| Joy of the Soul: Cosmic Chants
from the Paramahansa Yogananda Tradition, by Alan L. Pritz Alan L. Pritz, who has trained in and taught Eastern disciplines for more than 30 years, has created a full-length CD in which he leads the listeners in chants to assist you in entering the meditative state of mind. The South Minneapolis resident leads the Center for Spiritual Awakening and a consulting practice, Inner Resource Enhancement, providing workshops in Meditation, Chanting, East-West Spirituality, Renewal Retreats, Workplace Enrichment, Executive Coaching, Hatha Yoga, Energization Exercises, & Yogic Philosophy. The author of Pocket Guide to Meditation (1997), he is currently writing a second book, As I Awaken: Crafting A Spiritual Life. The following is a moment with him about his recording of cosmic chants. Why did you create your recording of chants? Alan L. Pritz: The answer to this is somewhat amusing. For years I've conducted various trainings on meditation, chanting, and the like. Occasionally someone would ask if I had a CD of chants or videos of my meditation or spiritual hatha yoga classes. Inevitably my answer was "No, sorry." As the universe would have it, I got an opportunity to change that response. Some friends of mine own a tattoo and piercing parlor in St. Paul. One of the owners is also a very accomplished blues keyboardist. (He used to play with Lamont Cranston, has traveled with Luther Allison's son on European tours, and has been in the music business a very long time.) One day they asked if I might be interested in singing background vocals for a blues CD they were making -- they had a recording studio in the back of the their shop. This was the extreme opposite of what I usually do, but sure sounded like fun. So I did it. In fact, during their CD release party at the Minnesota Music Cafe, I had the opportunity to sing background vocals on stage with a five-piece blues band for a group of dancing, enthusiastic fans. It was great fun! Next, they invited me to come over with my "ax", i.e. musician term for instrument, and cut some tunes with their very talented music engineer. We set a date and I showed up -- harmonium in hand, and over the next couple hours I cranked out a wide variety of chants, most of them from the Paramhansa Yogananda tradition. The music engineer loved it, saying this was how they used to record old, Southern blues artists...sit them down for long one-take sessions. That was that. No re-do's. A disciple of Yogananda, I always try to spread Light. But this was one of the more unique and charming ways by which I had an opportunity to do so. What frame of mind should one ideally be prior to listening to the chants? Pritz: The chants I sing are a devotional tool used prior to meditation, but can also serve as a great spirit-reminding alternative to other music while driving, before sleep, doing house work, etc. That said, I emphasize the first use, as that's what chants are intended for. Chanting is part of the devotional side of yoga...or any faith tradition. It helps one focus the mind and heart on Spirit -- it's a kind of warm-up prior to actual inner communion / meditation. I liken meditation technique to wood gathered for a fire, but devotion is the spark that sets it ablaze. By chanting with full attention on the lyrics -- really singing to the Divine or invoking Its Presence -- these chants can have tremendous power. In fact, Yogananda introduced chanting to Western audiences at Carnegie Hall. One of his disciples cautioned him that as chanting wasn't a Western custom, the audience would be put off. Yogananda ignored the counsel, suggesting instead that using sound to focus on Spirit was universal. He proceeded to involve the audience in two hours of chanting, during which time much healing occurred. The reason for that is once one's consciousness and vibrations are raised sufficiently via spirit-focused chanting, the superconscious mind and soul can be accessed. Because these aspects of ourselves are harmoniously aligned to Spirit, the take-away from such contact is always one of an elevating and/or healing nature. Where Light is, darkness cannot be. So, first and foremost I suggest people use these chants as a prelude to meditation. Then, they can allow them to serve as subconscious tools to keep the mind always focused on Spirit. Joy of the Soul is available at Cheapo/Applause stores, select metaphysical book stores, and directly from the artist. Contact Alan L. Pritz at (612) 721-4100 or e-mail apritz@pclink.com or visit www.InnerResourceEnhancement.com. |
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May 2004 |
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