Always, throughout my years,
I was prepared to spend
long hours looking.
Just looking.
Stars, raindrop
on a twig,
a spider’s web,
stripes on a blade of grass,
the seedhead and the bee.
Mountain, leopard, cloud.
Wind and water. Wheat.
Who will do things?
How will they get done
if you’re a dreamer?
If everyone …
So the story ran.
The hours were truant, stolen,
rumoured to be lost.
But still I sought them out,
stubbornly, hungrily.
Now I know
these were the only hours
that were right.
All bustle, bother, wringing
of hands
has blown out of time.
And here I am, still
kneeling by a flower,
steeped
in eternity: home.
Lynne Bryer
(Photograph: pdphoto.org)
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.
The group is made up of about twenty male and female singers and instrumentalists who come from diverse cultural backgrounds. Core members of the group have been performing together for more than fifteen years. Under the direction of John Smiley, an experienced music teacher and choral instructor, Music of Joy’s repertoire is accompanied by a great mix of Eastern and Western instruments, such as harmonium, guitar, bass, flute, saxophone, clarinet, tabla, dholak, djembe, chimtar, tambourine and didgeridoo. As understood in many musical philosophies, the rhythm section of the group is the heartbeat of the music, without which there is no joy.
Music of Joy has toured extensively locally and overseas. They have performed at numerous festivals and special events around Sydney. Further afield, they have delighted audiences at the Ganesha Festival in Helensburg, the Winter Magic Festival at Katoomba, Canberra’s Floriade and the Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland, as well as many cultural events in Newcastle, Wollongong, Goulburn, Ulladulla, Bateman’s Bay, Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga. In addition, they have performed dozens of joyful concerts in centres throughout New South Wales.
Music of Joy featured in the NSW Art Gallery exhibition, Dancing to the Flute. Their overseas performances include meditation seminars, with audiences ranging from 500 to 8,000 people, in New Zealand, India, Italy, and most recently in the United States, where they received the acclaim of visitors from all around the world.
To hear Music of Joy singing the Bhajan, “Namostute”, click the link below. Enjoy.
[audio:19 – 19 – Australian Bhajans Group _ Namostute.mp3]
The time has come.
At last
This is our time.
It flows
Around and in and through our lives.
This timeless time for which we sought
And struggled in the past and grasped in glimpses.
Promised scenes, arcadias
And “might have beens” dissolve
As we become
Of timelessness a part.
That innocence
That everlasting Now
Is here with us
And we are in the midst
Deep
In the calyx
Of that Heart.
LV
(Photograph courtesy of geocities.com)
The Gayatri Mantra is seen by many Hindus as the foremost mantra, the way to the Divine awakening of the mind and soul. The Gayatri Mantra is seen as the way to reach the most Supreme form of existence.
The Upanisads (sacred Hindu texts) contain many references to the Gayatri Mantra, and it is contained in all the four Vedas. The Goddess Gayatri is the Mother of all the Vedas and the consort of Brahma. She is made up of the coming together of Parvati, Laxmi and Saraswati to become Adi Parashakti, the Mother of Gods and the Supreme God of all Gods. She is also associated with the sun and is worshipped as the Sun Goddess.
Om bhu Om bhuvah Om Svah On mahah Om janah Om tapah Om satyam
Om bhu bhuvah svarah.
Om tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi.
Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat.
Om apo jyoti raso mrtyam Brahma bhuvah svar Om.
It is believed that reciting the Gayatri Mantra creates the power of righteous wisdom. All problems are solved by those who have this gift. No calamity will befall them and they will not tread the wrong path.
It is not just reciting the mantra that is important, however. Understanding and purely being the essence of the Gayatri Manta is one of the most powerful ways to attain God and is the way to union with Brahma.
(Picture courtesy of Hindunet Inc)