In this recording, Mandu, plays Sri Chinmoy’s songs on the harp, creating a peaceful and ethereal sound. Mandu, who has been a student of Sri Chinmoy for many years also offers some insight into his musical and spiritual journey since he first heard Sri Chinmoy’s music at a Peace Concert.
Peace on Earth (Mandu Harp Solo)
Last modified April 19, 2020
Dear listeners, it is with great joy that we bring you this collection of celestial music. Sri Chinmoy’s songs have found a worthy interpreter in Mandu. His poetic harp-playing embodies all human emotions, encased in a realm of beauty. His music glows in a way that is easier to feel than to describe.
His music reminds me of an answer that Sri Chinmoy gave to a question about music:
Question: Why do we like music?
Sri Chinmoy: We like music because it teaches us how to love, whom to love and why to love. How do we love? We love by self-giving. Whom do we love? We love him who aspires and claims God as his very own. Why do we love? We love because the divine lover in us has no existence of his own without feeling his oneness-reality with his Beloved Supreme.
Let us not try to understand music with our mind. Let us not even try to feel it with our heart. Let us simply and spontaneously allow the music-bird to fly in our heart-sky. While flying it will unconditionally reveal to us what it has and what it is. What it has is Immortality’s message and what it is is Eternity’s passage.
Sri Chinmoy, God the Supreme Musician, Sri Chinmoy Lighthouse, 1974
Question and answers with Mandu on his music
- How did you start in music?
I’ve always been fascinated by the beauty and wisdom in music. Early in my childhood I listened to classical music for hours and was able to find a universal pattern or a code in that music, that inspired me and made me happy and vast. I learned the accordion very early and later the guitar at the age of 15 and I spent hours on an old piano in my school and learned there by “trial and error”.
- Were you the only musician in the family?
My musical career was rather unspectacular. I only had regular music training again at the age of 20 when I started playing classical violin. However, after only 6 years and after practice sessions of several hours a day, I contracted tendonitis, so my active musical career ended for the time being.
- What is your creative process? (In other words, how do you come up with our arrangements?)
I have always wondered that a spiritual master, the avatar of all ages, spends so much time learning instruments, practising and creating music until one day I understood that music and art are the higher language of God (or the universe) ) that has a sacred code within it. This code is like a sacred frequency (or geometry) that reminds us of our source. Music also has the power to remind people of their divine origin and to increase our vibration and capacities. Art, music and creativity are a way to express our divine nature, it is our natural divine existence. Music is like a language that we only have to use and reveal again. It is the most powerful and sweet medium in today’s world to raise the consciousness. In my arrangements I sing along inwardly with the melodies, and the melodies often become independent and continue as if in a spiral, I hear infinite voices like in a heavenly orchestra, but unfortunately, I can only bring a small part down to my instrument.
- How did you meet Sri Chinmoy?
He found me. At a Sri Chinmoy Peace Concert, I was lying on the benches at the front left of the stage and I felt a tingling sensation in each of my cells during the strange music. This feeling of overflowing light made me suspect that this music full of consciousness could awaken consciousness in my cells. I was fascinated.
- How has Sri Chinmoy’s music, and his general approach to creativity, impacted your musical life?
I honestly have to admit that without Sri Chinmoy’s compositions I would not be inspired to put any music on my instrument. It is the dedication to the infinite creative power of Maestro Sri Chinmoy that inspires me to discover, awaken and manifest the hidden secret code that lies in these songs. Without the songs of Sri Chinmoy, there would be no musical life for me, there would be no satisfaction and no creative fulfilment.
- What role do you feel musicians and artists have in the world?
With music that flows from the heart, it is possible to touch the hearts of others and to connect each other. Music helps to encourage for experiences of joy, breadth and depth, on this earthly stage as well as of the universal connection with everything that is.
- Do you have any general suggestions for aspiring musicians?
Just start. Start with very simple melodies or accompaniments. If you make a little bit of progress every day, there will be a big progress in a year. Always be there, it is an exercise for coordination, discipline and ultimately lets you grow beyond the physical, emotional and mental limitations. And up there in the sun of creativity lies the universal symphony, the eternal praise to the Lord Supreme.
- Any general thoughts you would like to share with the public?
Mandu and Visuddhi Trummer
One of the most beautiful experiences for me is to become an instrument at concerts and to experience how a bright presence of light, bliss, grace and energy envelops and guides you, and gives you the confidence and the certainty that everything is of divine grace. It is so fulfilling to melt in the awareness and the presence of Sri Chinmoy’s light.
We hope Mandu’s music will inspire and elevate your spirit to new heights!
Your music works are amazing. I have known your website for over 10 years and I honestly feel spiritual whenever I get to this place. Keep it up.
May Lord Bless You.