TRACK 4.
Oseh Shalom
Cantor Kathy Robbins, Jewish chant
Cantor Kathy is a wonderful singer who brings together ancient Jewish prayers with original contemporary music. Kathy serves as Cantor and Music Director of Temple Solel in Cardiff by the Sea, California, and has offered two songs from her CD “Shavat Vayinafash – An Island in Time: Contemporary Music for the Eve of Shabbat” for this CD. This prayer is recited in every Jewish prayer service, and asks, “May the One who makes peace in the heavens bring peace upon us all.” Cantor Kathy sweetly sings this prayer to her original musical composition.
TRACK 5.
Hare Krishna
Sharon Janis and group, Hindu chant
This is a group kirtan chant of what is called the Maha Mantra or great mantra. The chant is lead by Sharon Janis and supported by musicians from Bolo! and Jyoti Mandir. Join in and sing along! The words are:
“Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare,
Hare Rama, Hare Ram, Rama Rama Hare Hare.”
TRACK 6.
Now is the Time for Prayer
Desert Fathers, Gregorian
This song opens the door to prayer by announcing that “Now is the time for prayer, forgiveness and supplication. This is the hour of mercies. Let us all arise and call out together and say, Kyrie Eleison (Lord have mercy).”
TRACK 7.
Eternal Om
Robert Slap, digital mantra meditation
I’m not always a fan of new-age or electronic music, but musician Robert Slap has used modern technology to synthesize various pitches and octaves of male voices singing the holy syllable “Om” together with a background choir of soothing voices in a way that is truly magical. It sounds like a cosmic version of monks singing, as each “Om” descends with the gentle freshness of water drops falling upon a lake. On this CD you’ll hear a sample section – the full CD titled "Eternal Om" is available through most online venues.
TRACK 8.
Jai Jagadambe
Kali Mandir, Sanskrit chant
“Jai Jagadambe” is sung by the Kali Mandir singers, featuring lead singers Prakash Barrera and Tara Pendleton. This Hindi song of love to the divine mother is sung with precious devotional feeling to a melodious East-West combination of styles. “Divine Mother of the universe, you shower such blessings and good fortune on us!”
TRACK 9.
Diamond Sutra
Sharon Janis, Buddhist scripture sung in English
This is a chapter from the ancient Diamond Cutter Sutra, with a dialogue between Buddha and his disciple Subhuti about whether beings who will come in future times will be able to understand the sublime teachings (such as us!)
Play the full scripture at: www.diamond-sutra.org
TRACK 10.
Holy, Holy
Desert Fathers, Byzantine
This hymn is common to both Judaism and Christianity, and it says: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of His glory. Blessed be He unto the ages. Amen.”
TRACK 11.
Om Sri Ram
Prem Trikannad, mantra fast chant
“Om Sri Ram” is a group chant lead by Prem Trikannad with Satsang Foundation musicians and singers and myself singing the responses. This song repeats an ancient Sanskrit mantra of praise to the divine. Om is the primordial sound of universal creation, Sri is pronounced Shree, and is a term of respect and acknowledgment of greatness, and Ram is a name for God. The full mantra is Om Shree Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram. Prem is a dear friend and one of the best Indian devotional singers that I’ve heard. He is the grandson of a wonderful and highly respected Indian sage named Papa Ramdas, who always encouraged spiritual seekers to repeat and chant the Sanskrit mantra “Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram.”
TRACK 12.
Ave Maria
Sharon Janis, Catholic prayer
This was sung as the finale of a concert of sacred music at the Sun Valley Opera House. You can play the video of this performance HERE.
TRACK 13.
Amazing Grace
Sharon Janis, Christian devotional
In 1772, John Newton was moved to write about his intense spiritual conversion from slave-ship captain to Anglican clergyman by composing the song “Amazing Grace,” which has blessed and inspired so many through the centuries.
TRACK 14.
Twameva Mata
Swami Nirvanananda, Sanskrit prayer
Swami Nirvanananda Saraswati is a monk from Italy who travels around the world with his guitar and devotional singing and ecstatic chanting. In this track, Swami Nirvanananda sings with tender sweetness this verse of devotion that is very popular in India. Sung in Sanskrit and then English, this verse speaks to the divine, saying: “Thou art my mother, my father thou art, thou art my brother, my friend, thou art. Thou art my wisdom, my wealth thou art. Thou art my all, light of lights, thou art.”
