Liturgy: Gate Kirtan by Krishna Das

Staten Island sangha teacher, Ken Byalin, mentioned this to us recently, and I like it and wanted to share it with you all:

Kirtan version of the Gate of Sweet Nectar liturgy by Krishna Das:

http://www.zenpeacemakers.org/zps/liturgy.htm

Click on "Daily" and then click on "Krishna Das: Kirtan - Calling Out"

Calling out to hungry hearts
Everywhere through endless time
You who wander, you who thirst
I offer you this bodhi mind
Calling out to hungry spirits
Everywhere through endless time
Calling out to hungry hearts
All the lost and the left behind
Gather 'round and share this meal
Your joy and your sorrow, I make it mine

Did he say more about it? I was surprised to find it on a Zen site, it feels so vajrayana.

It's a riff on the "Gate of Sweet Nectar" liturgy, which is of Soto Zen / Japanese origin (offering to the hungry ghosts).

http://www.zenpeacemakers.org/zps/litur ... nectar.htm

Krishna Das apparently lives down the street from Bernie Glassman, who noted the absence of music in the Zen liturgy and asked Das if he could come up with something. Das does a lot of 'kirtan,' or devotional Hindu chanting music, and this is (somewhat) in that style.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stephanie

Calling out to hungry hearts
Everywhere through endless time
You who wander, you who thirst
I offer you this bodhi mind
Calling out to hungry spirits
Everywhere through endless time
Calling out to hungry hearts
All the lost and the left behind
Gather 'round and share this meal
Your joy and your sorrow, I make it mine

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Very nice. this reminds me of my job, right now.