the Sanskrit language.

Shiva also represents various dimensions of energy, so this project also had to contemplate how to bring or reflect all those multi-dimensional aspects of Shiva in the music, and this was somewhat challenging: “Somewhere the energy of Shiva kept on guiding me and giving me the right path along the creative process of this project…” says Manish.

“Shiva is joy, celebration, bliss… and at the same time Shiva is the destroyer of the false and the unnecessary. Shiva has contributed so much to the spiritual life of any seeker, that no matter how much we may offer our gratitude, it’s never enough.”

The intention behind this work is to express that gratitude and at the same time connect the listener to the energy of Shiva and its enlightening and eternal essence of truth.

Om Namah Shivay

www.manishvyas.com/shiva

In the third and final episode of this series of dialogues with the great Gundecha Brothers, they have shared their insights about the magic and power of Sanskrit language and how it can become a medium to a cosmic experience, whether by speaking it or by listening to it.

As far as Sanskrit, Mantra, Indian music or any ancient tradition is concerned, they also talked about the importance of learning them from an authentic source, so that one can go deeper into the vast world and wisdom of these ancient cultures.

And finally they graced and beautified the end of this podcast with a heartfelt devotional song in Raga Shiva-Ranjani.


First interview https://www.buzzsprout.com/1504945/8875578 
Second interview https://www.buzzsprout.com/1504945/8805504 

Following the previous interview with Gundecha Brothers, who dedicated their lives to continuing this style of music, we present the part II of the talk, where among other interesting insights, the main topics covered are:

The importance of Sanskrit and the connection between Dhrupad and this language, the three notes used in the Vedic chanting style, and the difference between mantra chanting and mantra singing.

Dhrupad claims the distinction of being the oldest form of Indian Classical music heard today, its origin can be traced back to the chanting of Vedic hymns and mantras. The birth of Dhrupad as we know it today coincided with the Bhakti movement and consequently was more devotional in nature. It was rendered in temples facing the the Divinity full of devotion and bhaav, this was the genesis of what became known as Haveli Dhrupad/Sangeet.

Dhrupad is a body of spiritual and mystical knowledge to be practiced with devotion (Bhakthi) and dedication (Shraddha). It is primarily an act of submission to one's inner spirit, not a tool for entertainment.

The Gundecha Brothers  from Ujjain, India are classical vocalists of the Dhrupad genre of the Dagar Vani (a tradition of classical Dhrupad of 20 generations tracking back to Swami Haridas.) From 1985 to 2019 the duo consisted of brothers Umakant Gundecha and Ramakant Gundecha and were awarded the Padma Sri for art for 2012. Following the death of Ramakant Gundecha in 2019, his son Anant began to perform with Umakant in the Gundecha Bandhu. They also run a Dhrupad institute outside Bhopal, India, where they teach students from all over the world according to the guru–shishya tradition, or parampara ("lineage"), denoting a succession of teachers and disciples.

"Dhrupad is the search of the ultimate, the search for a true sound, the eternal sound, the sound of the cosmos. Dhrupad is Nada Yoga - the yoga of sound. It is the best way to get yourself into a calm, peaceful state of mind." Umakant Gundecha

"In Dhrupad, we sing the notes in their pure form. Both the performers as well as the listeners experience the life energy in these notes. Dhrupad is therefore really about going deep into the essence of everything, including oneself. You can see yourself through Dhrupad." Ramakant Gundecha

In the series of the three podcasts from a meeting with one of the most well-known Dhrupad singers from India namely GUNDECHA BROTHERS, the first part covers the insights about the connection between Dhrupad and Naad Yoga or Yoga of Sound, as well as Dhrupad’s approach towards the concept of BHAVA or expression and RASA or flavor. In India we say, “If it’s not touching your soul, it’s not music,” and this music has this intrinsic power.