Swamiji has several beautiful CDs available -- find more information about him and his works at: www.nirvanananda.org
TRACK 15.
Ghunghata Ka
Sharon Janis, Indian poet saint song by Kabir
“Ghunghata Ka” sung by Sharon Janis. This is a devotional Hindi song, also called a bhajan, that was composed by a great mystic poet who lived in the 15th century. This poem says, “You will meet God, you will meet your Beloved. Remove the veil, and you will meet your Beloved. The Lord dwells in every single heart, so never speak bitterly to anyone. Then you will meet your Beloved.”
TRACK 16. R'tsei
Cantor Kathy Robbins, Hebrew prayer
Cantor Kathy Robbins composed the joyful original melody to this ancient Hebrew prayer that asks God to be pleased and be gracious to His people. “Pour Your spirit upon us and may our eyes behold Your merciful return to Zion.”
TRACK 17. Om Namah Shivaya
Sharon Janis, slow mantra sung
This is the holy mantra that my Guru, Baba Muktananda, gave to hundreds of thousands of spiritual seekers around the world. This ancient set of syllables reverberates with the deeper meaning of “I honor the great Self of the Universe that is also my own innermost self.” I was blessed to chant this with both Baba Muktananda and Gurumayi Chidvilasananada and remember times playing the harmonium organ and tamboura for the chant while watching a blue light flowing from Muktananda with each repetition.
More about Spirituality For Dummies
“This book bridges the gap between conventional experience and the spiritual life. Spirituality for Dummies gives practical advice for entering the path of spirituality, borrowing wisdom from a host of religious, philosophical, and comedic traditions. Insightful, wise, and humorous, this book can and should be read by all, from novice to saint!"
— Dr. Christopher Key Chapple, Loyola Marymount University
From the Publisher (Wiley): Want to get in touch with your spiritual side? Spirituality For Dummies 2nd Edition shows you how to use spiritual principles to understand and improve your life, empower you mind, and nourish your soul. Complete with a CD filled with calming, spiritual music, it is your personal guide to serenity and spiritual healing.
Spiritual philosopher Sharon Janis shows you how to discover the deeper calling of your soul, survive and thrive through adversity, and look at the world with optimism. You’ll learn how to use meditation, yoga, prayer, and journaling for inward reflection and to spark new vistas as you unfold your own spiritual wisdom and move forward on your spiritual journey in your own individual way. You’ll find similarities and differences among a variety basic spiritual concepts from different religious and philosophical traditions, and you’ll discover how to:
* Find your spiritual path
* Uplift your body, mind, and spirit
* Fulfill your greatest dreams
* Spiritualize your relationships
* Cultivate your spiritual virtues
* Increase your inner peace and happiness
* Turn troubles into triumphs
* Recognize yourself as a co-creator
* Be a VIP: a very inspired person
The companion CD that accompanies this gentle guide brings you more than 60 minutes of inspirational music from around the world. It features the author and other artists performing songs and chants from Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, and Hindu traditions in their native languages.
The Spiritual Guide that Comes with It's Own Ego Test
CLICK HERE if you are offended by the title
Humorous, edgy, profound, and enlightening, Spirituality For Dummies brings modern-day spiritual seekers a view and approach to life that is universal, personal, and optimistic, with the dependable style, clarity, and friendliness of the “For Dummies” series.
User-friendly descriptions of spiritual teachings, principles and practices are brought to life with with humorous anecdotes and insightful quotes from great thinkers, scriptures, and texts from many traditions. With a friendly and conversational tone, Spirituality For Dummies gives readers tools tofind and enter the spiritual dimensions of their lives in today's unique world circumstances.
Spirituality For Dummies guides readers to the awareness of their natural and inherent identity with spirit and the all-pervasiveness of divine spirit in everything. It does this with a realistic and common sense approach that is scientific in nature, without asking readers to subscribe to fluffy or black-and-white ideas.
