Meet American singer Krishna Das who is filling the world with love and music

Krishna Das is an international chanting icon described by the New York Times as “the chant master of American yoga”. An American by birth, Krisha Das has been singing Hindu hymns or bhajans for decades. Das has created a chanting movement across the globe and has released seventeen albums since 1996.

His upcoming show is in Mumbai at NESCO, Goregaon on October 20.

WION catches up with Krishna Das to know more about his life, how chanting has been transformational and oneness in a world fueled by war.

1. What line of thought are you from?

I am a devotee of Neem Karoli Baba from North India, who many believe is a reincarnation of Hanuman itself. From 1970 to 1973 I lived with Neem Karoli Baba. I wanted to live with him forever but he suggested I go back to America since I had karmas to work out there.

My guru Neem Karoli Baba used to say “Sab ek” (all one). Many paths, many names, all one. This has made it easy for me to take teachings from different paths. I’ve learned everything leads to love, to our true selves and true nature.

2. How has chanting created personal breakthroughs in your life?

The practice of chanting is very simple. One repeats sounds which are called names of Gods. When one finds their mind wandering away they can simply come back to the name of God. We spend all of our lives lost in obsessive thinking and obsessive programs running in our minds, all the ways in which we define ourselves and many definitions are negative. They cause suffering, isolate us and prevent us from being happy. Chanting has helped me to connect with the living presence within. You can call it whatever you want to call it. There’s only one sun in the sky but every language has a different sound for it. The idea is that there is one true self and all beings are within that. The light of the supreme soul is what lives within all of us.

3. What are key lessons Neem Karoli Baba taught you in life?

Neem Karoli Baba was a Siddh Mahatma and he helped me experience my true nature. He said “You cannot talk to a hungry person about God” and he was very much into feeding people. His main teaching was love everyone, serve everyone and remember God. In this case, it means doing some kind of bhajan. We spend our whole lives thinking about ourselves - how does this affect me, what about me etc. This “me” is a sickness and we need to rid ourselves of it. Everything revolving around this is greed, neediness, ego and we need to rid ourselves of it. “Me” is just a bundle of thoughts we identify with.

4. What are you looking forward to during your Mumbai show?

I am very happy to come and sing to people. I have no expectations. I look forward to chanting and hope people chant with me.

5. What is your vision for the world?

This world is full of people. As long as people are full of anger, grief, shame, violence - the world will be full of that. We can try to remove the sorrow of the world to ensure the world is more satisfied. It is only possible if we fill more people’s hearts with love.

6. Are people more receptive to satsangs now than before in an era of concerts?

I am very surprised, especially after the pandemic at the intensity of people singing. We all need to free ourselves of the thoughts and suffering of the pandemic, besides the physical suffering. People are anxious to find peace within.

7. Can you share some personal transformation journey stories of people you have met?

I have met people across the world who have been gracious about their experiences with chanting and how it creates something for them to come back to. It’s an anchor in their lives. We need anchors so the boats of our life are not blown around, we are not drowning in the ocean. In this case, chanting helps to create that. It’s the sound of the name within us and represents our true name.

8. In a war-torn and divided world, how can people realise the inherent oneness amongst us?

I don’t think for most people the concept of oneness is real. Oneness is the final ultimate of all truth. We live in a relative world full of our subjective versions of the world. Everything we see, feel, think is based on our own subjective versions and dictated by our needs, wants, likes, dislikes. People should begin to release their anger, frustration, anxiety and drama. People should be honest about what’s causing pain for themselves, their loved ones and the world in general. Oneness is all around us however we don’t know that. I don’t think it’s useful to think we can manipulate our emotions to feel something that can be oneness. We are always trying to avoid suffering and feel pleasure. However, that pushes away from oneness. One has to release the anger and fear within and find love that’s real.