~ Connecting & Creating Community for Kirtan Lovers in Toronto and Beyond ~

Kirtan opens the heart and stills the mind. It is the yoga practice of ecstatic chanting. Through repeating the Divine Names in Sanskrit, the mind is cleared of worry, doubt, fear and all limiting concepts. The joy of peace and infinite love is given to the practitioner, and transmitted through the world by chanting. This is the practice of bhakti yoga or the yoga of devotion. - contributed by Pat Sandford

To receive a weekly list of kirtan events or to have your kirtan posted, please email torontokirtancommunity@gmail.com

FaceBook's 'TorontoKirtanCommunity' group: the upcoming week's kirtans are posted onto the group wall, as well as interesting articles, videos, photos about events and artists.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/torontokirtancommunity/

Facebook's 'TorontoKirtanCommunity' page lists links/info.
https://www.facebook.com/torontokirtancommunity

ALL known kirtans are posted below, on the left side, on this website's Kirtan Calendar.

“Music that is saturated with soul force is the real universal music, understandable by all hearts.” — Paramahansa Yogananda

“Kirtan is for all people. There are no experts, no beginners. The practice itself is the teacher, guiding us to ourselves. Kirtan allows us to enter into a mystery world—a world where all the logic of our minds, all the condition and learning are left outside. And in this mystery, we create a temple inside of our hearts, a place of refuge, a place of love, a place of just being.” —Jai Uttal

"Chanting is a way of getting in touch with yourself. It's an opening of the heart and letting go of the mind and thoughts. It deepens the channel of grace, and it's a way of being present in the moment." -- Krishna Das

"You start doing chanting as technique. You start to sing ‘Shri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram.’ You start thinking it means, Honorable Ram, Hail Ram, Hail Hail Ram. Then after an hour you stop thinking about all of that and you are just singing it. You are realizing the aesthetic of the music and how beautiful it is. Then after a while it starts to go deeper until your heart is just singing, it’s singing from inside you. Then there’s a point where true bhakti starts- where dualism ends and you become like the chant. You are in a space where it’s not emotional anymore. It’s moved into the deeper, intuitive quality of love. Touching that love leaves you with trust in the method and trust in where the method takes you—trust in the Beloved and trust in how you get there." –Ram Dass

"If we know anything about a path at all, it's only because of the Great ones that have gone before us. Out of their love and kindness, they have left some footprints for us to follow. So, in the same way that they wish for us, we wish that all beings everywhere, including ourselves, be safe, be happy, have good health, and enough to eat. And may we all live at ease of heart with whatever comes to us in life."
- Kirtan closing prayer by Krishna Das


Thursday, December 22, 2011

Happy Holidays! Kirtan Forever!

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Sivananda Christmas Party Sunday December 18th @ 6pm


Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Toronto Centre:
Annual Christmas Party

Om Namah Sivaya
Blessed Self,
We are glad to inform you that this year Christmas Party will be very special, as Swami Mahadevanandaji is coming to be present for the party and lead us in to Meditation and chanting. Swamiji hasn't visited the center in number of years. Now every one is looking forward to share his wisdom.

Also note Ken Whiteley who has just recovered from a major operation, adamant that he will come and perform at our Christmas Party, he has been a regular for the past 10 years. This year due to his health reasons we thought he might not be able to present, then he called to say that he not only attends but leads us in to Christmas Carols.

Program will be:
6:15pm Meditation and Chanting with Swami Mahadevanandaji
7:00pm Ken Whiteley will be leading us in to Christmas Carols by lighting Hanukka Lamps, 8:00pm Sivananda Talent Show
(Do not miss it as the children from our kids Yoga classes are putting up a spectacular show. This year it will be a one of its kind show with all teachers and staff present along with students, friends and families.

All are welcome, you may bring something to put in to potluck dinner if you wish.
Please do not forget to e-mail your name if you have any talent that you want to present.

More information, please contact us by phone (416.966.9642) or at toronto@sivananda.org
www.sivananda.org/

*click on photo for larger image


Sunday December 18 @ 6pm: Sivananda CHRISTMAS PARTY

@ Toronto Sivananda Yoga Centre 77 Harbord Street Toronto ON M5S 1G4

The evening will start with a meditation, followed by chanting and a message from Swami Sivananda.

Christmas caroling and the celebration of Hanukkah will be led by Ken Whiteley.

Join us in the Talent Show, and enjoy the traditional Potluck feast.
All are welcome! Flowers welcome.
Tel: (416) 966 9642
E-mail: toronto@sivananda.org
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Friday, December 9, 2011

CHRISTMAS PARTY KIRTAN WITH SWAHA sat dec 10, 2011

Swaha's band is the most stellar Chris Gartner, Morgan Doctor, Kevan McKenzie, and special guests Lana Sugarman and Jim Gelcer!

‎6:30pm POTLUCK: Please bring some goodies to share and a list of ingredients for your dish along your own plate, cup, bowl and utensils! BYOB...if you feel so inclined.

7:30pm SWAHA KIRTAN: Swaha (Marla Meenakshi and Ron Reid) performs music that is both inspired and uplifting. It is an enticing blend of ethereal Sanskrit vocals soaring over rich earthy rhythms. Frequently travelling internationally and sharing their love of music and the art of yoga, Meenakshi and Ron enjoy the opportunity to dive into the depths of a complete practice with people, filled with Bhakti (devotion), laughter, the beauty of the physicality of the yoga practice as well as the deep philosophical basis for it's existence.

9:00pm DJ DANCE PARTY: We are thrilled to have Kyle Marshal, an amazing local Toronto DJ on hand to spin for us as we let loose on the dance floor!

This evening is a FREE event so please come join us and be merry!

Downward Dog Yoga Centre
735 Queen St. W. 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON M6J 1G1

http://www.swaha.ca/
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