Cutting Edge Science - Qualia - and Bhakti Kirtan

                                                                                                                                           Photo courtesy of medicalxpress.com
Qualia and Kirtan - Talk about Diversity!

Last week the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, where I am currently residing, has provided some really unique and diverse presenters.  The beginning of the week was all about kirtan (call and response chanting/singing).  

Gaura Vani is renown in the yogi world and has been singing kirtan since the age of 6.  He and his ensemble are Bhaktis - devotional kirtan singers.  Gaura Vani brings his entire family, and they are all musically talented - from his children to his mother and extended family.  Each night was filled with joyous devotional music.

I think back to my first night at the Ashram and how freaked out I was with the chants mentioning Hari Krishna.  Now, chants of all kinds are second nature to me, and I really enjoy chanting.

The remainder of the week was all about Qualia and the Science of Consciousness.
Menas Kafatos PhD, Neil Theise MD, Debashish Banerjee PhD, and Swami Brahmananda dialogued during a smposium about the qualities of consciousness, or qualia. 

The symposium expanded the conversation that began last year at the ashram with Deepak Chopra and Menas Kafatos presenting “You are the Universe: Discovering Your Cosmic Self and Why it Matters.”   They co-authored a book by the same title.  

In the description of the symposium, “These qualities of consciousness, or qualia, when closely observed, allow us to be “alchemists” who create both our internal and external worlds. For thousands of years, our spiritual traditions have taught that the path to health and enlightenment lies in our perceptions. Now science is validating and deepening this assertion.” 

I really enjoyed Neil Theise's and Debashish Banerjee's talks. These two presenters were new to me, and I found them each to be fascinating. It is quite amazing, the level of presenters that the ashram provides and the vast diversity.  I have been enriched and am grateful for the nightly satsang experiences.

Namaste
Loving Life and Living Love,
Mary

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