Anoushka Shankar, the supremely talented daughter of Ravi Shankar and half-sister of Norah Jones, has been called one of the most gifted artists in her generation (Los Angeles Times). Anoushka will be appearing at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall on 14 June 2008. In this exclusive concert, you will be treated to traditional Indian ragas, as well as acoustic versions of her own contemporary compositions.
Here are some other press comments:
Ms. Shankar received a standing ovation during the performance … She’s special. (New York Times)
Shankar’s exotic beauty, prodigious talent and impeccable pedigree have made her a concert-hall favourite in the West. (Time Magazine)
Don’t miss this opportunity to witness a new major force in Indian classical music.
A large contingent of Sahaja yogis, including many yuvas (young people), returned to Woolgoolga (6 hours drive north of Sydney) in buses for the annual Curry Festival. The weather forecasts had predicted heavy rain, and even storms, for the day of the event, but we all gave bandhans and Shri Mataji created a little bubble of sunshine over the seaside town in the wet weather that seemed to cover most of the coast of New South Wales. (It’s interesting to note that since Shri Mataji visited Australia last year, and it was brought to Her Divine Attention that there was a serious drought problem in the country, it has since rained an incredible amount.) It was really a perfect day, just a tiny brief sprinkle of rain, which felt like a spray of holy water, as a local Aboriginal elder opened the event.
Two of the yuva boys started things off with a rousing drum performance and later in the day the crowd was entertained by Freya and Neesha’s classical Indian dance, Music of Joy and Jhoom Kawali. The local Bangra dancers were also marvellous. In addition to the weather miracle, at the last minute the organisers of the Festival moved the Realisation tent from a very peripheral position to a location where the crowd congregated. They also gave us a tent much larger than planned.
As at other events, the yoginis offered face painting for children, and mehndi hand decoration, which attracted people to the tent. I noticed one lady looking very intently at the yogis giving realisation, and I asked her if she would like to try it. At first she made an excuse that she had to go and get lunch. Then I felt a blast of the Cool Breeze and the lady suddenly changed her mind, coming in for her Realisation and having a very powerful experience.
Last year, members of the local Sikh population, which makes up a large proportion of the population, were reluctant to try, but this time a few Sikh ladies came in and got their realisation.
Graham Brown
(Photograph: curryfest.com.au)
A heart is healthy not only if it gives but also if it receives. If for some reasons it cannot, then it aches and can make the whole body and the whole being become sick. It hurts because we are human beings. So whatever affects the heart can have an enormous impact on our moods and personality, on our physical health and spiritual wellbeing.
As Sahaj yogis, even if we are dealing with difficult people or difficult situations, our heart can ascend to a higher level. After Self-realisation, our enlightened attention can take us through the reactions of ego and super ego and rise to Sahasrara. Thus we enter a new and higher realm of pure forgiveness and of pure love, in which the heart can expand and let the vibrations flow both ways to the whole (also called Heaven on Earth).
After realisation, we are all walking on that path and our Kundalini (our inner spiritual Mother) is pushing us to grow and ascend as much as She can, and as much as we accept to face ourselves.
The tendency in this modern world is to make brain our God and believe that everything can be explained. But brain cannot explain heart. Being ourselves so small, how can we even think of trying, even more when it comes to our inner spiritual Mother’s Heart?
How can we explain the love that a normal human mother’s heart can have for her child or children? Where is it coming from? That love is so powerful, it can move mountains if it has to; it can fight to death if it has to. It can protect, heal, comfort but also correct, guide, strengthen. There is no end to what it can give and do. But this love (present in all of us) can become sick and tired if it is not allowed or not in a position to give or receive. Both movements of giving and receiving are essential for a heart to be healthy, to remain strong so that this Love can flow freely and without effort.
Raising our heart beyond brain is like freeing ourselves from all these entanglements that can be so overwhelming in life. It is the expansion of our small heart to a higher dimension, a higher Heart that encompasses and cares for the Whole world.
Our Heart belongs to Thee, our Heart belongs to our higher spiritual Mother (both ways), if we let it.
Meenakshi Pujari
(Photograph: www. sahajaradio.org)
The annual Bobin Sahaja Weekend will be held on the long weekend, 7-9 June, 2008. Bobin is a lush, rainforested area in the bush of New South Wales, four hours from Sydney, a little north of Wingham and Taree. For directions, see http://maps.google.com.au/ and enter “Bobin NSW”.
Last year we had a great weekend with beautiful vibrations.
On Saturday 7 June, the Enviro Fair will be held in Taree Park, Taree. The Enviro Fair promotes environmental concerns and world music. Sahaja Yoga will be playing a significant part in the Fair’s events. There will be Sahaja Yoga performances on stage about midday, featuring the the music group, “Music of Joy”, dancing and Qawwali music. Sahaja Yoga will also have a spot on the local radio station in the morning. There will be a large Sahaja Yoga tent with meditation, face-painting and mehndi hand-painting.
On Monday 9 June there will be a Sahaja Yoga program in a hall in Wingham, where the film, “Freedom and Liberation” will be shown. Refreshments will be provided after the program.