Hey hoaxster :D
It was Voltaire.
“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it." ~Voltaire
That said,
a few words about MUSIC.
I remember those awful kirtans at THE WAREHOUSE
When everyone was so uptight about FL showing up
Are the fans set up? Are the kids out of the way? Don’t want any freaking babies crying!
Are there enough garlands to bury his face?
Is his food in the fridge? (All 35 courses)…
Is the vyas asana set up right?
Are there enough face masks to go around? Get rid of all the sickies…. Backbiting…nastiness…On and on…AWFUL!
By that time (early 80’s) the music and chanting was rugged and negative – intense –
The loudness and gruffness trying to make up for a lack or real spiritual feeling.
I know a lot of people bailed and put on their own kirtans
Trying to recapture spiritual experiences.
IMO there is nothing impure or wrong about “enjoying” music or being inspired by it!
I’ve had many a non-cult spiritual experiences thru music.
Music expresses the soul.
If a soul is sick, it’s sick music.
No matter if it’s sincere and seeking or pure and “advanced”
It’s all reflected.
It can heal a broken heart
Open a closed heart
Cure depression
Sooth the savage beast
Or inspire one to get more connected
To what is real and true.
Or experience God.
I used to like the unplugged kirtans
(As a woman- 10 times more enjoyment.
It pays to be “10 times more lusty” -- HA HA!) :lol:
And some of the devotee recordings too
Devavani YOU were GREAT!
Loved the la, la, la!
Even the first ISKCON album was cool!
Even Chris’s album was sweet.
What happened to the creative times FL!?
They died.
I still listen to all kinds of world spiritual music---
Gregorian chants.
Hawaiian chants.
Tibetan Monks
Klezmer
Sufi master [
www.npr.org]
Ethiopian Music
Even some American Country Music’s got soul!
No better version of the Lord’s Prayer than the African version
on the “Serafina” soundtrack album!
Classical---
Bachs Brandenburg Concertos
Handel (not just the Messiah)
Beethovens Ode to Joy
Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffman
Andre Boccelli singing anything!
On and on…….
Oldies--
Beatles
Stevie Wonder
Dylan
The Byrds
Credence
Richie Havens
“Whiter Shade of Pale” gets me every time!
Too many to name
Newbies---
Vega 4 – Life is Beautiful.
[
www.youtube.com]
This is the anti-FL cult anthem!!!!!
&
Another version of what is essentially Ecclesiastesies
[
www.youtube.com]
And recently, from the exiled Jew :cry: of the forum,
Who turned me on to Matisyahu, a reggae Chassidic singer!
[
www.youtube.com]
You get what you bring to it.
Maybe nothing here is perfect.
Call me sentimental
Call me a neophyte
Call me an enjoyer
Call me a demon
But every day I try to do another good deed
Try to put a smile on someone’s face
Try to please the Supreme.
I don’t belong to a group or have a FL
But what resides inside of me.
I bet a lot of exes do the same.