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Chants of a Lifetime
Chants of a Lifetime offers an intimate collection of stories, teachings, and insights from Krishna Das, who has been called “the chant master of American yoga” by the New York Times. Since 1994, the sound of his voice singing traditional Indian chants with a Western flavor has brought the spiritual experience of chanting to audiences all over the world. He has previously shared some of his spiritual journey through talks and workshops, but now he offers a unique book-and-CD combination that explores his fascinating path and creates an opportunity for just about anyone to experience chanting in a unique and special way.
Chants of a Lifetime includes photos from Krishna Das’s years in India and also from his life as a kirtan leader—and the CD that is offered exclusively in the book consists of a number of “private” chanting sessions with the author. Instead of just being performances of chants for listening, the recordings make it seem as if Krishna Das himself is present for a one-on-one chanting session. The idea is for the listener to explore his or her own practice of chanting and develop a deepening connection with the entire chanting experience.
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First published February 15, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
December 20, 2022
It was in the mid 1990s and monks and nuns were leaving the ashrams in droves. I was on my way out the door also. They were leaving due to ill treatment by the organization, and I was leaving because I was disillusioned with their guru.. It was during this time that someone told me that Krishna Das was going to be leading a kirtan in a nearby church. I had never heard of him, and I had never been with a group of people chanting. So I decided to attend.
I walked into the church and down it's hallway. When I turned the corner I almost ran into a man. We stood in front of each other for a few moments. I was trying to figure out where I had seen him before. Then he walked around me. I found the room where the chanting was to be held and sat down with the people. The man I met in the hallway came into the room, and I learned that he was Krishna Das. His chanting was just beautiful and peaceful. I could have listened to him for hours, and I did after buying his music.
It has been 20 years since I listen to his music. Last month I begin listening And chanting along with him. Then I Began to be curious about him and bought this book.
Krishna Das spinds a lot of time talking about meeting his guru in India as well as his experiences in chanting, the benefits of it. I am not one,to,be talking about this subject because I had bad experiences with gurus in my life, Their lack of morals. But I will say that I am impressed by this book and the work that he put into it. He talks about love, mainly his love for his Guru. He says very little about God outside of saying that God is love. He also says that he does not know God. This made a lot of sense to me because even though people have experienced God as love, are mines cannot really understand what all that means periods.
I walked into the church and down it's hallway. When I turned the corner I almost ran into a man. We stood in front of each other for a few moments. I was trying to figure out where I had seen him before. Then he walked around me. I found the room where the chanting was to be held and sat down with the people. The man I met in the hallway came into the room, and I learned that he was Krishna Das. His chanting was just beautiful and peaceful. I could have listened to him for hours, and I did after buying his music.
It has been 20 years since I listen to his music. Last month I begin listening And chanting along with him. Then I Began to be curious about him and bought this book.
Krishna Das spinds a lot of time talking about meeting his guru in India as well as his experiences in chanting, the benefits of it. I am not one,to,be talking about this subject because I had bad experiences with gurus in my life, Their lack of morals. But I will say that I am impressed by this book and the work that he put into it. He talks about love, mainly his love for his Guru. He says very little about God outside of saying that God is love. He also says that he does not know God. This made a lot of sense to me because even though people have experienced God as love, are mines cannot really understand what all that means periods.
July 6, 2022
I really love Krishna Das and definitely opted to listen to him reading the audiobook. If you spend a bit of time listening to him speak or join his Thursday night satsang there are some stories you could probably just repeat verbatim at this point, and many of them are included in this book- but there is a lot of background info and context here that puts his experience into better perspective.
His faith and honesty are so intense. Still obviously human, I relate to his neuroses very easily- “What if that person’s expression didn’t actually mean fuck off? What if they just had a headache?” - and his solution could hardly be more straightforward. Practice, you know, “you can’t drink the water if you don’t cup your hands.”
It did get a little repetitive in spots but um, to be expected as repetition is arguably the main point?! I also appreciated the wandering structure. It was natural and genuine- I’ll be returning often, I’m sure.
Anyway, five stars if you’re into it! 🙏🏽
His faith and honesty are so intense. Still obviously human, I relate to his neuroses very easily- “What if that person’s expression didn’t actually mean fuck off? What if they just had a headache?” - and his solution could hardly be more straightforward. Practice, you know, “you can’t drink the water if you don’t cup your hands.”
