Austin Sanderson

“Kīrtan is another Sanskrit word: its root kir means “to cut.” Kirtan is singing the holy name of God over and over: through the repetition of the Divine name of God, one is able to “cut” through the mind and obtain freedom from the delusion of separation, obtaining the ecstasy of yoga, or reunification with the Divine. The world-renowned kirtan artist Krishna Das said, “Chanting is the heart practice of yoga. When we are in love, our hearts are constantly calling out the name of our lover. Chanting is that calling.”
― Austin Sanderson, Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Chant Book: A Collection of Chants, Kirtans, Prayers, Sutras, Shlokas, Shastras, Devotional Songs, and Inspirational Texts for the Modern Yoga Practitioner

“Sufi mystic and musician Hazrat Inayat Khan once said, “Someday music will be the means of expressing universal religion. Time is wanted for this, but there will come a day when music and its philosophy will become the religion of humanity.” Khan continued, “The knower of the mystery of sound knows the mystery of the whole universe.” The nature of reality is vibration. Mantra is a Sanskrit word composed of two other Sanskrit words, man, meaning “mind” and tra, meaning “to cross over.” Therefore, mantra is “mind protection,” allowing us to free ourselves from the habitual, unconscious patterns of the thinking mind. When the mind is at peace, then yoga can begin. Sacred music assists in the healing and uplifting of the soul.”
― Austin Sanderson, Urban Sadhu Yoga™ Chant Book: A Collection of Chants, Kirtans, Prayers, Sutras, Shlokas, Shastras, Devotional Songs, and Inspirational Texts for the Modern Yoga Practitioner