28.12.2007

Kirtan with Jai Uttal

Last night I went to see Jai Uttal at his kirtan camp in Somatheram Resort to join his group of an evening kirtan workshop. I had met him in London in June and had the most amazing few days simply chantinga nd working with music, and also learning oddisy dance from his wife Nubia. He has a beautiful soul, an open heart that actually shows in his posture as though his heart will jump out of his chest, a warm welcoming smile and gaze...He certainly helped me experience some amazing things in London so seeing him in India was just another privilage.

Most of his group had arrived in India yesterday and looked like true zombies, which most of us do for at least 2-3 days when travelling so far away. For that reason he was planning to sing a lullaby and send people to sleep but then decided to do a few chants anyway. But as usual he told little tales as well, some were just words of wisdom to his group about not having expectations from his retreat but be open to whatever may be, and also a short background of bhakti yoga. He has hammered one thing yet again for me "learn to be ordinary, to be simple" so that you enjoy life to its full, so that you meet people who are ordinary and extraordinary and also learn to surrender. His quote about India was pretty good "this is the land of spirit, this is the land of surrender and acceptance. Because if you fight in india for anything at all, you have already lost that battle". That is so true, I look around me observing people, poor, dirty, hungry...But they are content because they have accepted that this is how it is for them, and there is much joy in life even in its given condition; only if you learn to seek that!

Anyway, it was a beautiful evening with Jai, his gentle smile as he caught people's eyes tiem to time, inviting them to explore their hearts more and be open. So tomorrow night I will return again and on new years eve to do a trance dance session with Shiva Rae and more bhakti yoga with Jai.