Dance Party with David Stringer

"India blasted me into billions of spinning particles and then slowly reshaped me, a process that was somehow simultaneously both excruciating and ecstatic. I can't begin to claim complete knowledge about all of the layers of history and philosophy and theology represented by the mantras I learned to chant while I was there, but I can attest to their power. I'm not a Sanskrit scholar and not always a particularly focused practitioner, but I am deeply committed to the process of inquiry that the practice of yoga suggests." --David Stringer

We are coming to the end of our teacher training, and everyone is getting stressed about the coming final exam. Tonight, however, we were told to be ready for a surprise, and not worry about the exam or stress about studying. Everyone was excited and guessing about what the surprise could be........and we were all so ecstatic to find out that we were being blessed with the presence of David Stringer and his band!

David Stringer is one of the foremost leaders in the American kirtan movement. Kirtan is a form of chanting that is growing more and more popular within the Western yogic community. It is simple: a lead group calls out the melodies and the mantras and the crowd responds, clapping and dancing as the rhythms build and accelerate. It is amazing how powerfully transformative the experience becomes as you let go and get absorbed in the passion of the music -- all representing the universal longing and passion for the Divine.

Read the PDF written by David Stringer on the Philosophy of Kirtan

The evening consisted of a series of Sanskrit mantras whose deep meanings stimulated an intense letting go of our individual anxieties, worries, and insecurities - and allowed us all to go beyond ourselves and into a beautiful union of humanity, all singing and dancing in euphoric joy, in celebration of life. We learned about the deep power of mantra from Manorama, who had earlier taught us Sanskrit. This time we really had the chance to experience their full power.

From David Stringer's website:

"Mantras are intended as a tool with which the spirit can release itself from the prison of attachments that the mind creates. It's not unfair to say that the chanting of mantras is intended to be a completely mindless activity, since the intention of chanting is to create an ecstatic state of awareness that is beyond mind. Yoga doesn't ask us to believe, it asks us to practice, examining our experience until we can witness the truth in the book of our own heart. No one else can read it for us, or tell us what it means. Ultimately, whether mantras are ancient wisdom or psychological metaphor or complete nonsense depends on the intention and experience of the participant."

It was such an incredible evening. I definitely recommend you check out his music! Almost everyone in the teacher training ended up buying his two CD's: Mala and Japa.

Check out his website: http://www.davestringer.com/

Dave Stringer has been profiled in Time, Billboard, In Style, and Yoga Journal as a leader of the new American kirtan movement. Dave's sound marries the transcendent mysticism of traditional Indian instruments with the exuberant, groove-oriented sound of American gospel music. A spontaneous and articulate public speaker, he probes the dilemmas of the spirit with a sly and unorthodox sense of humor. His work translates the ancient traditions of kirtan and yoga into inspiring and thoroughly modern participatory performance.

"Listen friend, this body is his instrument. He draws the strings tight, and out of it comes the music of the universe."
--- Kabir