It did get a little repetitive in spots but um, to be expected as repetition is arguably the main point?! I also appreciated the wandering structure. It was natural and genuine- I’ll be returning often, I’m sure.
Anyway, five stars if you’re into it! 🙏🏽
March 29, 2017
First, this is an unusual book that may strain credulity, depending on your belief system. It is full of stories of "miraculous coincidences," healings, and other unusual occurrences. It is also a record of the author's obsession with his guru, his continual need to have his guru's attention, and the ongoing stream of psychological baggage that he experiences. The book is also a bit disordered--chronological, but not really, mixing narrative with teaching.
However, the book is also heartfelt and wise. I found some of the things he said soothed the ache in my heart, and he offers many bits of wisdom about how to step away from the dysfunctional obsession with self and into a deeper love for others and for life. It also helps when he explains that "guru", "God," and "self" are ultimately interchangeable, so on one level, his obsession with his guru is simply a desire to connect with Brahman, with the greater sense of Being that enfolds all in Hindu belief. His discussions of chanting showed me how it can function much the way that meditation functions in Buddhism: it can loosen your sense of self and absorption in the inner dialogue that causes suffering, and introduce a greater "spaciousness" wherein we can act in life rather than simply react. His descriptions of self (atman) and Brahman, of love, were poetic and moving, in contrast to the simply more academic discussions of Hinduism that I've read before.
So in the end, I found it an incredibly personal, helpful devotional discussion of Hindu belief and practice.
However, the book is also heartfelt and wise. I found some of the things he said soothed the ache in my heart, and he offers many bits of wisdom about how to step away from the dysfunctional obsession with self and into a deeper love for others and for life. It also helps when he explains that "guru", "God," and "self" are ultimately interchangeable, so on one level, his obsession with his guru is simply a desire to connect with Brahman, with the greater sense of Being that enfolds all in Hindu belief. His discussions of chanting showed me how it can function much the way that meditation functions in Buddhism: it can loosen your sense of self and absorption in the inner dialogue that causes suffering, and introduce a greater "spaciousness" wherein we can act in life rather than simply react. His descriptions of self (atman) and Brahman, of love, were poetic and moving, in contrast to the simply more academic discussions of Hinduism that I've read before.
So in the end, I found it an incredibly personal, helpful devotional discussion of Hindu belief and practice.
April 23, 2021
Krishna Das is a wonderful singer and player, with a good heart, and a mind centered on planting seeds and creating a karma he can live with. More than a memoir, this book shows the way in which to live concurrently in a world of desire and prayer. My wife and I listen to a fav playlist of his chants every night when we lay our heads back down to sleep. He holds a special place inside our hearts. It matters not that his spiritual beliefs may be unattainable for us. His chants are merely seeds.
June 29, 2010
I'm a fan of Krishna Das's kirtan, which is blissful. Unfortunately, I was disappointed by this book. The voice is rambling, without a storyline to hold it together. He recounts encounters that are hard to understand or make sense of. His relationship with his guru is hard for me to relate to. There are some nuggets of wisdom, but not numerous enough for me to recommend the book. Details about his daily life in India in the 70s are somewhat interesting, in a voyeuristic way. But it's hard to understand his frame of mind, his motivations, his "path". He doesn't often delve into the meaning or the wisdom of events. He sort of implies it, with a wink and a nod, which is not satisfying to me.
January 19, 2013
For me Krishna Das, and Ram Dass are a some of the very few people who embody the teachings of Hinduism. They are soaked in the devotion of God and being lucky enough to spend time with him both, I feel much more loving after spending time with them. Chants of a life time is KD's honest life story, filled with excellent quotations I finished this book in one night, and have read it twice.
February 11, 2022
This is by far the most heart touching book I have read. It brought me straight to love and devotion as it is coming from KD’s heart. KD is my teacher and has introduced me to baba. So I’m eternally grateful to him.
June 29, 2017
I am completely in love with it.
June 1, 2011
Hard to evaluate this book, since the author seems to be finding his way as he writes...moments of brilliance, jumps around in time periods, repeats itself, but deeply warm with lovingkindness. CD that comes with it is most reassuring...his best voice. Stay with it...it's an open and honest sharing of his life.
August 27, 2013
If you love Krishna Das read this book!!
June 7, 2014
I found this to be an extremely powerful and moving book that spoke deeply to my heart. Highly recommended, especially to those of us who know what it's like to struggle with inner darkness!
