People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

— Mother Teresa

nothing sounds better to my taste buds right now than a homemade chai latte, iced or hot. after trying jyoti bihanga’s sensational version of the beverage a couple of weeks ago, i came home and scavenged the internet, looking for a recipe that would satisfy my appetite. and just like that, she appeared on my favorite food blog.

soup was not on my list of favorite foods growing up, simply because i had not yet been exposed to all the wondrous variations available to me. combining an array of fresh vegetables and beans in one pot seems a little more than brilliant. i made this black bean soup over the weekend and could not have been more delighted with the outcome. the recipe can be found here.

there is something so sweet about watching someone effortlessly open up and share with others their gifts and extraordinary talent. in a style i can easily call devout and unpretentious, amitabhan, performed a concert for myself and the beautiful yogis at my yoga retreat last weekend, with music he has written straight from the heart. his message, so simple and true, comes through in every melody he conceives. i asked him for a personal interview, with hopes of possibly conveying bits of his loveliness.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Sure.  I play the guitar and write songs. I love singing bhajans. I spend a lot of time driving from place to place.

When were you first interested in making music and why?

There was a lot of music in my house growing up.  I do remember holding a guitar in my lap for long periods when I was probably 10. It only had two strings. I would just sit there with the guitar in my lap for a half hour at a time, pretending I could play it. I really wanted to play the guitar. Much later, I started writing songs.

As an artist, what do you find most challenging about what you do? What do you love most about what you do?

Most challenging… paying the rent!  Lol.  Just kidding. Things are going pretty well. I spend a lot of time on the computer, booking shows, setting things up, publicity, marketing, updating websites and such.  That takes up a lot of time, and can be a challenge.

The best part for me is probably when the songs are coming through. I write some songs. Other songs come through. The best songs are the ones that get delivered. Sometimes they need some shaping, editing, or finishing touches, but they are much more a download than a creation.  When that happens, it’s a pretty blissful process.

Where do you gather inspiration for your art? What is the creative process like for you?

Sometimes inspiration is just there. It comes a lot more when I don’t have 27 things to do and my life is more stress-free.  I was on a silent retreat for a week recently. There was a lot of inspiration!

What is your favorite song that you have written?

I like “take me”.

What projects are you working on at the moment?

Right now there is a lot of energy going into some upcoming tours, generating the promotional materials, contacting people. But I will be getting back in the studio in the next month or two to record a few new songs.

What other musicians/artists influence you?

Kirtana is my favorite songwriter. I love the bhakti in Krishna Das’s music. I’ve been really touched by Snatam Kaur and Kathy Zavada also. There is so much grace waiting to pour down on us. Some music reminds me to slow down and rest in that presence.

I love all types of music though.  Some people have a personal integrity or genius that comes through – and it can be in any genre of music. John Prine and Townes Van Zandt have some incredible songs. I love Bob Marley. I’ve played with some unbelievable gospel artists.

I heard a lot of James Taylor growing up, and other songwriters –my parents listened to a lot of music. There were other influences at different times. Its often songs or collections of songs, more than a particular artist that inspires me.

Outside of music, what other interests/pastimes do you have?

Resting in the presence.

Yoga, meditation.

What are 5 things currently making you happy?

Amy Jo’s yoga classes.

Watching the sunset, especially from the top of a hill or mountainside.

Barefoot walks on the earth.

Giving up fear.

I think the best happiness is the one we experience for no reason. Its what we are at the core, when we stop identifying with thoughts.

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

Nothing is worth hardening for.

Truth is worth softening for.

Upcoming Amitabhan shows in Southern California:

Friday, July 1 – Santa Barbara

Saturday, July 2 – Pasadena

Sunday, July 3 – Ojai

More info at:

Tickets

www.amitabhan.com

When I hear of people who weary of each other, I believe it is because they have sought virtues in themselves alone, attractions of physical beauty. Have they based their love on each other’s thoughts? Who can weary of thoughts which change every day?

- anais nin

the sage sees life in deeper ways:

sees intricate patterns of beauty

embedded in life’s fabric;

sees comfort woven with the pain;

sees gain shining amidst the loss;

sees forgiveness binding up resentment’s wounds;

and sees life always rising out of death.

so much of our perception

is conditioned by our fears and our desires.

we must learn to see the things

that others cannot see.

then we must assure them

of the beauty hidden there.

(words by william martin)

much of last weekend’s yoga retreat was spent at the table indulging in gorgeous, gourmet meals that delighted every taste-bud known to man. regardless of our differences, good food has a way of bringing us together and creating a state of satisfaction…even if momentarily.

santa barbara yoga retreat

this touching poem, more powerful when read by the author himself, was written last weekend by dylan barmmer on the last day of the yoga retreat. it brought many of us to tears as we listened intently to his token of love and remembered moments that were so perfectly illustrated with his words.

Naturally

Nestled in lush green groves in

frolicking hills, we are alive above

stunning sun-kissed Santa Barbara

Grace unfolding oh-so Naturally

Beautiful mindful women and

sometimes naked yogic men co-mingle

blending breath, chopping wood, creating space

for individual explorations of autonomy

“Find your own way,” I heard the

smiling soulful teacher say, the words

drip drip dripping like raw honey, seeping

deep deep deep into our soft subconscious

From there will flower, flow freely

much-needed reminders to do more than

pay lip service to things like Presence

and Solitude and Funky Freedom

White Lotus

Green mountains

Blue sky

Yellow tea

Perfect me

Perfect you

Perfect circle

So much Love

So much Love

So Naturally…

the follow your own way yoga retreat in santa barbara was magical. i could not have hand-picked a more open-hearted and fun-loving group of individuals to join me for a dauntless quest of soul-sweetening. the experience felt like a four-day slumber party full of laughter, love, honesty and gentleness. my inspired spirit is already brewing the next one.

photo source unknown

i don’t know nothing except change will come.

year after year what we do is undone.

time keeps moving from a crawl to a run.

i wonder if we’re ever gonna get home.

you’re out there walking on a highway.

all of the signs are blown away.

sometimes you wonder if you’re walking in the wrong direction.

if you break down, i’ll drive out and find you.

if you forget my love, i’ll try to remind you.

stay by you, when it don’t come easy.

it’s only love we are looking for.

this song has been a daily indulgence for about two weeks now. it moves me to tears every time i listen to it. the unconditional love we are capable of having for another is the one thing we look for when we come up against continual challenge in life, the one thing that gives us courage and strength when things become difficult to endure, the one thing that has the power to heal our pain when everything in our lives seems to be destroyed by the weight of the world.