This very statement describes the potential of this music from India which has been one of the most ancient forms of music. It was traditionally performed only in temples, as an offering to the deities. That is why even now, the sounds and vibrations of Dhrupad are able to take a listener into a very deep state of silence and serenity.

“The ultimate goal of Dhrupad is to reach a state of thoughtlessness.” Umakant Gundecha

Dhrupad is said to be the oldest existing form of North Indian classical music and it has continued due to the persistence and dedication of different masters who have passed it from generation to generation along the centuries.

Due to its strict adherence to purity, learning Dhrupad is very difficult. It takes years of rigorous and painstaking practice, involving many hours - eight or more - of singing everyday, before a Dhrupad student can reach a stage when he will be ready to perform competently. These early years of total devotion to learning also mean total financial dependence, as the student does not have the time to earn a living. In the past, the teacher took care of the needs of students, so that they could commit themselves completely to the study of music. 


You can also watch part of the talk in Youtube : https://youtu.be/8_s-SiLOjkU

At the beginning, Yoga was not written down anywhere, the teachings were passed by the Guru to a disciple personally. The first books where Yoga is mentioned were the ancient Tantras and later the Vedas, then the Upanishads expanded deeper about it. Based on all this, much later Patanjali wrote the Yoga Sutras (in Sanskrit) as an eight-fold path: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi.

Therefore, the meaning of yoga and the path of yoga is not what frequently many think when relating it only to exercise, stretching, bending, breathing practices, or asana. It is so much more than that!

The science of Yoga applies itself to all aspects of life. Yoga means choosing a lifestyle of excellence and awareness in everything that we do and live according to that. So ideally, it should to be understood in this direction, in order to focus on this path with an earnest approach and to benefit from it beyond the aspects of the physical plane which are only temporary and worldly in nature. The path of Yoga as any other spiritual path in India is to awaken and eventually come to the realization that we are not the body, so too much focus on the body would defeat its own purpose.

The so called 'modernization' does not justify the disappearance of the key and fundamental aspects of Yoga and its nature -- otherwise it would not be Yoga, but something else.

This time Manish is interviewing Arpit Agrawal, an experienced Yoga teacher from Rishikesh India who studied in the traditional Bihar School of Yoga, discussing different aspects of Yoga and Yoga learning, which give a clear scenario of the vastness and richness of this tradition.

The interview also includes clarifications about types of yoga which have traditionally been part of the true yogic path since ancient times, as well as certain yoga styles which have developed or become popular in the west which are not truly reflecting the real Yoga tradition. One of these is 'Kundalini Yoga'. Although kundalini yoga practices exists in India, they have truly little to do with what became so popular in the USA and then was adopted around the world. That practice is honestly not the real tradition with the roots in our Indian Yoga heritage, and each practitioner should at least have the right to know this, how it developed, where it came from and which practices are authentic and which ones are not, as many styles had been basically developed mainly for yoga-commercialization, packaged in an attractive way to catch followers attention. It is ok if one practices that if one likes it, but one should know what is what.

We thank Arpit so much for this interesting and clarifying interview, where we can easily distinguish the pillars on this path, and understand the basis of this amazing practice of Yoga, with roots in ancient India and widely adopted by now in almost each corner of the world.

"Asana is for sure important, to keep yourself healthy. And we need some kind of flexibility as well, as we say the higher purpose of yoga (asana) is to sit in meditation for longer time, and those things come by the yoga asana. So it’s important only for that purpose. But yoga asana is only one limb of yoga, it’s not everything. Yoga tells you how to live, how to eat, how to walk, how to practice… everything comes from yoga. It’s like developing the awareness on how to do any action." Arpit Agrawal



About Arpit :
Sri Yoga Ashram, Rishikesh @yogawitharpit / www.sriyogaashram.com

This podcast is also transcribed in our blog, you can read it here: https://www.manishvyas.ch/post/_yoga 

watch related youtube video: https://youtu.be/qRmKJ_nFyLQ 

Manish takes us through the beautiful journey of sacred music from India with interesting explanations and a variety of songs to help us understand the vast spectrum of music from India: "We have traditions that beyond being learnt, they are carried in the blood since many, many generations, by families and musicians who have grown in that atmosphere of devotion and music, besides a deep connection and love for these traditions. Specially the most ancient the tradition, the deeper roots it has and the more one has to access the right source, if interested in connecting to them."

