Sita's Light: News

I've chosen to dedicate three events in October to Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl who was kidnapped and murdered in 2002 at the hands of extremists in Karachi, Pakistan. Danny's family and friends came together to work towards a more humane world, forming the Daniel Pearl Foundation, whose mission is to promote cross-cultural understanding through journalism, music, and dialogue.

Please go to www.danielpearlmusicdays.org for more information.

As a former ABC News editor/writer, we were shocked and saddened by this event and the coverage was difficult for all of us.

Had a terrific time playing with Judith and Fumio at YogaSpace and then again for Cheryl's birthday with Fumio this past weekend!

Lots going on as Judith, Fumio and I are continuing to create sacred music together. Judith is now not only supporting me on harmonium and with her wonderful voice, but is also doing some of her own original music stemming from her meditations. Not to be missed so I do hope if you are in the areas we will be playing in September and October, you can join us!

See calendar section for what's next.

Spending 10 days attending a yoga teacher's intensive at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Ranch...a place near and dear to me always :)

If you're looking for more to your yoga practice than asanas, maybe it's time to visit an ashram. Let yourself go and find out that yoga is much more than just something you do to have a fit body. I am partial to the Yoga Ranch of course but there are several others in beautiful places around the world.

Check here :)
www.sivananda.org

For an amazing and unforgettable weekend at Menla!! Thinking the next cause to donate proceeds from Sita's Light might be to support the beautiful animals :)

Check it out at this link...Sita's Light is today's featured music....

http://www.dailyom.com/articles/3/2008/14151.html

Hi Everyone!
Familiar with DailyOM.com?

I am excited to say that Sita's Light will be featured on their website June 18th!

Keep checking back...lots going on here as changes are coming :)

Osho kind of says it all here...

" Music is the easiest method of meditation. Whoever can let himself dissolve into music has no need to seek anything else to dissolve into. Music is wonderfully intoxicating. Music is the ultimate wine. Dissolving deeper and deeper into it, your thoughts will go, your ego will go. Understand music as meditation." OSHO :Death is Divine Chapter 10

This is what kirtan is all about and I hope you will be able to join me soon for an upcoming chanting event. Check Calendar for updates :)

Check out this link:

http://darrenmain.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=331504

Had a terrific time on WPKN chanting and speaking with Chris in his cool studio there, surrounded by thousands of CDs. Thanks Chris! And also big hugs and thanks to Judith and Fumio!
Chris has invited us back for more!

Check back soon for links to listen to interview excerpts.

Had a wonderful time chanting at the Center for Divine Awakening in Phoenix last week. Thank you again to Hari Jap and Ginny for hosting the event :) Also many thanks to Val at Yoga Shala in Georgetown, CT for welcoming me along with Fumio and Judith to chant for Earth Day.

Had a delightful chat with Darren Main today. The interview will be available sometime in the next couple of weeks. I will be posting a link for it as soon as possible :)
For now, check out all the wonderful things Darren offers at www.darrenmain.com

My dear friends recently checked in during their world tour via email to say these most appreciated words about Sita's Light :)

"We love it. You did great!"

Another great reason why we need to protect the oceans is the protection of the magical, amazing and healing dolphins.

Imagine if we were no longer able to take a swim with them in the wild through organizations like
www.wildquest.com

Check back in the next few days for some news about where Sita's Light will be next :)

"We must not imagine that there is nothing at the bottom of the sea but bare yellow sand. No, indeed; the most singular flowers and plants grow there; the leaves and stems of which are so pliant, that the slightest agitation of the water causes them to stir as if they had life. Fishes, both large and small, glide between the branches, as birds fly among the trees here upon land. In the deepest spot of all, stands the castle of the Sea King. Its walls are built of coral, and the long, gothic windows are of the clearest amber. The roof is formed of shells, that open and close as the water flows over them." -Hans Christian Anderson - "The [Annotated] Little Mermaid"

It's been almost two weeks since the release and I am happy to say the CD sales are going well. I can't wait to give over the first part of proceeds to Oceana. Thank you all for supporting this cause through me.

Oceana has accepted my wish to donate a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of Sita's Light to their wonderful cause of protecting the world's oceans. Please check out their website at www.oceana.org to see how they are doing that and for important information about WHY we need to pay attention to their work.

Okay I have not changed religions or anything like that. So you might be asking why would I record a CD in Sanskrit. Here's a bit about why:

Sanskrit is a language that has been constructed at the deep levels of consciousness typically available to advanced practitioners of yoga and meditation. The sounds are specially constructed to penetrate the analytical mind and affect our nervous system very directly. In this sense, they are a short cut, and are like spiritual pharmaceuticals that enter into our soul with palpable physiological effects. It is this capability that gives mantras the very specific therapeutic and spiritual properties that are missing in our everyday language. At the very least, they offer us a means to rise above the conditionings of mental patterns in order to view life and consciousness from a different perspective, one that offers healing and enlightenment.

Chanting is a sort of “Divine therapy,” a means of cleansing the soul of unwanted psychic residue, and a process that has corresponding physiological effects.

Chanting is much simpler than singing and far more energizing than regular speech. This is why spiritual traditions from around the world have successfully employed it in their religious life and rituals of healing for thousands of years. It is now ours to reclaim, reinvent, and reemploy this great gift to our species, aware that it has nothing to do with having a good voice or being musically competent.

Go ahead and try it. It's a good addiction to have :)

I've decided the first cause to which to give donations from the sale of the CD :)

A recently released news story shows a detailed map of the very detrimental impact humans are having on our oceans and what that means for the future of our planet and us.

My lifelong love of the ocean fuels my passion for this cause so I pass it on to all of you who can make a difference with me :)

For more info - see links page

Thank you so much to all of you who have taken the time to sign the guest book on this site. I am humbled and encouraged that the path I chose in doing this recording, is the right one, no matter what the outcome may be after the CD is released.