International Gurmat Sangeet Camp July 2011 in Detroit ~ 'Raag Asa'

Press Release

RajAcademy1 (34K)
International Gurmat Sangeet Camp 2011 in Detroit
'Raag Asa'

Your doorway to experiencing, learning and performing Gurmat Sangeet

Press release pic (110K)

July 14- 16th, 2011 ~ 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

This July will feature Raj Academy's annual International Gurmat Sangeet Camp, offering a high standard introduction to Gurmat Sangeet in its original form, taking place from the 14 to the 16th of July at Gurdwara Sahib Hidden Falls in Plymouth, Michigan USA.

The camp offers newcomers the ultimate chance to experience and learn about Gurmat Sangeet in its original form- sung in Raags from Siri Guru Granth Sahib and accompanied by stringed instruments, which are deeply rooted in the Sikh tradition. The instruments of focus are Rabab (Bhai Mardana) Saranda and Jori (Guru Arjan Dev Ji), Sarangi, (Guru Hargobind Ji), as well as Taus and Dilruba (Guru Gobind Singh Ji).

This camp is a fantastic opportunity to get to know the basics of Kirtan, its history and its importance in Sikhi and to take a first step on a sacred journey of playing Guru's Kirtan Guru's way. Within these three days attendants will learn to understand, sing AND play a Shabad on their chosen instrument, according to the Raag it was set in. Neither previous musical experience nor any instrument is required… all that is needed is the Love for this sacred art.

Our camp offers an opportunity not to be missed: a great atmosphere, like minded people, inspiring teachers, insightful master classes ... and beautiful Kirtan in its original form.

With only 100 seats available, this camp is one of the most sought after events this summer, featuring well known artists and teachers of Raj Academy Conservatoire, the largest school for Sikh music and Naad Yoga worldwide. The camp is open to attendants from all walks of life; with a minimum age requirement of 16- anyone younger must be accompanied by a legal guardian.

Don't miss this great opportunity- register today!

Further information about the camp and registration details are available on www.rajacademy.com.

Evidence the Divine experience of some of the participants:

I have achieved so much...

Gagandeep Kaur (69K)

At this very moment I am sitting in a lovely house in London.

I have always wanted to travel the world. However the chance to do so always seemed so unlikely with things the way they were at home. So whenever things felt unbearable I would just take out my dilruba and let it take me on a journey not unlike traveling the world. At moments in life it helped me retain my sanity.

One day I was listening to a very very old recording and I heard strumming in the background. The strumming sounded like raindrops, like a rock falling into a stream, like a hand hitting atta on a jori. It sounded so indescribable but it touched my heart in an incomparable way. I just wanted to listen to that all day. I just wanted to actually speak to that sound and let it know how incredible I thought it was.

I went on to discover the origins of that sound. It was produced by the instrument, which helped color the lifestyle I wished to adapt to. The rabab played by Bhai Mardana to accompany Guru Nanak Dev ji as he traveled the world to share his discoveries, to add color into the lives of people through music. That color was what I had just glimpsed.

I started playing the rabab. It started off with a rocky start as most new instruments do but I could feel myself feeling happier every time I sat down to play. Even devoting 20 minutes of my day to this instrument was making me more excited to explore the world and see all the colors there are to see.

There were times when I just stopped playing but those times were also important. They helped me come to the realization how much I needed this instrument. Because of this instrument I got to meet amazing people, tour all over Punjab, and come to London. It has allowed me to do things I dreamed of doing as a kid. It is also helping me see newer colors, good and bad and experience the world whilst discovering and developing myself. Because of this instrument I have so much more in my life, it has fulfilled my inner thirst and I can honestly say that now I am able to connect with Guru!

I have achieved so much and I can say with pride that now I can cook! I am excited to see where else it will take me.

Gagandeep Kaur, 19,
Richmond USA, (Student of Gurmat Sangeet Outreach with Raj Academy Conservatoire)

How Naad Yoga changed my life.....

Ajuni Kaur (62K) Since as far as I can remember I have had this longing inside, I think I was eleven years old when I first discovered it. I never really knew what it was that I wanted or what was missing.

My life always felt empty somehow and I was unhappy and felt alone. I did not believe in anything, but in fact I was looking to find something that I could believe in. I was looking for the truth, the truth in life, the truth, which holds everything together.

Constantly being tormented by questions like: why are we here? what is the purpose of MY life? and, what am I meant to be doing?

I could never answer any of these questions neither did I get close to finding a reasonable reason to live my life to the fullest.

One day I decided that the only real reason for me to make sense of my life on this planet would be to serve the people surrounding me, but this involved something BIG, it meant that I would have to change myself to be a better person, so I could be an inspiration for others. I really do believe that we need to change to make a better life not only for ourselves but for our whole family on earth otherwise we can never grow.

All my longings brought me to a point where I could choose to fill my life with so much sense but I had no idea how to change myself. I could not control or even just watch my emotions or thoughts. It shocked me so much how unconscious I was and how I acted in every moment.

I did not know anything about myself and in fact I could not understand myself, what I was doing and how I was relating to people I met?

Then it hit me so hard in my core like a thunder bolt.... WHO am I?

So I started my journey of self discovery to try to learn more about me, after trying out a couple of different Yoga traditions, Naad Yoga just appeared in my life in an instant and I don't even know how it happened but im so glad that it did.

From the very first workshop I just knew deep down inside of me heart that this is it. This is what I had been looking for all my life; I mean, this can connect me to what I was looking for all the time, this is what I was missing!

On the struggling journey to myself I start to understand who I am, how I am composed and how I came to be like this but also, and this is the most precious thing, how to change myself to the person I wish to be.

Naad Yoga did not bring merely music into my life, it brought the sound beyond sound into my life and it teaches me how to really listen and how to understand myself and others beyond intellect, beyond words and purely from the heart.

It is the hardest path I have ever walked, but very fulfilling at the same time because now I know that I can change my life and my personality to whatever I wish and I know how to push my mental boundaries to reach all of the things that I thought were unreachable. Naad Yoga has shown me the way through all the fog, which had covered my eyes and my life.

So from that not-believing-in-anything person who was constantly in pain and suffering, with Guru's grace I changed into a person who has dreams and the key to fulfil them.

Now I do understand what the purpose of my life really is and for me, Naad Yoga is the technique to be able to live up to my sacred destiny... I chose it....and I am deeply grateful for it.

Ajuni Kaur Ahel, 25,
Germany (student of Naad Yoga Teacher Training with Prof. Surinder Singh, Raj Academy)