India has always kept music as a way to connect to the divine, and ultimately to oneself.  Songs and poetries have been written since millennia by rishis and enlightened ones, where wisdom was combined with music, raising the potential to penetrate the listener connecting him/her with the meaning of those sacred verses, of the ultimate wisdom. 

It is important to know what is what and how to approach the diverse styles of music from India. That is why I always emphasize that not everything which comes from the India is a mantra and some people who don't know the language and the science of mantra get confused very easily. There are chalisas, shlokas, strotras, sahasranaams, mantras, kavach, bhajans, shabad, kirtan, etc. And the ability to distinguish is key to know what is what, to honor this ancient tradition from India, and for a better understanding of our culture, for those interested in it  and for a successful practice.

Music Credits briefly played as examples in the Podcast, by order of appearance:

Aham Brahmasmi - Manish Vyas
Shloka - Ketan Patwardhan
Stotra - Manish Vyas
Surya Sahasranaam - Pt. Rattanmohan Sharma
Guru Ramdas, Gurbani - Manish Vyas
Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha, mantra - Manish Vyas
Durga Saptashati - Amkitkumar Pandey
Tumi Bhaja re Mana, bhajan - Manish Vyas
Shabad Gurbani - Bhai Gagandeep Singh
Kabir bhajan - Pt. Kumar Gandharva
Sufi Qawwali - U. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Jaya Govinda Hare, kirtan - Manish Vyas

www.manishvyas.com

Amano Manish, a gifted Mohan Veena (slide guitar) player from India disciple of Brij Bushan Kabra, interviews Manish Vyas. They talk about the journey of learning, composing and presenting music from India. A very interesting conversation for those fascinated by the world of Indian arts and the different genres of Indian music: classical, spiritual, Sufi and other.

In this pleasant conversation, they talk about their beginnings in music, arts, expressing and composing music, the skills required to be trained – and the influence of Osho in their musical path. In Indian music there is a whole journey of learning which never ends, a journey of performing where it it’s not about the performer but about the music and a journey of creativity which is enhanced along the path in different ways and through different experiences.

“The focus of creating and sharing music should always be on enjoying what one is doing, without thinking of achieving anything in particular.” Manish Vyas

It is also discussed the spreading of Mantra around the world using it in music and the tendency of distortion in its public presentation; together with the importance and responsibility of putting the right music to a sacred genre like Mantra.

The importance in connecting with the right music and the right source lies in the possibility to discover and relate to the true essence of this millenary culture from India.

“The art in Indian arts and music is to remain open and available and becoming empty like a hollow bamboo – then the music can play through you. Versatility is currently the dimension of life.” Manish Vyas

Manish Vyas: www.manishvyas.com
Amano Manish (interviewer): www.amanomanish.com

The whole meditative life of the Sufis is built upon the mystery of the world. The word Sufi is connected with sophia, which means wisdom -- not cleverness, because cleverness cannot be wisdom; but the wisdom learned from within.

The path of a Sufi is a path of devotion, a path of Bhakti, a path of surrender and complete trust.

Sufi traditions and music have been very close to India since hundreds of years, being the path of Sufism a beautiful and poetic approach to spirituality, in which the longing and connection to the divine, is pursued through bhakti (devotion,) total surrender, let-go, love and dissolution. In this, music has a very important role in Sufism and its different practices.

Manish talks about the Sufi traditions as he experienced them himself in India, its music and singers, and practices such as whirling and other active meditations, where the use of music is key to take the listener to that space or total merging with the higher Self, the Beyond, the Eternal.

