Customer Reviews

Door of Faith

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I must begin this review by telling you my story with Krishna Das. It's not completely relevant to this specific CD, but to the artist's music in general. When I first started listening to KD's chants (15 months before writing this review), I was stunned to find that I was transported into a place very deep within my soul - a place that intimately knows every time, every place, and every being that ever was. Everything feels Universal in the moments that I am engaged in his chants, and I can see a glimpse of myself as one tiny, yet all encompassing piece of the greater whole (which one may perhaps call God/One/That/Universe). I have also had profound intuitive revelations while listening to KD, and an unfolding has taken place for me as a result of these revelations, whereby I have discovered a whole new way of being in the world. While attending my first KD Kirtan several months ago, I realized that I wanted the deep spiritual connection that I experienced that night every day of my life. So I became a Hindu, found a guru, started a meditation practice, and profoundly altered the way that I let everyday life matters (money, work, negative thoughts, etc.) concern me. I have been religion and spiritual experience shopping for about 12 years. I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would end up in this beautiful place. KD of course is not really responsible for any of this. He just opens his heart and his mouth to do his yogic practice, and thus opens up a wide channel through which the grace of God can freely flow.

Door of Faith is yet another KD masterpiece. I would describe the music as "heavy" and "solemn", although this is not a bad thing. I have found that listening to this CD is a bittersweet experience which brings me to tears. Many of the chants on the CD connect me with my existential aloneness, which in turn creates longing for union with God, and thus becomes the ground for true bhakti (yoga of love and devotion). I believe that Door of Faith is an expression of heartfelt and serious devotion. I am especially moved by "Mere Gurudev" which is like a lullaby that KD performs with his daughter Janaki, and "Jai Jagadisha Hare", which is the Arti (ritual for dissolution of the ego) that is offered at the lotus feet of KD's guru Neem Karoli Baba. I am really tickled by "God is Real / Hare Ram", which has a Southern Baptist flavor combined with the chanting of Tibetan monks. This song is a little bit more light-hearted and can therefore provide a counter-balance to the more solemn spiritual pieces.

I would say that this CD is probably best suited to 2 types of people - A.) The serious devotee or spiritual aspirant who can appreciate its spiritual tone, and B.) Those who wish to have non-invasive background music for taking a bath, meditating, doing Hatha yoga, getting a masage, or just drifting off to sleep. If instead, you are looking for something festive or celebratory; a lighthearted international selection, or music to chant along with, I would recommend KD's "Pilgrim Heart" CD.

Please bear in mind that this review reports only my own experience and opinions of the CD and that "your mileage may vary". But I'd definitely advise climbing aboard the bus and going for the ride. I give Door of Faith 5 stars, and 2 thumbs up. It's well worth a listen to.

... than Pilgrim Heart and Breath of the Heart, but it did. I call this man the voice of God. Listen to "Puja" and see if it doesn't pierce right through you. And "Hey Mata Durga" is soulful, spare, humble and equally touching. If you live a Yoga lifestyle and/or are a Krishna Das fan, buy this CD. You won't regret it.

I consider myself a novice when it comes to Sanskrit Mantra, chanting, and the legends of Hindu Deities. All I can offer is the personal experience of listening to Krishna Das and his chanting. It is subtle, compelling, provoking, emotive, truthful, devoted, and inspiring. I purchased this CD on the blind, having never listened to any of the songs on it before, not knowing about the Shiva Stuti or Hanuman Chaleesa. I was just getting used to Krishna Das's Hits of the Kali Yuga when being fortunate enough to attend a Kirtan, "Door of Faith" was there too.

I've listened to these chants almost daily for the last few months, and its not like conventional songs where they become repetitive - these songs, using words of power, just keep building the internal vibration of love and compassion.

You don't have to be a Hindu, or practice Yoga, or even know Sanskrit words (the CD comes with a FULL listing of the words plus background notes) to get benefit from these songs. My kids automatically chant along now and miss it when its not being played.

Yes - it does pull at the heart, and yes - from time to time it does instill tears. If you want something groovy and light - this is not for you. But if you want something deep and resonant, powerfully drawing you into Love, then this Bhakti Yoga CD (devotion) is 62 minutes of pure bliss.

You don't have to spend thousands of dollars going to India to get the real thing. Just light some incense, a candle or two, grab a cushion, some hankerchiefs, and open your heart. Can't wait for Krishna Das's next compilation.

Shambo Sadaa Shiva!

Daniel John Hancock

A BEAUTIFUL CD....Krishna Das keeps evolving into more and more soulful sounds. Particularly track 3, where he chants with his daughter is stunning....a track I play over and over again...healing to my heart and soul.
Thank you Krishna Das for this treasure,
With love,
Tracy

That other review calling Das a charlatan was so idiotic and rude I felt compelled to respond. You can run a google on Krishna Das and see his own website for his credentials and experiences. Hardly a charlatan. Actually, I'm not even that much of a fan, but I did sincerely like this album and it's honesty can be heard in every song. Listen to the samples and judge this CD on its music and not on some jerk's angry diatribe. I saw the artist perform in CA last year and he seemed like a sincere decent guy. Judge not lest ye be judged....
And what's wrong with planting turnips anyway?

This CD is very different from his previous CDs ( which were all excellent). It is more solemn (perhaps reverent is a better word) but certainly indicative of his versatility. Gospel, Tibetian Monks, Krishna...all combine together to show us we are truly one.

I used it today during my regular chanting time and also during a Reiki healing session and it performed admirably both times!

Namaste.

As yoga studio owner and instructor, I have heard a lot of Krishna Das and done plenty of kirtan with him and others over the years. I had stopped using his music for my classes, both because the kirtan was a little too fast at the end of each track, and I did think there was something pretentious/commercial/silly about Krishna Das.
While teaching a retreat I came across this album, and I like it a lot because it's got a slower pace, is not purely kirtan, and is a good addition to the many albums of kirtan he's already put out. You've got to like KD's voice, but if you do, it's great to listen to, and I would definitely use it in class.

To that negative reviewer: for what it's worth he got his name from his teacher in India in the 1960's, Neem Karoli Baba, with whom he and Ram Das and Bhagavan Das and many others had quite a few amazing experiences and whom I believe they truly love. Each of us is caught up in some degree of ego and delusion, what can you do?

I like that this cd is all prayers and not kirtan. Not that I don't like kirtan, it's just that sometimes I long to hear the prayers from the ashram, and not the call and response type of chanting. His voice just keeps getting better and better!

Krishna Das is changing with every new release, in this album it feels like a one on one with the master. There is no call and response on this album, we hear Krishna Das' spirit and soul flow through words of English and Sanskrit and fill our own souls with peace and tranquility. I liken this CD to Wah's Savasana, it is peaceful and tranquil great for Yoga, Meditation, and bring oneself back to center. Put this CD in your stereo and prepare to be filled with love, peace, and tranquility!

I'm a big KD fan, but I gravitate more towards his upbeat music especially when I practice Astanga/Power yoga. Not that this CD is horrible or anything, I was hoping for more of that infectious invigorating beat that was so prevalant on his Pilgrim Heart CD, so I was pretty disappointed to hear the more mellow tone of this one. It would probably be OK for cool down and sivasana.