In This Video:
This is a live performance of the Om Shanti mantra by the Inner Peace Foundation Kirtan band, recorded during a Satsang with Rohan. This isn't just music; it's a practice designed to quiet the mind and open the heart to the field of peace that is always present. The chant serves as a vehicle for direct experience, allowing the listener to settle into the silence that exists beneath thought. Use it as a support for your meditation or simply to bring a sense of calm into your space.
- As you listen, can you notice the space between the notes and the silence after the chant ends?
- What happens to the usual chatter of 'The Committee' when you allow the sound of the mantra to wash through you?
- Without trying to achieve anything, can you feel the simple quality of peace that this mantra points towards in your own body?
TRANSCRIPT
Satsang means “Meeting In The Non-Dual Truth of Reality.” It is being in the presence of an enlightened teacher and experiencing their peaceful energy to discover our true, non-dual nature. Uncovering the deep beauty within us via higher consciousness and transcending the seperate idea of "I" or "me". Many techniques are used such as Meditation, Self Inquiry, Inner Investigation, Movement and most importantly, being in the presence & wisdom of an Enlightened Being. True enlightenment can't be fully explained with words. Rohan's sharings come from "his" direct ongoing Enlightenment experience, proven teachings, and what he's learned from other enlightened masters. Note that authentic enlightened teachers have an energetic light about them that can be directly experienced. If a teacher doesn't have this, they might not be the real deal and CAN NOT "take you home".
GLOSSARY
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Kirtan
A form of devotional chanting. Unlike performance music, its purpose is to quiet the analytical mind and open the heart, creating a shared field of presence that supports self-inquiry and meditation. -
Mantra
A sacred sound or phrase used to focus the mind during meditation. It acts as an anchor to prevent the mind from wandering, allowing awareness to settle into its natural state of peace. -
Om Shanti
A Sanskrit mantra for peace. 'Om' represents the primordial sound of existence, and 'Shanti' means peace. Chanting it is an invocation for peace at all levels of being—body, mind, and spirit. -
Satsang
Literally 'meeting in truth.' It is sitting in the presence of a Self-Realised teacher, where the energetic field itself facilitates the recognition of our shared, non-dual nature beyond the egoic 'I'. -
Non-Duality
The direct recognition that there is no fundamental separation between the observer and the observed. In the Toltec sense, it's seeing that the entire 'tonal' arises within the silent, seamless 'nagual'.
Q&A
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What does the mantra 'Om Shanti' mean?
'Om Shanti' is a traditional Sanskrit mantra for peace. 'Om' is considered the primordial sound of all creation, representing the ultimate reality. 'Shanti' translates to 'peace.' Together, they form a powerful invocation for peace in body, mind, and spirit, helping to calm the nervous system and quiet mental chatter. -
What is Kirtan in spirituality?
Kirtan is a form of devotional practice involving call-and-response chanting of mantras and sacred names, often accompanied by music. Its purpose is not entertainment, but to quiet the thinking mind and open the heart. It creates a powerful collective field that makes meditation and self-inquiry more accessible. -
How can I use this music for meditation?
You can use this Om Shanti kirtan as an anchor for your attention. Instead of focusing on your breath, let your focus rest gently on the sound. Allow the music to wash over you without analysis. When the mind wanders, simply guide it back to the chant. This helps to bypass the 'thinking' mind and rest in pure presence. -
What is Satsang?
Satsang literally means 'meeting in truth.' It is the practice of sitting in the presence of an enlightened teacher to experience the peaceful, non-dual energy of your true nature. It uses meditation, self-inquiry, and direct pointing to help you transcend the limited idea of 'I' and realise the substratum of consciousness.
“There’s nothing to add. What you are is prior to beliefs, thoughts and labels.
Here we explore and unveil the ultimate mystery of non-dual being.
Reality.”