"Wisdom is the interpretation of life, made by someone whose point of view has become different by looking at life in the sunlight." H. Inahat Khan

The focus in India has always been to find inner richness, inner fulfillment. For this, different tools and paths have been used since millennia. These traditions have been practiced and followed in a certain way... which ultimate point is the attainment of liberation, the highest vibrational level in human plane.

Yoga is a path of spiritual growth deeply rooted in an ancient heritage -- not exercise. Mantra is a deep spiritual sacred practice based on the science of sound -- not a music show.

Many different subjects about the world of those spiritual practices from India are covered in this interview. Simple questions with straight forward and realistic answers. What is mantra, where does it come from, who are the creators, where were they documented, when something is a mantra, the power of Sanskrit, what is Naad Yoga, what is the actual mantra tradition.

The podcast also covers a sincere, open and honest explanation related to the meaning and practice of Yoga as a way of life of excellence,  and how it arrived to the west to soon loose or forget the connection to the source, to the essence, to the true meaning of yoga and its ultimate purpose.

“If you want to reach the soundless first you have to come in contact with the right sound. When you come in contact with the right source, your spiritual journey can start – from the sound to the soundless; from the gross to the most subtle.” 

This talk is part of an interview conducted by Marc Zürcher, an architect from Zürich who is also a Yoga student since many years. Some pieces have been cut due to its length. Gratitude to him for this interview and for his genuine interest.

With roots along the ancient path of Sanatan Dharma, many different roads have been used amid thousands of years to arrive to the same ultimate destination, realize the God within. One of these paths is mantra, the science of sound, by which one can invoke a particular energy through the use of certain sounds. One of the most famous texts has been known as Gayatri Mantra, which is in Sanskrit and comes from the Rig Veda.

In the occasion of his recent 8-minute Gayatri Mantra release and his upcoming release of 108-chanting, Manish Vyas presents the subject of Gayatri in a half hour podcast, with very interesting stories and information which may help any person from any background interested in the subject know more about the incredible science of sound from India, and moreover, understand how to approach it.

What is the best way to use this mantra, what is its origin, who was the author and the history behind it, what kind of music should be used with it,  what are its essential elements, what is Gayatri Sadhana, how to use it for listening meditation or pranayam practice...? These are some of the points covered in this pleasant interview.

"Important is that the purpose of each mantra is served; the reason why mantras are there, has never been to use them for entertainment, but firstly to be aware of what we are dealing with when we talk about 'mantra' in general and each mantra in particular; and second, use them adequately and if possible keeping in sight their full potential. Then their purpose is served with grace and respect to this ancient practice discovered by enlightened sages, wise ancestors of humanity." Manish

Gayatri Mantra link : www.manishvyas.com/gayatri
Youtube video : https://youtu.be/YDKNkIYgWT8 

I personally have always considered it as a blessing for me to have been born in such a culture like Bhārat (India) with its ancient roots and its vast, bottomless, fascinating world around mystical wisdom and spiritual legacy, reflected also in all of our forms of arts expression, like music, dance and so many others.

This podcast features a very interesting interview to Bapu Padmanabha, a musician from South India, who besides being a wonderful Bansuri player disciple of Hariprasad Chaurasia, is also a genuine presenter of this ancient science and ancient tradition of Mantra, Vedic chanting and other styles.

The interview takes us through a journey across the world of sacred music from India and its authentic practices, what it takes to represent this tradition, how many years of learning and dedication are invested in such journey, what is the path of a musician, a teacher, a spiritual seeker and an eternal student, when it comes to music from India.

Besides other long and patient trainings, just to start with Bapu’s training in chanting, we know that he dedicated around twelve years, every single day, two hours per day... on getting trained in the atmosphere of this discipline, in a Hindu Vedic school in South India, knowing that this is the required patience and dedication to honor this tradition.

Listen more to his interesting stories and answers to questions from Manish Vyas in this interview. Specially conceived for lovers of traditions from India, its music and the science of Mantra.

You can also find a video about Bapu’s music and work in this link, when he contributed to the upcoming documentary, “The True World of Mantra and Sacred Music from India”: https://youtu.be/DlqABwkXwbs 

Although my musical path was firstly built since an early age by being next to music Maestros  while growing in India, there was a total different training that came later since my early-twenties, when I worked close to some spiritual masters. The first experience was next to Osho, when he was still in the body, who very strongly introduced the significance and importance of incorporating music in the genre of meditation already back in the 1970s. So working around him was an active and fruitful training, as around his devices, music always had a prime place. This view of music, started sinking in my musical ear slowly slowly and now after all this years, I can really value the musical path life has put me through, since my work would have never been the same without those sensible influences.

In my personal experience, having worked in the field of mystical music around enlightened ones for so many years and even organizing music for whole 40 day retreats certainly made an immense difference. As a musician, it taught me to let go of fixed structures and open the mind to new dimensions in music, lifting the creativity and imagination beyond classical trainings and frameworks of learning, but instead exploring the use of music to go beyond the mind, towards its ultimate purpose.

What is the character of a Guru? Do we need a Guru? The One who brings us out of the darkness into the light is called a Guru, a wise, eyes-opening guide in one's life. In a journey of a seeker of truth, the figure of a Guru is extremely important because he/she has already crossed that path in which we find ourselves at the moment.

A Guru is not a theoretical concept, but a reality, part of 'practical' and not 'philosophy-oriented' spirituality. In the East, this reality has been part of our lives since thousands of years.

To be in the company of an awakened one, which the East has known at Satsang , is regarded as the most precious phenomenon in the life of a seeker of truth. Not only in the spiritual path, but in India, when one wants to grow deeper in any path, a Guru is a must to advance towards the correct direction. Then, trust and patience are required.

Guru is the one who gives us the second birth which awakes the plane of spirituality and truth, after the physical birth that the parents have given. To understand the phenomenon and significance of a Guru in one's life, firstly one needs to understand what is a the meaning of Guru. Guru means simply dispeller of darkness. Sometimes even the glance of a Guru works miracles, we call it Kripa Drishti.

Finding or being found by a Guru is a pure happening, a blessing, the grace of God. What can one do if one longs for a Guru? One needs to have the real desire for truth, for the highest, a real longing for the discovery of the true Self... and existence will take care of the rest. If the desire is genuine and it's God's will, a Guru will manifest in our lives - sometimes in the most amazing ways - just by the miracle of His Grace.

Music in the Podcast: Vande Gurudev, album Sahaj Atma : www.manishvyas.com/sahaj-atma

www,manishvyas.com/podcast

If you go to any musical gathering in India, you will see that the playing of Harmonium sounds completely different from what most people have been exposed to in the west. Naturally, to learn anything from a foreign culture takes more effort, more dedication, more time - but one should commit to that process if one would like to learn any art or instrument. Commitment and lots of patience has always been the number one element when learning music from India, and Harmonium, just as any other instrument from India, is not an exception; as it will also follow the roots of music from India.

For music to be harmonic, it is essential that the body and the soul of what is being presented meet. For this to happen, one key element is to learn from a reliable source, from someone who has been trained and is capable of representing that culture decently. Because some people in the west don't know what is the original sound of Indian music and Harmonium itself, they believe what they see as being presented... but many then go to India and they're shocked to see how it all sounds completely different! It is not their fault, but for their own benefit, there should be a capability to discern between what is genuine and what not. That happens in all fields. Then, it's up to the practitioner what he/she wants to choose. An unforgivable sin is when people start teaching Harmonium wrongly - this is cultural appropriation and cultural distortion; in this case, with an instrument. 

www.manishvyas.com/harmonium

Many times it is believed that meditation is just about relaxing the body and the mind. Although this may be a consequence, it is not the purpose of meditation. Meditation is inquiring about the true nature of the self, dropping ideas and acquired beliefs and ideologies. And an earnest retreat for this purpose should provide the space, energy and content necessary for this to manifest. 

