PRONUNCIATION:

The "R" on Har is a hard "R" like in Spanish, striking the roof of the mouth.(sounds like Hud)

The sound of "AMRITSAR" is emphasized in syllables UM - RAT - SAR

POSTURE:

Sit cross-legged in easy pose, in quiet space you like.

MUDRA:

Bring your hands to your heart with the finger tips of the two hands intersecting at the tips upon your heart. Left hand is over right hand.

EYES CLOSED VISUALIZATION:

Imagine that you are sinking into a tank of blue water, and immersing yourself in its healing vibrations..

This mantra contains the sound of the city where the Golden Temple is (Amritsar). People come from all over the world to dip in this water for healing purposes. As you hear or vibrate/chant the mantra feel the immersion into the water of this place.

TIME OF PRACTICE:

Open

THE STORY BEHIND HAR HAR AMRITSAR

The Master Goes Home

When Thomas Barquee (producer of this recording) and I were working on the vocals for this piece,

it was a day, October 6th, 2004, when they had announced, in our early morning group meditation, that Yogi Bhajan was very sick and to please chant/pray for him continuously.

I watched a thought crossing my mind, " Guru Ram Das's birthday--(4th Sikh Guru, who lived in the 1500s and special spirit guide for the 3HO community). Perhaps he will choose to leave the earth on the birthday of the spirit guide he loved and served."

Later, in the studio, as we worked to get the right vocal, I began to chant, but as I did, I felt as though I were unravelling, coming apart and began crying uncontrollably. Grief gushed out. I saw, felt and experienced, in that little sound booth, my teacher's soul waiting at the Golden Temple, holiest shrine of the Sikhs, in India, to go to the other side. Thomas, hearing my crying, responded, came in and said, "are you all right?" I told him what I had seen upon vibrating these sounds, and after going for tissues, he very kindly said, "let the tears come, and we'll put them in the music."

At a break, we shared a lot of stories about each of our experiences with Yogi Bhajan, having no idea, that when we went home later, that he would pass away that evening at 8PM. Many people in my community have stories like this, about him visiting them before his soul's transition, on that day. This is my story.