Ep. 164 – Practice & Serve

Exploring the many fruits of making time for spiritual practice, Krishna Das shares the beauty of forgiving those who have hurt us.This week, Krishna Das responds to questions on:The ways we nurture our wounds and carry our painForgiving those who have hurt usHow hurt people hurt others out of their own painThe power of loving-kindness mediation for forgivenessMaturing and realizing that pain is just a part of lifeForgiveness and kindness as the fruit of spiritual practiceHow the poison of attachment ruins loveThe Hanuman Chalisa as an offering to Maharaj-jiChanting as a meditation practiceFinding the time for practice in our busy livesListening to our hearts and discovering what we really want in lifeSuspending disbelief and connecting to powers beyond ourselvesDifficult familial relationships and doing the best we can“As the fruit of our hearts is ripened and gets sweeter, those pains are left behind. But, there’s no button you can push; it’s the fruit of practice, that forgiveness, kindness, and compassion open us up.” – 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 explains how we can serve our parents and release their karmas along with our own as a labor of love.This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.This week, Krishna Das responds to questions on:What Maharaj-ji said about service to our parentsPraying for people from afar and working through traumasFreeing our parents from their karmasDoing healing work on our own heartsDetaching from the ego and loving the soul instead of the roleSeeing the boundless love and purity in everyoneHow negative mind-states can block us from sensing the guruHow trying to hold onto pleasant feelings causes more sufferingMaintaining equanimity no matter what we are receiving from the outside world“While your parents are alive, if possible, one should try to release the negative energy in that relationship somehow. It’s something that we’ll carry with us for our whole lives and we will be hurt by those emotional knots within us.” – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Amidst global and individual suffering, Krishna Das teaches listeners how to move forward even when our spirit is heavy.This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.This week on Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das offers advice about:Coping when we are worn out from global and individual painHonoring all of our feelingsUsing the handshaking practice for difficult emotionsRecognizing that we are separate from our feelingsHaving a chanting practice to work on releasing feelingsWhy we cannot neglect our inner worldCreating peace in the world through our own serenityAllowing ourselves to say no sometimes and building healthy boundariesFinding a balance between helping others and taking care of ourselvesDeveloping a heart as wide as the world“It’s possible to honor all of our feelings, even the heavy, negative feelings, and not allow them to destroy us.” – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dissolving our erroneous beliefs of separateness, Krishna Das shares the importance of continuous service and devotional practice.This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/heartwisdom and get on your way to being your best self.In this episode of Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das speaks about:Service anytime and anywherePlanting seeds for the fruits of our practiceClearing out blockages in the body with asana practiceKrishna Das' deep friendship with Maharaj-jiSamadhi and emerging into deeper states of consciousnessHow mantra can uncover the presence of spiritual beingsRealizing that we are not our egosThe principal of Sub Ek, or, All OneKC Tewari and the film Brilliant Disguise “Service can be done anytime and anywhere. It doesn’t have to be your job, it doesn’t have to be a big deal, it doesn’t have to make you money. Real service is learning how to treat other people with the same love and respect that we would like to be treated. You can do that now.” – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Gracefully describing the truth of love that unites all people, Krishna Das shares how self-compassion can extend into the world.This episode 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, Krishna Das responds to questions on:The concept of Sub Ek, or, all oneMaking peace with the many paths to GodHow relationships help us see where we need to work on ourselvesHaving compassion for ourselves so we can extend kindness to othersRecognizing the impact of our actions on the worldFreewill versus the karmic seeds that we are born withDealing with discomfort instead of seeking out pleasureChoosing whichever practice feels right to usBeing open to whatever arises during our practiceThe subtle transformations that occur throughout our spiritual journey“If we’re hard on ourselves, if we don’t have kindness and compassion for our own selves and our own stuff, we really can’t be kind for other people. We can pretend to be kind, which is what most of us do, but real kindness comes from recognizing that we’re all in this together. We’re all here together in this world and all of our actions are very powerful.” – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Discover new approaches to overcoming life’s challenges! In this episode of the Pilgrim Heart Podcast, Krishna Das offers powerful teachings that empower you to take control of your own liberation from suffering.In today's episode, KD reflects on: Developing the quality of bodhicittaStaying present through tragedy and sufferingChanging