Reviews for Spirituality For Dummies:
“You can be sure you will no longer be a dummy if you finish reading Spirituality for Dummies. This 330-page primer provides a general overview of spiritual knowledge and awareness, and offers specific spiritual exercises and principles designed to expand one's universal consciousness. Author Sharon Janis fuses mystical traditions with "new thought" to encourage individuals to see beyond mere appearances and use intuitive perceptions to comprehend the spiritual laws at work behind the outer conditions in their lives."
— Sacramento Bee“Spirituality For Dummies is a Mecca for those who are sincerely seeking the genuine meaning and practice of spirituality. Sharon Janis fuses mystical insights drawn from the east/west approaches, resulting in a volume that opens the heart, exhilarates the mind, and inflames the soul. No matter upon which rung of the spiritual ladder you now stand, expect to be catapulted to the next level of awareness through practice of the wisdom-offerings in this scripture of Truth.”
— Michael Beckwith, Agape and "The Secret"“If you feel empty inside (and not because it's been six hours since your last burrito), it might be time to search for the meaning of life in Spirituality for Dummies… Even skeptics can gain self-knowledge from the thought and visualization exercises strewn throughout the book, which demonstrate how to take a positive view of negative experiences and let go of emotional baggage—like going to a therapist, but cheaper. Janis explains meditation, yoga, and other practices in a chipper, down-to-earth style, using everyday analogies and many an exclamation point, that won't scare off the novice.”
— Village Voice
READ SAMPLE PAGES:
Chapter 1: "Finding Authentic Spirituality"
The eclectic and extensive index
What makes Spirituality For Dummies different from other contemporary spiritual books?
- Breadth and depth of coverage – It is rare to find a contemporary spiritual book that covers the breadth and depth of topics covered in Spirituality For Dummies.
- It's Universal and Personal– The author brings quotes and ideas from many spiritual, religious, psychological, ancient wisdom, scientific, and philosophical traditions together with personal insight and advice.
- Friendly, knowledgeable guidance with no strings attached – The author’s goal in writing this book is to share beneficial ideas and worldviews that are accessible to people from all walks of life.
About the Author:
Sharon Janis was brought up by psychology-teacher parents and studied neuroscience and film at the University of Michigan, before spending ten years living a monastic ashram life – studying, chanting, and serving in deep spiritual immersion, while producing and editing hundreds of videos for the worldwide Siddha Yoga spiritual movement.
After a decade of monastic life, Sharon moved to Hollywood for a career as film editor, director, and producer of popular television shows and films – including many evening news and news-feature shows, Hard Copy, X-Men, and The Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers – winning a Los Angeles Emmy, an Associated Press National Board of Directors award, and many other accolades. With her combination of monastic life and Hollywood creativity, Sharon offers a fresh view and style that motivates, entertains, educates, and enlightens with a down-to-earth intimacy, touches of music and singing, and a generous dose of humor.
Watch a video about Sharon and Spirituality For Dummies
Excerpts from Spirituality For Dummies at
"Dummies.com":
Exploring the Meaning of Spirituality
10 Small Things You Can Do to Uplift Your Life
(with photos)Living Spiritually in a Conscious World
Practicing Spirituality for Personal Growth
Transcending Life's Problems through Spirituality
11 Commandments for Living a Spiritual Life
The 7 Stages of Universal Creation Based on Kashmir Shaivism
10 Spiritual-Sounding Lines and What They May Really Mean
(humor with photos)How to Connect with the Divine through Prayer
How This World Is Like a Movie
Dream Interpretation and Spirituality
Should You Make Lots of Good Karma?
How to Untangle the Web of Desires
10 Opportunities to See Your Life with Spiritual Eyes
(with photos)Remember That the Universe Is Always Listening
How to Use Manifestation Techniques
How to Clarify Your Spiritual Intentions and Goals
What Is the Supreme Surrender?
Find more info and video and audio clips of the author at: Sharon Janis Speaking.
Additional Works by Sharon Janis
Click on a book or audio CD to enjoy it online in its entirety
as part of the Night Lotus offering of free multimedia spiritual resources
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CLICK HERE to go to Sharon's speaking, concerts, and workshops page
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