February 28, 2018
Best book I have read. If you are on the path of devotion and love and spirituality - this book is perfect!
November 27, 2023
A dear friend Uma in CA, for whom I have great admiration for her inner strength, gave me this book some years ago. I often reread it for solace as it reminds me of my false past and present conceptions. One hard core main one in my top list was that westerners are so mired into materialism and are all about outward show of spirituality, but have yet to understand that Hindu exegesis is about the inner life, not an outer show. Secretly I always frowned upon the whole Iskcon experiment. Why do they have to dance in the streets and make a big show of their faith? With Chaitanya it was more authentic, but with these hippies it’s so darn empty. This whole drama felt so ‘Judeo Christian’ in its effects, as they run around, courting to convert folks, in the name of some profit making Krishna project !
We Hindus do not go around blurring out our love for god. As you see I was such a ‘brilliant’ thinker ha ha ha….No I was and remain a fool.
Krishna Das destroyed all my nonsense. He speaks to us directly in this book from the very depth of his own depravity, depression, abuse, sex and drugs. His story is a triumph of mantra yoga. Repeating the name that seems to emerge from the very depth of the heart caves of his deepest self, such that a living spanda vibration emerges to wipe out the vagaries of his and our confused mind. This can only happen with grace. Maharaj Neem Karoli Baba is Hanuman himself, just having a jolly good time playing with everyone throwing bananas and apples at people, and to those who could see him, showing his tremendous love for Rama to such an extent that he could leave tonight and arrive tomorrow morning, from one city to another, catching his disciples, who unaware as usual of his supreme knowledge, had been secretly pining for him. Miracles happened with Neem baba with a strange effortlessness. The north star is Neem Karoli and he seems everywhere present in Das’s breath. Even when Krishna Das did not even know him in the US, he was present then. He is this eternal lover of Rama. Indestructible, and forever alive in our decrepit world of strife.
We Hindus do not go around blurring out our love for god. As you see I was such a ‘brilliant’ thinker ha ha ha….No I was and remain a fool.
Krishna Das destroyed all my nonsense. He speaks to us directly in this book from the very depth of his own depravity, depression, abuse, sex and drugs. His story is a triumph of mantra yoga. Repeating the name that seems to emerge from the very depth of the heart caves of his deepest self, such that a living spanda vibration emerges to wipe out the vagaries of his and our confused mind. This can only happen with grace. Maharaj Neem Karoli Baba is Hanuman himself, just having a jolly good time playing with everyone throwing bananas and apples at people, and to those who could see him, showing his tremendous love for Rama to such an extent that he could leave tonight and arrive tomorrow morning, from one city to another, catching his disciples, who unaware as usual of his supreme knowledge, had been secretly pining for him. Miracles happened with Neem baba with a strange effortlessness. The north star is Neem Karoli and he seems everywhere present in Das’s breath. Even when Krishna Das did not even know him in the US, he was present then. He is this eternal lover of Rama. Indestructible, and forever alive in our decrepit world of strife.
April 4, 2024
I respect Krishna Das and this book was insightful. However, as a woman it’s hard not to feel invisible in this journey. Though some goddesses are invoked the gurus, main disciples, and main chants are male. The women are wives, submissives, afterthoughts. I appreciate Das’ emotional sharings, honest insecurities, and revealing love story towards his dear guru. He doesn’t share about any women he encountered on the path other than the spouses of his favorite guys. The chanting recordings at the end are wonderful. I have mixed feelings about the patriarchal nature of this movement, the shadow side of the “peace and love” era.
September 3, 2018
A beautiful spiritual journey
I could only imagine what a blessed soul Krishna Das is, having been around evolved souls like KK, KC, Ma, Siddhi Ma, and of course, being always guided by his Guru Neem Karoli Baba! His gratitude can be felt throughout the book. Thanks to Krishna Das for sharing his journey of healing his broken heart. This is very much needed today especially there are a million things just waiting around to break our hearts.
I could only imagine what a blessed soul Krishna Das is, having been around evolved souls like KK, KC, Ma, Siddhi Ma, and of course, being always guided by his Guru Neem Karoli Baba! His gratitude can be felt throughout the book. Thanks to Krishna Das for sharing his journey of healing his broken heart. This is very much needed today especially there are a million things just waiting around to break our hearts.
May 14, 2021
A very honest writing of a journey
Liked the honesty with which the author has written everything, that he really felt and experienced, without the fear of being judged.
