LYRICS: RAM SESSIONS

ONG NAMO

Ong Namo Gurudev Namo
Gurudev Gurudev Namo

This mantra from the Kundalini tradition is in the Gurmukhi language of the Sikhs and it’s known as the Adi mantra, which connects us to the divine teacher in our heart. Let yourself get lost in the music and offer your voice as a prayer of gratitude to the inner light. 

OM MANI PADME HUM

Om Mani Padme Hum

This Tibetan Buddhist mantra is associated with the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokitesvara, and it essentially means “praise to the jewel in the lotus”. Many people around the world recite this mantra thousands of times a day as part of their practice and it’s often written on prayer flags and prayer wheels. By chanting these words, we connect to the stream of seekers throughout time who have called on the energy of compassion.  

RA MA DA SA

Ra Ma Da Sa Sa Say So Hung
Healing light, be with you
Sun, moon, earth, infinity

This meditation is based on a healing mantra from the Kundalini Yoga tradition. The mantra is composed of eight sounds: Ra Ma Da Sa Sa Say So Hung. Each of these sounds resonates with a particular essence and vibration. For instance, Ra is the Sun; Ma is the Moon; Da is the Earth; and Sa is Infinity. Sa Say So Hung means, “Infinity/Spirit, I am Thou.” Essentially, the mantra connects earth and ether to bring deep healing.

OM TARE

Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha

This is the Tibetan Buddhist mantra of Green Tara, the mother of liberation. One myth says that when the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokitesvara, saw all of the suffering beings in the world, he wept—and his tears formed a lake. From the depths of that lake, a lotus flower emerged and Tara was revealed. As a compassionate mother figure, she is considered a great protector and embodiment of wisdom. 

OM NAMAH SHIVAYA 54

Om Namah Shivaya

This track includes 54 repetitions of the Hindu mantra Om Namah Shivaya. Like all mantras, the meaning is beyond conceptual understanding, but essentially it means, “I honor the light in you.” Or “I bow to the divine within.”

SO HUM

So Hum So Hum
So Hum Shivoham
I am That I am
I am That I am

This ancient mantra essentially means, “I am That I am, Pure Consciousness—Shiva—I am”. It’s a contemplation on the profound mystery of our being. The mantra can be chanted with music or as a concentration practice with the breath. Eventually, the chant will give way to a deep inner silence.

LOKAH (PEACE IN YOUR HEART)

Om Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

This important Sanskrit mantra means, “May all beings everywhere be peaceful and happy.” As you chant, you can imagine a stream of love flowing from your heart to all of creation—or send the prayer to anyone who is suffering, including the earth. Just make sure that, when you pray for peace, you don’t forget to include yourself.

TOUCH THE SKY

There is no salvation for the soul but to fall in love.
Only from the heart can you touch the sky.

Fly, beloved, fly.
Fly, fly, beloved, fly. 

Ram Hare Ram Hare Ram

When I first got my harmonium, I put a note on top with these two beautiful lines from Rumi. After several months I heard a melody and began to sing the words, which so eloquently express the essence of the bhakti path. Bhakti is about falling in love with the sacred presence that hides in every single thing. No matter what form our journey may take, when we enter the secret cavern of the heart, the brittle shell of separation softens and we taste the sweetness of our essential nature. 

HANUMATE

Jai Bhajarangi Jai Hanuman
Sankata Mochana Kripa Nidhan
Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram
Mangala Moorati Maruta Nandana
Sakala Mangala Moola Nikhandana

This song praises Hanuman, the strong, shape-shifting, ocean-leaping, mountain-lifting, miracle-working, mischievous monkey god. Hanuman is adored around the world for his unceasing devotion to Ram, and his life is a great reminder of the unlimited power that lies within us—the power that can be awakened through selfless love and service. 

THANK YOU

I’m sorry, please forgive me. Thank you, I love you. 
Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Bhagavan 

This powerful healing song is inspired by the Hawaiian forgiveness and reconciliation practice, Ho’oponopono. The melody was written by Parvati Sundari and the Australian group Sushumna, who introduced me to the chant in 2010. I was so moved by the practice that I began to sing the English words every night and, later, I added the Ram part. Forgiveness is such important medicine—may this song help to unburden your heart. 

