SAMANTABHADRA

I'm a multi-instrumentalist and a singer. I've primarily been focusing on rhythm for the last few years, playing the drumset, congas, and more recently the tablas. I've also begun studying Hindustani classical music - commonly known throughout the west as raga, such as the music of Ravi Shankar, Ustad Bismillah Khan, and others. Though my primary training had been in jazz, gospel, and rock music - the influence of classical Indian theory has really helped furthur my ability to tune into what I am doing. This is because they all use music as a means of communing with the Divine (like the Sufis.) This parallels my work with yoga and qi gong. When I relax, breathe deeply, and let the music (and the SPIRITS) work through me, I play more amazingly than I logically feel that I should. When I try to execute something to show off or because my ego comes into play, the music doesn't flow right. The proper attitude is Wu Wei, I think. You practice all the basics and the scales and the patterns and the infinite permutations, and then in the moment you can react spontaneously and without ego to what is happening, and GO WITH THE FLOW. Check out the music of Pandit Pran Nath if you want to hear someone who sings for God. He has an amazing album of Malkauns called Midnight, and some other good albums (Rare Earth Groove comes to mind.) Props to the Mahavishnu Orchestra being in this thread. You know you know when you know you know.

Pandit Pran Nath, Ali Akbar Khan, Amir Khan and other Hindustani classical musicians John Coltrane, Albert Ayler, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk !, Eric Dolphy, Art Blakey, Charles Mingus and other jazz musicians. Afro-cuban, Afro-brasilian, African, Haitian music - especially folkloric, drum-based music. Fela Kuti! All music that inspires folks to dance.

Whoever posted that picture of Samantabhadra made me feel like I should comment on this thread. SB, I think it's very suspicious that although your boyfriend likes to use the words 'gay' and 'queer' as negative connotations regarding your spiritual practices - and this clearly indicates not only his general close-mindedness, but a dislike of homosexuality - but then declines engaging you in explicitly heterosexual vaginal sex, preferring the 'gay' methods of anal and oral sex. By no means is anal sex or oral sex gay. However, I dare to say that all gay men prefer anal sex to vaginal sex. Maybe your boyfriend has more serious identity issues that he is suppressing? By all means, dump that douchebag. Nothing will hamper your own self-exploration and growth more than some man-child deriding you for following your intuitions. Good luck.

Some cat who used to be Hendrix's roadie came out recently and said that Hendrix's (now-deceased) manager admitted that he killed him. For the record. There was a lengthy interview a few months ago in one of those guitar magazines.

Truly beautiful. Quite analagous to many things in life as well. thanks

Chau everybody, I'm a musician, primarily my path has been rhythmic and vocal. I'm a drummer/percussionist and a singer. I say this only because music is one of my primary spiritual vehicles. I have been performing since I was young and music is the ultimate 'flow' experience for me. I studied a lot of jazz and afro-latin-brasilian music, and have recently been taking voice lessons in the North Indian classical style of Raga singing - a vehicle for balance and harmony, and quite a powerful meditative practice for me. aside from that, I have also pursued different spiritual knowledges since I was very young. My uncle died when I was 11, and I think that really sent me on the path. I have studied much Buddhism, primarily zazen and I've been feeling a pull from the Tibetan teachings lately that I've yet to pursue. Started doing yoga at about 15 and have had many interesting experiences with my body. Done a bit of qigong and work with the microcosmic orbit, as well as some sexual practices garnered from Mantak Chia. My experience with non-ejaculatory orgasms has been interesting. I stopped ejaculating a while ago, sometimes it still gets released but doesn't escape until later when I urinate; other times I have ridiculous full-body multiple orgasms. Still, I feel I have a long way to go on mastering this art. I lost my regular yoga and qi gong practice for a few years and had kind of a wild trip, but I recently quit smoking (it's been 3 months) and I am trying to come back to my body and embrace a fully conscious life, awake and aware. Just thought it might be nice to share with others on the path. peace