Although I felt there is an over glorification of India and kind of repeated putting down of western world, which I guess is little understandable given that he is a westerner that travelled to India in the 70s.
Liked the honesty with which the author has written everything, that he really felt and experienced, without the fear of being judged.
Although I felt there is an over glorification of India and kind of repeated putting down of western world, which I guess is little understandable given that he is a westerner that travelled to India in the 70s.
December 20, 2021
KD has a raft of good tales in this book. Very entertaining.
He spent more time with Neem Karoli Baba than any other westerner, it seems, and recounts some easy banter with the saint that other westerners didn't seem to enjoy.
As usual the best bits are the autobiography. He provides spiritual explanation and context as well. Much of this is insightful but sometimes it veers a bit too much into psychology for my tastes.
He spent more time with Neem Karoli Baba than any other westerner, it seems, and recounts some easy banter with the saint that other westerners didn't seem to enjoy.
As usual the best bits are the autobiography. He provides spiritual explanation and context as well. Much of this is insightful but sometimes it veers a bit too much into psychology for my tastes.
January 4, 2023
He chanted to "save [his] own miserable ass." He saved many, many more through his chanting.
He saved some more through this book. A true seeker's honest account of their journey from darkness to light. (I don't have it in me at the moment to be this honest and open about my life; so kudos to the author for the courage.)
Read if you are interested in Neem Karoli Baba or Krishna Das, or Indian spirituality in general.
He saved some more through this book. A true seeker's honest account of their journey from darkness to light. (I don't have it in me at the moment to be this honest and open about my life; so kudos to the author for the courage.)
Read if you are interested in Neem Karoli Baba or Krishna Das, or Indian spirituality in general.
June 25, 2019
Krishna Das shares the story of his travels to India to follow his guru Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj-ji). The stories of spirituality and how Krishna Das' life was impacted by Maharaj-ji are amazing and there are many lessons for the reader. If you are a fan of Kirtan and Krishna Das' music, this book is highly recommended.
October 28, 2019
This book was so touching. My admiration just goes out to Krishna Das. His pure unflinching devotion to his Guru was moving and heartfelt and reflects so much in his singing. What a gift he has and it is wonderful to see him share this with the world. I hope one day I could be so lucky to attend one of his kirtans. It would simply be amazing!
November 8, 2023
Beautiful book and a blessing. Part autobiographical, part biographical describing the life of Neem Karoli Baba and his time spent with him. Krishna Das discusses in elegant terms the fundamentals of yoga and chanting along the path. This resonated and I found great inspiration in it’s pages. Recommended highly for those interested in yoga in general and changing/kirtan/mantra in particular.
January 28, 2021
Very humbling book . Krishna Das took me to a wonderful journey along with Maharaj ji , it was such beautifully narrated as if I was there all along with me experience neem karoli baba's grace and love 🙏🙏
May 8, 2022
A soulfully satisfying read!
Maharajji's grace flows through every word written in this marvellous book! It is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn about Krishna Das's life and his encounter with Neeb Karori Baba and how it, eventually, changed his life for good.
Maharajji's grace flows through every word written in this marvellous book! It is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn about Krishna Das's life and his encounter with Neeb Karori Baba and how it, eventually, changed his life for good.
November 5, 2022
I couldn’t put this book down and I was teary eyed multiple times. Such an extraordinary book, you can feel the love through the pages. Like someone said “you’ll be returning to this one again and again”
February 7, 2018
Brutally honest story of Krishna Das's journey of his life, esp how his guru and how his music shaped and impacted his life.
March 12, 2018
A new journey has just begun!
May 15, 2018
Wonderful! Just beautiful
Great inspiration from Krishna Das. All is Maharaji's blessing. The eternal undesirable bond between master and deciple. Love all, serve all. <3
Great inspiration from Krishna Das. All is Maharaji's blessing. The eternal undesirable bond between master and deciple. Love all, serve all. <3
January 11, 2020
Much more than just "chants"
Written directly from heart with no pretensions. Very deeply mentions the way chanting works. Would recommend to those searching for a way
Written directly from heart with no pretensions. Very deeply mentions the way chanting works. Would recommend to those searching for a way
May 6, 2020
Great book delving deep into connecting and being the love we all seek.
October 20, 2020
Solid, honest-sounding story of one man’s quest. If you are into Neem Karoli Baba you can’t miss this.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews