Ep. 173 – Reaching Higher States

Krishna Das gives insights on continual grace and transforming our self-limiting inner narratives through spiritual practice.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/insighthour and get on your way to being your best selfThis week on Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das thoughtfully discusses:What it means for the guru to have a key to our mindsTeachings from Siddhi Ma: knowing that everything is grace, but acting like it isn’tPutting effort into loving everyone, serving everyone, and remembering GodThe story of Maharaj-ji in England with a military devotee Our subjective reality as the product of our karmic cycleReconciling our faith with spiritual practice and seeing God in many formsKrishna Das’ take on Buddhism and dealing with the afflictions of the mindUsing chanting and mantra to release shame and stay rooted in the present momentLetting go of the stories we tell ourselves and reclaiming the power to change our livesAbout Krishna Das:Layering traditional Hindu kirtan with instantly accessible melodies and modern instrumentation, Grammy nominee Krishna Das has been called yoga’s “rock star.” With a remarkably soulful voice that touches the deepest chord in even the most casual listener, Krishna Das – known to friends, family, and fans as simply KD – has taken the call-and-response chanting out of yoga centers and into concert halls, becoming a worldwide icon and the best-selling chant artist of all time. His album ‘Live Ananda’ (released January 2012) was nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Age album category.KD spent the late ’60s traveling across the country as a student of Ram Dass, and in August 1970, he finally made the journey to India, which led him to Ram Dass’ own beloved guru, Neem Karoli Baba, known to most as Maharaj-ji. Krishna Das now travels the world sharing his kirtan practice and wonderful stories of his life, of Maharaji-ji, of his life on the Path and discusses bringing chanting into our lives through retreats and workshops. To date, KD has released 15 well-received albums, most recently Trust in the Heart released in October 2017.MORE INFORMATION and OFFERINGS VISIT: https://krishnadas.com/ KRISHNA DAS ON SOCIAL: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/KrishnaDasMusic INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/krishnadasmusic YOUTUBE: / krishnadasmusic X: @krishnadas #KrishnaDas"We have to make our effort to open to that grace, calm the mind, repeat the name, think of others. Like Maharaj-ji said, ‘serve everyone, love everyone, remember God’. There's not one of those three things that I can do completely, and so, my effort is required to open to the space where that's reality." – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sharing personal stories of his time with Maharaj-ji, Krishna Das walks us down the path of recognizing grace, loving all beings, and keeping the heart open, no matter how hard it gets.Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self."Grace is always here but we're too busy, too involved in our stuff, our thoughts and emotions. We're too identified with our negative emotions. From our side, it appears we lose contact with the grace. But, that's not the case. We just lose awareness of the presence. Maharaj-ji doesn't go, doesn't come, doesn't leave us. He never lets go. Once he takes your hand, he never lets go." – Krishna DasThis time on Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das responds to questions about:Hanuman’s favorite food and providing offerings from the heartThe ever-presence of Maharaj-ji and his grace, even when we are too busy to noticeThe struggle to connect with others and find a community Loving everyone, regardless of their actions or if we like/dislike themA short retelling of the story of Hanuman’s birth Working through addictions and the avoidance of painA memory of an almost-marriage in India, and how Maharaj-ji always saw right through Krishna Das’ egoHow it took Krishna Das 21 years to begin singing to Maharaj-ji as his primary practice"The big community is human beings, that's our real community. Our work is to allow our hearts to open to all beings, even the ones we don't like, even the ones that are doing terrible things. It's not our job to judge—it's our job to love everyone as best we can, and that's hard enough." – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Krishna Das shares a realistic path for resting in the true nature of love that is always accessible to us all. In this episode of Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das thoughtfully discusses:The many versions of The Bhagavad Gita from different lineages Figuring out which practice works for youHow the soul/buddha-nature is always present, even when we aren’t lookingMeditation practices that increase the awareness of being (I am-ness)Appreciating and accepting all the different parts of ourselves A mantra given to Krishna Das from Ram Dass, “When the sun is kept in the heart, all evils vanish from life”How relationships can help us see the work we need to do Calming down the mind via chantingThe magnetic force and energy within in India Being in relationship with everything all the time How real love does not come and go, and is not conditional “We're in relationship to everything all the time. We have relationships with this table, the computer, the harmonium, the iPad, the floor, the walls, the house, with other people. We're in relationship to everything in the world all the time. When we're in a romantic relationship, we feel loved in the way we want to be loved and we think it's coming from the other person—it isn't. It's coming from our own hearts.” – Krishna DasCheck out the harmonium tutorials mentioned by Krishna das to learn about playing KD-style chords and chalisas!“If you don't love yourself, then what? Where do you sit? Where do you rest? Your self, your true self, is not different than God, not different from the guru. If you don't learn to appreciate and accept all the different parts of yourself, you can't find rest inside." – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this heart-led exploration, Krishna Das shares how mantra, willpower, and grace guide us from the illusion of ego and into the freedom of real love.This time on Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das offers wisdom on:Inspiration from Maharaj-ji’s picture, dream visits, and moreHow the soul pulls us towards real love and freedomWhy meditating/chanting/any form of practice is a good ideaThe jungle guru who helped Krishna Das with his will powerUsing our will in a constructive way to free ourselves from sufferingSolving the problem of what is really holding us backRepeating the name of God as a gradual method to purify our minds and heartsFalling out of the ‘movie of me’ through mantra “There's mantras for everything. There's mantras for robbing banks, for finding buried treasure, for controlling snakes, for becoming president of the United States, but kirtan is the chanting of the names, which is only good for one thing, finding real love. It's not good for controlling other people, getting rich, anything except finding real love and connecting deeply to our own true nature” – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Discussing how to work through afflictions like addiction, heartbreak, and self-hatred, Krishna Das gives spiritual guidance to listeners. Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.This week on Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das explains:Learning to chant the Hanuman Chalisa Working with addiction as a part of the spiritual path Developing the ability to stop hurting ourselves Looking within, not without, in order to do spiritual work in all parts of our daily livesComparing Hanuman with the Holy Spirit Remembering that nothing lasts in this worldRelationships as a neurotic need rather than true, deep loveThe universal experience of heartbreak and all situations as impermanent Opening the heart, quieting the mind, and connecting to a deeper place within ourselves Considering others and doing what we can to help About Krishna Das:Layering traditional Hindu kirtan with instantly accessible melodies and modern instrumentation, Grammy nominee Krishna Das has been called yoga’s “rock star.”  With a remarkably soulful voice that touches the deepest chord in even the most casual listener, Krishna Das – known to friends, family, and fans as simply KD – has taken the call-and-response chanting out of yoga centers and into concert halls, becoming a worldwide icon and the best-selling chant artist of all time. His album ‘Live Ananda’ (released January 2012) was nominated for a Grammy in the Best New Age album category.KD spent the late ’60s traveling across the country as a student of Ram Dass, and in August 1970, he finally made the journey to India, which led him to Ram Dass’ own beloved guru, Neem Karoli Baba, known to most as Maharaj-ji. Krishna Das now travels the world sharing his kirtan practice and wonderful stories of his life, of Maharaji-ji, of his life on the Path and discusses bringing chanting into our lives through retreats and workshops. To date, KD has released 15 well-received albums, most recently Trust in the Heart released in October 2017.MORE INFORMATION and OFFERINGS VISIT: https://krishnadas.com/ KRISHNA DAS ON SOCIAL: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/KrishnaDasMusic INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/krishnadasmusic YOUTUBE: / krishnadasmusic X: @krishnadas #KrishnaDas“We have to develop the ability to stop hurting ourselves because we have the soul. If we’re just hurting ourselves and engaging in addictive, dangerous, destructive behavior, it’s like we’re beating ourselves up. This program that’s running, this self-hatred program that’s causing this behavior, it is spiritual work to try to free yourself from that.” – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Revealing the true Buddha nature, which rests beyond ego, Krishna Das shows how regular practice can unveil the inherent purity within us all.Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.This time on Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das gets intoDesireless action and other teachings of the GitaThe ‘evil’ within us all (selfishness, greed, anger, etc.)How our ego tries to protect itself from othersThe ways we feed our hungry desires at the expense of anything in our wayBuddha nature and finding the pureness within each soulDeveloping both internal and external repetition of the nameBalancing ultimate and relative reality in our daily livesFinding faith in the stories of the great beings that came before usMaking the world a better place through practiceThe Hungry Hearts Prayer and working to relieve sufferingMORE INFORMATION and OFFERINGS VISIT: https://krishnadas.com/ KRISHNA DAS ON SOCIAL: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/KrishnaDasMusic INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/krishnadasmusic YOUTUBE: / krishnadasmusic X: @krishnadas #KrishnaDas“It’s not that we're intrinsically evil. Actually, it’s the opposite. We’re intrinsically good. Our essence, our Buddha nature, is within everyone. The soul is absolutely pure, it is untouched by all this stuff.” – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Providing mantra and mentorship, Krishna Das explores how we can heal our heavy hearts and manage both personal and global suffering.In this episode of Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das explores:Mantras to use during wartimes or other painful experiencesHanuman, the remover of all difficulties and negative energyTibetan philosophies of the transition between life and deathBest wishes for all who are suffering across the globeKeeping our hearts open and available to all beings, all the timeA story of how KC Tewari saw Maharaj-ji as ShivaThe extraordinary beauty of the devotee and the belovedEscaping from the habit loop through regular practiceManaging a heavy-heart and freeing ourselves from sufferingCommitting to being a good human and caring for othersMORE INFORMATION and OFFERINGS VISIT: https://krishnadas.com/ KRISHNA DAS ON SOCIAL: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/KrishnaDasMusic INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/krishnadasmusic YOUTUBE: / krishnadasmusic X: @krishnadas #KrishnaDas“These practices free us from all negative emotions, ultimately. They free us from the very things within us that cause us suffering, whether it’s the way we react to the outside world or the inside world. One has to commit to wanting to be a good human being and to care about others.” – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Explaining the fruits of dedicated practice, Krishna Das urges listeners to move past instant gratification and artificial forms of awakening.This episode is brought to you by Dharma Moon. Join Buddhist teachers David Nichtern and Professor Robert Thurman for a free online event on Tuesday, March 4th at 6pm ET. Together, they'll explore the power of lineage, tradition, and the evolution of mindfulness practices. They’ll also discuss Dharma Moon’s renowned mindfulness meditation teacher training program. Visit dharmamoon.com/lineage for more info and to reserve your spot for the free online event with David Nichtern and Professor Robert Thurman!This time on Pilgrim Heart we hear Krishna Das explain:Following our hearts and praying for guidanceFully giving ourselves to practiceLetting go of the need for immediate gratificationHow Krishna Das started chanting with othersKrishna Das’ experience almost being drafted into VietnamPsychedelics and getting out of our self-imposed jailsThe transient and artificial nature of substancesDeveloping our consciousness overtime through practiceOpening our hearts to all beingsSpiritual practice as the path to love within us allMORE INFORMATION and OFFERINGS VISIT: https://krishnadas.com/ KRISHNA DAS ON SOCIAL: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/KrishnaDasMusic INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/krishnadasmusic YOUTUBE: / krishnadasmusic X: @krishnadas #KrishnaDas“We’re so scattered and fragmented and distracted. It’s so hard to focus on something other than immediate pleasure. If it’s a movie or a good meal we seem to be able to focus, but when it comes down to doing something that doesn’t get immediate gratification, it’s very hard.” – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sharing insight from Maharaj-ji, Krishna Das discusses reaching higher states of consciousness through service, repetition, and purification.This episode includes wisdom from Krishna Das on:Shedding our belief system of ego and separate selfThe importance of regular practice and finding time everydayLearning from Maharaj-ji through dreams and meditationFinding Maharaj-ji in our worldReaching higher states of consciousness through service, mantra, and purificationDoing spiritual work in our daily lives and seeing it all as GodLooking at humanity with honest eyes and letting go of how we think things should beThe book Love Everyone by Parvati Markus“Higher states of consciousness can’t be created by your own personal will. But, through service to others, repetition of the name, and purification of the heart, those states will arrive and arise when you’re ready.” – Krishna DasMORE INFORMATION and OFFERINGS VISIT: https://krishnadas.com/ KRISHNA DAS ON SOCIAL: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/KrishnaDasMusic INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/krishnadasmusic YOUTUBE: / krishnadasmusic X: @krishnadas #KrishnaDasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Through devotional chanting and conversation, Krishna Das offers guidance on living out our practice both on and off the mat.Today’s podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/beherenow and get on your way to being your best self.In this episode, Krishna Das answers questions on:The deep intuition that develops over timeMaking our practice a way of lifeRebirth and ensuring we create positive karmaDealing with conflict in parental relationshipsAccepting others fully as an act of pure loveWidening our hearts and noticing when we are being judgmentalStruggling with thoughts that haunt usContinuously letting go of our experiencesShowing up in our practice to work with our emotionsWhat happens when the body passes onA mantra to Maharaj-ji“Love means letting someone be who they are. We can’t change people. Our parents, we don’t know what made them the way they are. We know them only as our parents. We don’t see what life was like when they grew up, what they went through, their hearts being broken. We don’t understand what brought them to this moment. All we know is that they’re our parents and most of the time they just piss us off. We have to develop a little compassion. If you really love someone, you don’t need to change them in order to love them.” – Krishna DasMORE INFORMATION and OFFERINGS VISIT: https://krishnadas.com/ KRISHNA DAS ON SOCIAL: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/KrishnaDasMusic INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/krishnadasmusic YOUTUBE: / krishnadasmusic X: @krishnadas #KrishnaDasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.