Music
Music of Joy world music group
Music of Joy have now launched their official website, www.musicofjoy.com.au.
Here you will be able to keep track of all their concerts around Australia and tours around the world.
The Realise Asia Tour 2010 included thirteen concerts in Vietnam, China, Thailand, Combodia, Laos and Malaysia, with plans under way for the 2011 Realise Asia Tour.
“Music of Joy” is a unique, multicultural group of musicians in Australia who believe the purpose of music is to create and share joy. Exceptional joy – jubilant, relaxing, profound. Joy that reverberates with audiences, offering elation, bliss, solace.
Much of the group’s repertoire stems from Bhajans – songs of the spirit, songs of praise and adoration. To these ancient songs, “Music of Joy” has added Indian traditional village songs, music from Pakistan, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, England, Israel, Russia and Africa, as well as a number of home-grown compositions by members of the group.
The experience that can result from sharing this unique world music is thoughtless awareness, a relaxed meditative state which can be understood and developed through the Sahaja Yoga Meditation practised by these musicians. It’s an experience the musicians love to share.
Find out more at: www.musicofjoy.com.au.
(Photograph: www.musicofjoy.com.au)
On Saturday, 9 April 2011, Woolgoolga Beach Reserve at Woolgoolga in northern NSW, Australia, will come alive with the colourful and exotic sights, sounds and smells of the sixth annual Woolgoolga Curryfest. Celebrating the region’s unique cultural diversity, visitors can enjoy twelve hours of food, music, dance and fun from around the world.
This year’s festival is bigger and better than ever, with an amazing line-up of world-class entertainers, and more cuisines represented than ever before. Enjoy delicious tasting plates from India, Japan, Morocco, Mexico, and even the great Aussie BBQ, among others. There will also be an array of temping sweet treats and espresso coffee.
On stage, the global entertainment will continue all day and into the night. Highlights include Ghana’s Afro Moses, performing with some of Africa’s best musicians; award-winning singer and composer, Carmella, known for her powerful, transporting, and angelic voice; and Australia’s finest guitar trio, Martinez Akustika, who have previously toured with The Gypsy Kings and Buena Vista Social Club.
Sahaj Yoga will also present singing and dance groups with Indian and World Music flavours.
Curryfest offers something for everyone. Shop for gifts, clothing and spices in the marketplace, and then chill out in the Sahaja Yoga meditation tent. You can even join in the Indian theme with some traditional henna hand painting.
Younger visitors will love the new, larger kid’s area, with fun carnival rides and sideshow games. Bring the family for a great, festive day out and enjoy great food, entertainment and fun by the beach. It’s only once a year!
When: Saturday, April 9, 2011. Open from 9.00am to 9.00pm
Where: Woolgoolga Beach Reserve, Woolgoolga
Admission: Day (‘til 4pm) $3, Day/Night $5, Primary school children and under FREE
More information here.
You are invited to an evening of Meditation, Music and Dance on Saturday 23 October 2010.
This program will include the world music group, Music of Joy, classical dance and other performances. A video-recording of Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi, the founder of Sahaja Yoga, will be presented. This will be followed by a meditation and Self-realisation session.
When: Saturday, 23 October 2010, 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Richmond School of Arts Hall,
Cnr March and West Market Sts (opposite library)
Richmond
Admission: Free of charge
For more information: Call 02 4567 8030
We hope to see you there.
Sahaja Yoga Meditation, NSW, Australia
Music of Joy concert, Ho Chi Minh City
I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City one week after the very successful tour by the Sahaja Yoga Music of Joy music group from Australia (Click here for a video clip of the Music of Joy). This visit was part of the Realise Asia Tour that was conducted throughout the Asian region, visiting Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma) and China, as well as Vietnam, in July 2010.
About 1000 people had registered beforehand for the Ho Chi Minh program, scheduled for 3 July. As the hall was not large enough to accommodate such a large number, a second concert was organised for the following day. Five hundred people attended the first concert, and a further two hundred came back the next day for the second concert.
A joyful experience for the audience
After Music of Joy performed, a Self-realisation session was provided. The joy on the faces of the people attending was wonderful to behold. This joy soon expressed itself in spontaneous dancing.
Since then, follow-up programs have been held for those wishing to find out more about Sahaja Yoga and its benefits, and learn how to meditate. It was one of these follow-up programs that I was privileged to attend.
Ben Tanh Markets, Ho Chi Minh City
The session I attended was run by Katie from Malaysia, who spoke to the group in English. Her words were translated into Vietnamese by Tuyet and Giang. The subject for the day was Kundalini, the primordial energy within all of us, residing in the sacrum bone. Kundalini can be awakened by the presence of someone who already has his or her Kundalini awakened. If a person has the desire for it to happen, the Kundalini will awaken, rise through the spinal cord and come out of the top of the head, at the fontanelle bone area. When this happens, the person becomes connected with the All-pervading Power. This process is called Self-realisation.
Shri Mataji
After the session on Kundalini, which was preceded by a guided meditation, we watched a short video of a talk by Shri Mataji, the founder of Sahaja Yoga. After that, we had another beautiful, deep meditation. At the end, there were lots of questions from the participants, with people wanting to find out more about Kundalini, Self-realisation and Sahaja Yoga.
Ho Chi Minh City at night
It was a wonderful experience and a great honour for me to take part in this follow-up program. The Vietnamese are very sweet and loving people, and it was a great pleasure for me to share this experience with my Vietnamese brothers and sisters.
Opera House, Ho Chi Minh City
I was also fortunate enough to be in Ho Chi Minh City at the time of Guru Puja. Guru Puja is celebrated around the world, and is a time when we pay homage to our gurus. In Sahaja yoga, our Guru is Shri Mataji. Happily, through Sahaja Yoga we also attain the ability to become our own gurus. During the Puja, we watched a video talk by Shri Mataji where She discussed the qualities of a guru, how we can tell who is a real guru, and the qualities we need to develop within ourselves so that we can become our own gurus. These qualities include patience, wisdom and discretion.
Vietnam is a very beautiful country, and I really enjoyed my visit there. Ho Chi Minh City has many wonderful parks, gardens and street plantings, gracious old buildings, built by the French, and modern skyscrapers. It is a vibrant, beautiful city.
Vung Tau, Vietnam
I also visited Vung Tau, a lovely beachside resort city, about one and a half hours away from Ho Chi Minh City by fast, modern ferry. An International Food Festival, which attracted huge crowds, was held while I was there.
While I greatly enjoyed my visit to Vietnam and look forward to visiting again in the future, the high point of my trip was the opportunity to meet and spend time with the Vietnamese Sahaja yogis.
Editor