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Dear Chanters,

     Like you, I love singing and listening to kirtan. While the Bhakti Breakfast Club website presents exclusively kirtan-related courses, in my personal life I listen to all kinds of music, and I bet you do too!

     Sometimes I want to listen to kirtan albums, to remember the divine names and let their energy permeate me. Other times, I want to listen to songs with english lyrics that wrap me up in a feeling. When I was in West Bengal, India, I encountered the Bauls, nomadic musicians who sing romantic songs with hidden meanings. At first glance, their songs are love songs, not so different from love songs on the radio. But listening deeper, it's clear that they are singing of a spiritual love, addressing God in a most intimate way, as a personal beloved. It is... profoundly appealing, and while it might not make sense to my rational mind, somewhere inside I crave this love affair with God.

     Like a musical note rich with overtones, these songs evoke multiple levels. Since the Bauls got me “listening" for that other meaning, I've carried that listening into pop, soul, funk, jazz, any music at all! Many songs can have that deeper resonance. Maybe the songwriter was a mystic, a lover of God, or maybe the sincerity of their songwriting about human love magically works on the bhakti level as well.

     So, with this series of playlists, I'll be sharing with you a mixture of my favorite kirtan music along with songs from other genres that evoke bhakti indirectly, deepening the devotional mood if somewhere within us we're thinking of God as we listen. Each playlist will center around a different theme, or particular divine name, or a favorite musical genre...

I hope you enjoy these! They've been really fun to put together for you.
Lotsa love,
Daniel

Daniel Tucker
founder of the Bhakti Breakfast Club,
lover of the Source of Music

Featured Playlist:

vol. 1: Stumble Into Grace


I stop work and come into the living room, thinking to do a little spiritual practice of some sort. Instead, I wind up in a discussion with my wife and my feelings get hurt. Not her fault, but the conversation took a turn and there we went. Now I'm frustrated, how I am supposed to do a spiritual practice now?

Well, I reflect, Grace is present in every moment, not just the easy or pleasant ones. OK sure, but how to actually feel that, not just think it? Hmm... Oh! I know, I'll put on some music.

I start playing this playlist, and I feel so out of step with the lyrics Emmylou Harris is singing, about a love that is always present, waiting patiently for us to discover... I listen closer, the music drawing my heart and mind into her sentiment... and I begin to feel the truth of “Here I Am," the Presence waiting within presence. Then Jai's “Guru Brahma" comes on, and I notice I get anxious, almost get up, but then I take a breath and realize I'm sad, and cry. The heart begins to open again, and I'm on my way, stumbling into grace. Om, Guru, Om.

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More Playlists:

vol. 31: Songs for my Little One

“When you smile I'll smile along  When you cry my comfort comes  When you wa... keep reading »

vol. 30: It's All For You

“This is my desire  To honor You  Lord with all my heart  I worship You <... keep reading »

vol. 29: Adventures in Paradise

Vaikuntha, Vrindavan, Heaven, the Garden of Eden...  What if the curtain lifted,  ... keep reading »

vol. 28: Bhakti Dance Party

“Crossing my heart  Open wide  You're my crystal and clover  All of me, h... keep reading »

vol. 27: Sweet Goddess

“Every long lost dream led me to where you are
 Others who broke my heart the... keep reading »

vol. 26: Downtempo Deva

God is Groove.  Always moving,  alive and breathing,  singing and dancing, ... keep reading »

vol. 25: Hanuman Chalisa

“Hanuman's eyes filled with tears  as he recalled the Lord's virtues.  He ev... keep reading »

vol. 24: Celestial Instrumentals

Inexplicable sweetness,  unspeakable grief..  A powerful missing,  a ray of pea... keep reading »

vol. 23: I am Waiting for You, My Love

“ I'm sending out a searchlight,  Shine it out until I find you.  Can you br... keep reading »

vol. 22: Saraswati Devi

“May Saraswati,  the goddess of learning,  who is pale like a garland of kun... keep reading »

vol. 21: The 3 Word Upanishad

“Have I told you lately that I love you?  Have I told you there's no one else a... keep reading »

vol. 20: Soul Music

Isn't it incredible,  isn't it fantastic,  when a love song comes on -  and you... keep reading »

vol. 19: Krishna is my Refuge

Shri Krishna Sharanam Mama...  Shri Krishna Sharanam Mama...  Shri Krishna Shara... keep reading »

vol. 18: Spacious Love

Held by a vast love are we...    Let these spacious songs of devotion    hol... keep reading »

vol. 17: Divine Mother

“O Mother of this vast universe,  all action is accomplished only  through... keep reading »

vol. 16: Kirtronica Dance Party

Beats, pulses, sonic textures, funky synthesizers...  ...and Mantras!    Electr... keep reading »

vol. 15: Best Live Kirtans

हरे कृष्ण हरे कृष्ण |  कृष्ण कृष्�... keep reading »

vol. 14: Teach Me to Love

“There's something about love  That scares me...  There's something about <... keep reading »

vol. 13: OMMMMMMMMMMM

Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...  Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...  Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...... keep reading »

vol. 12: Grace of the Gurus

“Bring your secrets, bring your scars  Bring your glory, all you are  Bring ... keep reading »

vol. 11: Love Beyond Words

“Music is, to me, proof of the existence of God. It is so extraordinarily full of ... keep reading »

vol. 10: Drawn to Govinda's Song

“Your lips are sweet,  Your speech is sweet,  Your face is sweet,  Your s... keep reading »

vol. 9: Destroyer of Illusion

”I will rise again  Through rain and floods and wind  Knock me down,  and... keep reading »

vol. 8: Sikh the One

“I beg you, dear friends,  to sing the beautiful Names of God.  Love and liv... keep reading »

vol. 7: The Power of Love

“The power of love is a curious thing  make a one man weep, make another man si... keep reading »

vol. 6: Down by the Riverside

Occasionally, I'll have a moment  of sensing the River that runs through life.   <... keep reading »

vol. 5: Journey to India

Ah, India... Have you been?  Not by plane, but ~ Within.    India is a ... keep reading »

vol. 4: Ganesha's Hoedown

Ahh, the obstacles of life...  They seem so solid, real, unyielding.  But what are... keep reading »

vol. 3: Savasana Lullabies

I am always so busy,  going going going.  Why do I avoid slowing down?  Maybe t... keep reading »

vol. 2: Makes His Puppets Dance

I don't feel like dancing.  I don't feel like dancing.  I don't feel like dancing.... keep reading »