In the same way, the participant should step into a retreat with the right attitude. When we go to a retreat seeking a space for one's own growth and self discovery, one should always try to ask the question, "Why am I here. What is the intention to be in this place during these days." The intention should be clear, to not waste our time and energy in the wrong direction.

After having had almost 30 years experience in this field, joining true wise ones from India in their retreats, Manish talks about this and gives some clues about how to make the most out of it. "When you go to a retreat, you want to do something which is not part of the day to day life. It's a conscious process of getting out of the routine and the day to day habits."

One can move towards meditation by discovering what is lacking in our inner life, where is the void... and that can be discovered by moving-IN, not by moving-OUT. And that is what a meditation retreat is helpful for, it focuses on moving inwards, on introspection, and on seeing the inner world.

manishvyas.com

Meditation is not about 'doing something.' Yes, we can work on meditation techniques in order to arrive to a more meditative state. The technique will help the cleansing of the mind, the cleansing of the psyche. But at some point the technique has to be dropped, and the real meditation has to manifest. That is, in real life.

So even when someone tells me, "i practice a lot of meditation," one can immediately see by the person's reflection if it remains just in the meditation technique, or if the meditation is reflected in his or her life. Meditation must be a reflection, otherwise it's just 'passing time.'

One requires proper guidance, proper practice and proper understanding in the journey of seeking, in order for this journey to bring the right fruit. A light is needed in the path, to go towards the right direction. Meditation or Dhyāna, as we call it in India, is one of the words most misunderstood in the west, because mostly people refer to it as an activity, and not as a state. Furthermore, meditation is simple, it's not about philosophies and serious things... remaining conscious and acting with awareness as opposed to forgetfulness is meditation. As my Master says, "the mystical is the most practical."

Interview / Entrevista with Mantra FM 91.9, during the transmission of EL PORTAL. Where we talked about the science of mantra, how to use it, what is the best approach to mantra practice, what is the reality of mantra music, and other information that is very useful to any people who are not from India and would like to learn more about the true science and practice of Mantra.

With Spanish translation / con traducción al español.

Learning music, and many other forms of arts in India is quite a different experience and requires a whole different approach and mindset than in the western learning path. I used to travel from Pune to Mumbai for hours in the slow and crowded trains to take my music lessons regularly, just because i knew the value of my teacher. And I would just get the direct attention of the teacher for about ten minutes each class... and I was very happy with that ! In six years, maybe the teacher told me two times, "good Manish!" and that was also perfectly fine. Nothing else was expected.  There were no expectations of any kind... just absorbing as much as possible the learning, under the proper guidance.

In India a lot is learnt by just being in the atmosphere of the Guru, the music Guru in this case. And it's not even a thought to give a certificate, as what is important is the understanding, not to hang a paper on the wall.

Another drawback in the process of learning that I have noticed in the west, is that everyone (adults) is in a hurry to perform or to share what they've learned publicly. This hinders the learning. One should not be in a hurry to start teaching. Let it be your truth before, otherwise it will be shared un-riped, hindering also the learning process of others. One important point frequently misunderstood, is that one should not be in the idea of "helping others"  - help yourself, grow yourself, focus on yourself, until you master yourself. Help can only happen when something is mature and integrated inside.

Through inspirational stories and anecdotes this subject is addressed and explained for all of those who come from other cultures and would be interested in learning traditions from India. Knowing how this learning approach works, can help to take the right decision, whether this is a path for one to undertake or not.

