I really strongly believe that music can lift us up when we are down, reinvigorate us when we are tired, enlighten us when we are lost. There is something about certain types of music that really make me feel good. Sometimes the songs may be slow and contemplative, other times they may be upbeat and energetic, but regardless there are certain songs and or music that move me.
Check out the mantra sung below by a Buddhist nun from Nepal...
Isn't that beautiful? (Thank you Bryan for posting it to Facebook). It is that type of simple, beautiful music that just takes my soul away and lifts it up! I love it! I need to remember how powerful music is in lifting the soul when it is down. I thought with this weeks blog I could share some of my very favorite uplifting/beautiful/contemplative pieces of music or chants that make me feel closer to that Something which is higher than myself. And you all could share yours! Here they are in no particular order...
"Armed" - Devon Gundry
"One" - U2 feat. Mary J. Blige
"Let it Be" - Carol Woods and Timothy T. Mitchum
"Universal Prayer" - Dave Stringer (Thank you Aminda for that one)
"Stand by Me" - Playing for Change
"Here's Where I Stand" - Camp Soundtrack
"You Walk With Me" - The Full Monty Soundtrack
"Bring Him Home" - Les Miserables Soundtrack
"In The Deep" - Bird York
"Papa, Can You Hear Me?" - Barbara Streisand
"Falling Slowly" - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
"Seasons of Love" - Rent Soundtrack
"Imagine" - David Archuleta
"What a Wonderful World" - Louis Armstrong
"Night Hath Succeeded Day" - KC Porter
"Jewel in the Lotus" - Jack Lenz
"Breathe Me" - Sia
"Fix You" - Coldplay
"Over the Rainbow" - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
What are some of your favorites that really make you feel at peace and a little more at one with the universe? As always, share quotes also if you'd like.
"...in this new age the Manifest Light hath, in His holy Tablets, specifically proclaimed that music, sung or played, is spiritual food for soul and heart. The musician's art is among those arts worthy of the highest praise, and it moveth the hearts of all who grieve. Wherefore, O thou Shahnaz,[1] play and sing out the holy words of God with wondrous tones in the gatherings of the friends, that the listener may be freed from chains of care and sorrow, and his soul may leap for joy and humble itself in prayer to the realm of Glory." (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 112)
"Let our city shrines and chaityas with a lofty music shake,
And ourpriests to bright Immortals grateful gifts and offerings make,
Bards, reciters of Puranas, minstrels versed in ancient song,
Women with their tuneful voices lays of sacred love prolong,
Let our queens and stately courtiers step in splendour and in state,
Chieftains with their marshalled forces range along the city gate,
And our white-robed holy Brahmans hymn and sacred mantras sing." (Hindu, Ramayana (R. Dutt, abridged tr))
"Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely." (King James Bible, Psalms 147:1)
"The treasure of the Naam, the Name of the Lord, is obtained by singing the Glorious Praises of the Lord of the Universe, and centering one's mind in meditation on Him." (Shri Guru Granth Sahib, Section 10 - Raag Dayv)
"We, verily, have made music as a ladder for your souls, a means whereby they may be lifted up unto the realm on high..." (Baha'u'llah, The Kitab-i-Aqdas, p. 38)
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9 comments:
Man in the Mirror = Michael Jackson
Earth Song = Michael Jackson
Ooooo, those are good ones. Especially "Man in the Mirror". I love that one. Thanks for sharing!
Shimmer - shawn mullins
Bridge over troubled water and sounds of silence - simon and garfunkel
OMG ...no I can't do on...I make a new playlist everweek for yoga I literally have hundreds of songs I think raise the spirit...for instrumental though MY FAVORITE:
A river flows in you - Yiruma
Oh wait...Mad World...any version....
Thank God for music!!! It has energizes me, comforts me, enlightens me... depends on the song and my mood. Not sure I'd survive without it! :)
I have so many but here are a few that really just get me thinking, sometimes even shedding a tear or two :)
I Believe - Brooks and Dunn (yes, country LOL!)
Your Great Name - written by Krissy Nordhoff and Michael Neale that are members of my church in Franklin, TN
Three Little Birds - Bob Marley
Beautiful - Christina Aguilera
I could go on and on but these are a few of my favorites :)
Divine Tapestry, Smith & Dragoman, Open the Gates CD
Rumi's Song, Smith & Dragoman, Open the Gates CD
Show the Way, David Wilcox, Big Horizon CD
Someday Soon, David Wilcox, Big Horizon CD
You Who Knew Me, David Wilcox and Nance Pettit,( wife), Out Beyond Ideas CD.
I Charge You All, Grant Hindin Miller, Rivers of Light CD
Let All Associate, TaliaSafa, Attract the Hearts CD
I haven't had a chance to go listen to tall these yet! But I am going to and then come back and post more thoroughly after I have had a chance to listen to them!
Aminda - I love Simon and Garfunkle. And I had never heard of Yurima, but I checked him out and I love that song you mentioned. And yeah, Mad World is a very haunting song.
Janet - I couldn't find the Brooks and Dunn song which is weird, but I checked out the song Your Great Name - that is a great song! That is cool that your fellow parishioners wrote it. Thanks for the heads up!
Anonymous - I have the Open the Gates CD - it is awesome. I also really like Let All Associate. I hadn't heard of David Wilcox before but I listened to the songs you recommended and some others and hes is really great. Seems like he is a Baha'i.
All good stuff. Thank you for sharing your ladder!
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