RAMBIENT

Sri Rama Rama Rameti
Rame Raame Manorame
Sahasranama Tattulyam
Rama Nama Varaanane

The name of Sri Rama chanted thrice with bliss shall be equal to chanting
a full round of Vishnu’s thousand names.

While working on this album, I had the desire to create a track that would saturate the listener (and the singer!) in the name of Ram. One of the engineers I was working with had a selection of old recordings from a nunnery in Bhutan. We decided to create a canvas of sound with the samples and overlay it with several tracks of electric guitar. Once complete, I spent months recording vocals—all spontaneous—and then I created a Ram Orchestra out of my voice. The end result was this abstract, ambient immersion in the name of Ram.

RAM SAGAR
(OCEAN OF RAM)

This short ambient piece is an immersion in the sweetness of Ram's name with a beautiful guitar piece as the center point. 

HONEY HANUMAN CHALISA

The Hanuman Chalisa is a 40 verse prayer written by the great Ram devotee, Tulsidas. I have loved the chant for many years and one day, while playing the harmonium, this melody emerged. You can learn the Hanuman Chalisa here. Devotional artist Jennifer Mazzucco also offers an illustrated guide to the Chalisa, complete with Devanagari, transliteration, and English translation—a wonderful resource!

NARAYANA

Hari Om Narayana Narayana
Sharanam Sharanam Sharanam Bhagavan
Bhagavan... Narayana

Lord Vishnu is the all-pervasive Lord who expands into everything. He is the maintainer of the universe and the complete cosmic creation. He is also called Narayana, which means the shelter, resting place, or ultimate goal of all living entities. In Hindu theology, Vishnu is known to take form as different avatars, or Divine incarnations, to benefit the world. Krishna is considered to be one such incarnation, as is Ram. This track praises the supreme power that manifests as great souls. May we take refuge (sharanam) in their wisdom and compassion, and in the source of that light. 

SAY THE NAME

Say the Name
Wash away all shame
Nothing left to lose or gain

Hare Ram Hare Krishna Vasudeva / Hare Ram Hare Krishna Bhagavan

In the dark where you can’t see, the Guru comes and sets you free
Just watch your mind, it tells you lies; the love you seek it burns inside

Hare Ram Hare Krishna...

Let love in, darling, let love in; let love in, darling, let love in
Don't turn away or run in fear, who you are is accepted here
Don't close your eyes and try to hide, you are a light, shine strong and bright 

Hare Ram Hare Krishna...
Rama Ram Rama Rama Rama Ram... 

This song was born in Sydney, Australia, in April 2012. During my visit I went through a challenging time and some old feelings of shame surfaced. One day when I just wanted to hide from the world, I sat down at my harmonium and this song fell out, as if it had always been there. The words were like holy medicine and, as I sang them, years of crystallized pain began to break apart. That very same night I shared the song in a kirtan, and the piece has been deeply healing for me ever since.

108 RAM

108 is a sacred number in the yoga tradition. The most common number of beads found on a mala (rosary), it is said that one full round of chanting is 108 repetitions of a mantra. Honoring this tradition, I wanted to create a piece that could be used for spiritual practice—an immersion in the name of Ram. Accompanying this chant is the haunting sound of the dilruba, a beautiful string instrument that draws the mind deep inside.

DEEP PEACE

Deep Peace of the running wave to you
Deep peace of the flowing air to you
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep peace of the shining stars to you
Deep peace of the gentle night to you
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you
Deep peace to you, deep peace to you

May you always walk in beauty
May you always rest in love
May you always feel at home
May you never feel alone
You’re not alone, you’re not alone
Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram

This traditional Gaelic blessing has always touched my heart and I spent many years listening to the choral version by composer Bill Douglas. One day I had the desire to play his version on my harmonium and the song took on a life of its own! I added a second section with my own lyrics and began to sing it regularly as a part of my practice. May these words bring you solace, as they do for me.