Krishna Das (singer)
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Krishna Das (born Jeffrey Kagel May 31, 1947 in Long Island, New York) is a singer who performs Indian chants called kirtans.
Krishna Das travelled to India in the 1960s where, along with Ram Dass, he studied with a Hindu guru named Neem Karoli Baba. Krishna Das has studied Buddhist meditation practices and is now devoted to singing and teaching. He has released several CDs, and he travels around the world giving performances and teaching, sometimes with Ram Dass.
In January 2002 Krishna Das pled guilty to a federal felony charge of "Money Laundering--Proceeds of the Sale of Controlled Substances." He was sentenced to three years supervised probation, including a six month period of house arrest, a fine, and the condition that he "cooperate" with the US Attorney's Office in ongoing investigations. His case, in the New Jersey District, can be found in the criminal docket under 2:02-cr-00009-JWB-1.
Krishna Das is perhaps the best known American singer of Indian kirtan-style devotional music. Similar artists include Bhagavan Das, Jai Uttal, Wah, Deva Premal, and Snatam Kaur Khalsa.
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[edit] Chanting
The chanting of Krishna Das consists of:
- Chanting with musical accompaniment
- Meditation instruction
- Readings from different spiritual traditions
- Teachings and discussions about the spiritual path
In the winter of 1968, Krishna Das met Ram Dass, who had recently returned from his first trip to India. After living and travelling with Ram Dass in the U.S., and hearing Ram Dass' many stories about Maharaj-ji, Krishna Das travelled to India, where he met and stayed with the guru.
While living in India for almost three years, Krishna Das was drawn to the practice of Bhakti Yoga and the practice of kirtan—chanting the Names of God. As an appointed pujari (priest) for the Durga temple in Maharaj-ji's ashram in the foothills of the Himalayas, Krishna Das immersed himself in the worship of the Divine Goddess.
Krishna Das spent as much time as possible with Maharaj-ji over the years in India. However, in early in 1973, he was asked by Maharaj-ji to return to America.
According to Krishna Das,
'At what would turn out to be my last darshan of Maharaj-ji's physical body, I was petrified with fear about returning to the U.S. after so many years. I hadn't worn a pair of jeans or shoes for such a long time that I couldn't imagine what it would be like. I didn't want to ask Maharaj-ji what I should do in America, but all of a sudden I blurted out in anguish, 'Maharaj-ji! How can I serve you in America?'
He looked at me with mock disgust and said, 'What is this? If you ask how you should serve then it is no longer service. Do what you want.' I couldn't believe my ears. How could doing what I wanted to do be of service to him? I didn't have that kind of faith. I just sat there, stunned. Then after a minute or so he looked over at me, smiling sweetly, and asked, 'So, how will you serve me?'
My mind was blank. It was time for me to leave for Delhi, to catch the plane back to the States. He was looking at me and laughing. I bent down and touched his feet for the last time and when I looked up him, he was beaming at me, 'So, how will you serve me in America?' I felt like I was moving in a dream. I floated across the courtyard and bowed to him one more time from a distance. As I did, the words came to me, 'I will sing to you in America.'
Over the years Krishna Das has made numerous pilgrimages throughout India, meeting teachers and saints of many spiritual traditions. Living in jungles, in ashrams, and in holy places throughout India, he states he has had an opportunity to absorb the ancient truths that have been held by the Indian culture for thousands of years. He has studied Buddhist meditation practices with Anagarika Munindra and S.N. Goenka, and has been initiated into Tibetan Buddhist practices by lamas from various lineages.
Krishna Das has been chanting and teaching on a regular basis in yoga centers all over the world, sometimes accompanied by Ram Dass.
[edit] Discography
- All One (2005)
- Door of Faith (2003)
- Breath of Heart (2001)
- Live... on Earth (1999)
- One Track Heart (1996)
- Pilgrim Heart (1995)
[edit] Notes
Krishna Das Music genres are New Age, World, Meditation, Healing, Relaxation, Worldbeat, and Asia