how the present moment feels rather than being lost in the pastThe impossibility of avoiding painCoping with the loss of a loved oneDealing with reality rather than seeking constant blissCreating positive habits and releasing destructive emotionsPracticing coming back to our breathPutting ourselves in others shoe’s when they hurt us“It is our own minds that create the suffering and it is our minds that liberate us from suffering.” – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Diving into principles of karma, Krishna Das describes how we can serve all beings and follow our own path, shares stories about his guru, Maharaj-ji, and much more.Today’s episode originally aired on Krisha Das’ “Hanging Out In the Heart Space” online satsang on September 8th 2022. Be sure to subscribe to Krishna Das on Youtube to get new episodes of “Hanging Out In the Heart Space”, fresh music from KD and more: Krishna Das MusicThis episode 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 chants and answers questions on:Why and how he started singing kirtanMaharaj-ji’s guidance for Krishna Das to return to AmericaThe many ways that we can help peopleFinding our path and following itThe many causes of disconnection from other people and ourselvesPaying attention instead of being lost in our feelingsDoing concentration practice and breath-awarenessThe many forms of one God and how this life shapes our future“If you find your path and your practice and your heart’s love, then you’re in a different place. By following that, you’re actually serving all beings because you find your way of living in the world in a good way, and that includes everybody.” – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This time on Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das explores the experience and manifestation of enlightened beings and answers questions on Maharaj-ji, devotion, and more.Today’s episode originally aired on Krisha Das’ “Hanging Out In the Heart Space” online satsang on August 18th 2022. Be sure to subscribe to Krishna Das on Youtube to get new episodes of “Hanging Out In the Heart Space”, fresh music from KD and more: Krishna Das MusicThis week on Pilgrim Heart, Krishna Das holds a talk on:The experience and manifestation of enlightened beingsMaharaj-ji’s guidance on chanting and repeating the name of GodCleaning our hearts so that there is room for Maharaj-jiRecognizing everything as grace but still continuing to do our practiceUnderstanding what a real guru is versus what a disciple isDefining the soul as the way we can experience consciousnessBecoming a pure servant to the guru through seeing them in everyoneTraining our minds to think of others instead of only ourselvesBeing aware of what we are singing when chanting so that our practice is truly devotionalFinding light in the darkest momentsAbout 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.For more on Krishna Das events, music, and other offerings visit: KrishnaDas.com“The experience of all enlightened beings is all the same but the manifestation can be very different. Some sit up in a cave and nobody ever sees them and they do all their work silently, invisibly, from wherever they are. Others are more visible.” – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In between devotional chants, Krishna Das guides listeners on the path of radical self-honesty and self-examination.This episode 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 teaches us about:Facing our own egoistic desiresMaharaj-ji’s guidance on chanting and repeating the name of GodSurrendering by grace and being kind to ourselvesFinding out what we really want to doBeing honest with ourselves and examining ourselves closelyThe usefulness of therapy and spiritual practice in exploring our feelingsHow the state of the world feeds depression and anxietyEngaging with life fully and with an open heartThe love that we have within ourselves as our true natureHelping ourselves so that we can help othersToday’s episode originally aired on Krisha Das’ “Hanging Out In the Heart Space” online satsang on June 9th 2022. Be sure to subscribe to Krishna Das on Youtube to get new episodes of “Hanging Out In the Heart Space”, fresh music from KD and more: Krishna Das Music“Don’t be afraid, be honest with yourself, examine yourself as closely and as openly as you can, and see what comes up.” – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Describing how God is beyond what the mind can conceptualize, Krishna Das reflects on ways to let go and experience oneness.In this episode, Krishna Das describes:Looking for love and beauty inside of ourselvesGod as beyond the conceptualHow Maharaj-ji represents the entire universeWhy we cannot simply run from sufferingBeing of service to others without our ego getting involvedRecognizing the ways we engage in hurtful relationshipsTaking care of ourselves and lightening the load of sufferingMaharaj-ji’s physical body and abilitiesAccomplishing anything through love and devotionThe practice of letting go through dance, chanting, or other forms of releaseWhy Krishna Das has not used psychedelic medicine since the sixtiesLiving in oneness with God all the timeAccepting others as they are“Anything you can think of or conceptualize with your mind can’t be God, because God is beyond that. I don’t know what I believe; I believe in love. I believe that Maharaj-ji is the whole universe and Maharaj-ji is that love. The love is where I want to be. I don’t need to know anything more than that.” – Krishna DasSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.