PODCAST link in website: www.manishvyas.com/podcast 

"The right music can smoothen the journey of a seeker without too much effort. If the person is available, if the person is not resisting, if the person is in a flow with an open heart, the right music can take the listener to a completely different dimension, effortlessly."

Listen to this truly interesting conversation between Martin Frischknecht, chief editor of Spuren Switzerland and Manish Vyas about Manish's ongoing work, his new album and the earnest approach to the public presentation of sacred music from India.

Link album Mantra: www.manishvyas.com/mantra 
Interview with video, Youtube link: https://youtu.be/ekHS3du5kgE

Most yoga-practitioners and asana teachers in the west use the word Yogi, as if a yogi would be an asana (exercise) practitioner with great flexibility and contortion skills. It is the nature of the ego to acquire more and more identities — and spiritual identities are just one more kind of them, "that i am a meditator, that i am a great yogi, that i am spiritual, that i am holy. . ." probably the spiritual being the worse kind of identity to bust the ego with, because many enter the game of "holier than thou" which is nothing more than the biggest self delusion. Beyond the games of the ego that always tries to 'be' or 'become' something or another, since the times when Yoga has started spreading from India to other cultures, the word Yogi has not been understood rightly and as a consequence it is highly misused. I think part of this misunderstanding lays in the fact that many people have not yet understood that Yoga is not exercise. When we refer to a yogi, we refer to a wise one, who often may have never practiced any asana except sukhasana, but who has become stable in the inner world, who has achieved the state of non duality, beyond any chains of identifications. And this is the true yogi and the true path of yoga.

Website link: podcast | Manish Vyas 

India is probably one of the richest sources of spirituality as well as a source of inspiration for spiritual growth in the path of any seeker. The core of spirituality from India is to be able to find the natural state, the true state of being, free from all acquired knowledge and outer conditionings. That is why the masters call it practical spirituality, as opposed to static philosophies and religions, which remain in the circumference but maybe don't reach the true knowledge through self experiencing, which is in the end what will lead us to the real. This is only possible by working on us, and not by reading books or attending talks and seminars.

Here Manish talks about spirituality from India, how it is seen and understood. And why sometimes what is shared in the west is not a reflection of what this bottomless world truly is.

One cannot "do" yoga or meditation, one can "be" in a state of yoga or meditation. 

If meditation is not bringing awareness into our day-to-day life, then there is no point to it. Meditation does not ‘end’ after that hour and then we can go back to our unconscious pattern in our life. Meditation is not an activity - it is a journey of growing into awareness, it is a journey of raising our consciousness, which needs to be applied in our day to day life.

This podcast if from an online course given via Yoga La Source Luxembourg.

Video: https://youtu.be/lonWze1NS4E 

Sanskrit has the capacity to express the inexpressible and that's how they came up with the word "Advait." Based on one of the mantras he composed, Shivswarupoham, Manish explains the meaning of the mantra and how it is deeply rooted to the ancient wisdom from India and all its manifestations. Shivoham, Shivoham, Shivswarupoham is an expression of the nature of consciousness in the best way it can be expressed in words, using the language of Sanskrit. A quick exploration of this wonderful sutra with Manish and his music in the background.

Music from CD Mantra: manishvyas.com/mantra

Also on video : https://youtu.be/ob0xdxYKZws

A mantra practitioner should have a clear understanding of how mantra practice works and what to expect, and what not to expect. Actually mantra practice should never have expectation, but instead faith.  The right attitude is to do the practice of the mantra with faith and with all the possible devotion, and not expect any outcome. The outcome is up to Existence (or God) —not up to us. That is why the first thing that a mantrin should understand is that the right attitude is that of trust and patience, or as Jesus said, the "thy will be done" attitude.

Mantras don't need music. The actual tradition of mantra chanting in India is not really elaborately musically based. So when one composes a mantra, and tries to put it to the music, it is a very responsible job, because the melody, the composition needs to bring and enhance the essence of a mantra — and that's where the element of Indian music comes in.