My most recent open mike performance took place last night and was in the Under St. Marks Theater, a small hole-in-the-wall kind of location in a basement on St. Mark’s Place (which used to be the “main drag” of the East Village). There was a small crowd there, mostly composed of other performers. My “lottery number” was high and I did not get a chance to play until 11:30 PM. The people who preceded me were quite far-out and I was not sure how I would be received. I played one song and also told a humorous spiritual story and the audience seemed to enjoy it.I will be going back to the open microphone events again, so if you are in New York City just contact me and I will let you know when and where I am performing.
By the way: the open mike where I performed is called, Penny’s Open Mike and is located at 94 St. Mark’s Place (between 1st avenue and Avenue A). It takes place every Tuesday from 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM)
December 24th, 2008
Those of you who are on my mailing list got a complete update recently with more news of the tour of the US and also Central America.
Since then the newest development is a new meditation video produced by John Elliot. You can view it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHjuawcmndI
In addition to that I played my first performances in New York City… Well, I was born here, but for the past thirty years I have been living abroad… (more…)
December 19th, 2008
In the last two weeks I have been to New Paltz (upstate NY), Ithaca, Asheville, NC, Greensboro, NC, and Atlanta, GA. I am now back in New York City and getting ready for another adventure, but before I tell you about that. Here are some highlights from the last two weeks.
(The photo below is from the workshop-house concert in Atlanta )
Click the link to read about the tour: (more…)
October 28th, 2008
I am just writing to let everybody know that my North American tour is moving along nicely. On September 28 I visited the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. I was invited there to give a yoga workshop, but one of the scheduled bands failed to show up and I was given the opportunity to present a set of music. The event took place in an open amphitheater located in front of a beautiful lake.
Here is a photo from the festival:
I also visited meditators in Washington, Philadelphia and attended a yoga retreat in Plainfield, Massachusetts. This past weekend I presented a lecture on kundalini yoga at the Ananda Marga retreat in Asheville, NC. I am currently in Greensboro, North Carolina and a concert is scheduled for Thursday, October 23 (if you are in the area, please come!)
At the retreat in Massachusetts I held a music program for the children and did the same songs that I sing in Albania with the children of the Albanian Sunrise School.
October 21st, 2008
By Dada Vedaprajinananda
Someone who was practically unknown a few weeks ago has now become one of the most important political figures in the United States. That “someone” is of course Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska, who is now the Republican candidate for vice president. Palin’s candidacy has energized the Republican Party, especially heartening those on the right wing who adore her small-town lifestyle and social views, particularly her anti-abortion stand which is called “pro-life” in the U.S. But is Governor Palin truly pro-life, in the wider sense of the term. In my personal opinion, she fails to live up to this ideal. (more…)
September 7th, 2008
by Dada Vedaprajinananda
Recently I gave a meditation workshop in England and touched on the issue of non-attachment. Yoga philosophy tells us that we shouldn’t be morbidly attached to physical objects because they are transitory and perishable. If we can remember that our self-worth and being do not depend on these physical objects then we will be better off. (more…)
August 31st, 2008
by Dada Vedaprajinananda
Many people try for years to lose weight or to make other positive changes in their lives, but never succeed. There is plenty of information on the subject of weight loss in particular and self-improvement in general, but it is the implementation of the good advice that is the stumbling block to most people.I am convinced that the place to start when you want to lose weight is in your mind. (more…)
August 3rd, 2008
by Dada Vedaprajinananda
Sometime back I read an anecdote concerning Bill and Hillary Clinton. It seems that one time, many years ago, Hillary dragged Bill to a yoga class. Bill remarked that he was the only man in the class. In many countries, that is the way it is, with women being the primary enthusiasts at yoga classes. One of the main reasons for this may be that yoga is seen as a way to lose weight and become more beautiful. Let’s take a look at this and see what role yoga has to play in making someone look beautiful. (more…)
July 6th, 2008
Here is a review from All Access Magazine:
reviewed by Rob Swick
Recorded in Tirana, Albania, Brighter than the Sun…
Recorded in Tirana, Albania, Brighter than the Sun is a set of 13 acoustic songs that should leave the listener uplifted, refreshed, and hopeful for the future.
All tracks were written, sung and played by Dada Veda, an idealistic troubadour who was born in New York in 1946 and grew up through the formative years of rock-’n'-roll.
He hitchhiked to California during the fluorescent flower-power era of the Sixties, and ended up becoming a dedicated yogic monk in the Ananda Marga Society. Ananda Marga, which means “Path of Bliss,” is a fellowship devoted to peace, health, and harmony among humanity.
Currently residing in Albania, Dada Veda helps to manage kindergarten operations for underprivileged children there, and proceeds from his CD will help to support those educational efforts.
Each song on the album has a positive title and theme, including the title cut, which was inspired by meditation, encouraging people to go deep within themselves.
“Common Home” is an ecological song, while “For Everyone” is, just as implied, for all people, everywhere. “Crimson Dawn” and “In the Stillness of the Morning” speak of bright times to come, and “I Don’t Eat Meat” addresses the goodness of a vegetarian diet.
The songs are all based on folksy chords played by Dada Veda on the acoustic guitar, accompanied by Redi Dashi on bass and additional guitars, plus drums and percussion by Andi Haxhihyseni, and background vocals by Vasudeva.
Yes, there’s sometimes a childlike innocence to Dada Veda’s singing, and his pitch may not be always perfect, but — look at how enduring a singer such as Bob Dylan has proven to be, also without an opera-quality voice, while inspiring a boatload of imitators and tribute-payers along the way!
Like Dylan, Dada Veda gives voice to enduring issues such as social justice, reminding the listener, in “The Wise Ones Say,” that one should do good things immediately, but should delay doing anything that is bad.
The world can use more inspiration and direction such as that found on Brighter than the Sun. Info on kindergarten education in Albania is found at www.albaniansunrise.com; more on yoga and meditation is available at www.anandamarga.org; the singer’s own site is www.dadaveda.com
June 26th, 2008
When I was in California a few years ago I met one of my old college friends who is now a well known Zen teacher. Recently I had some email correspondence with him and also saw his page on Wikipedia, and his bio on the website of the foundation which he started.
After seeing all that he did and compared my own work to his, I began thinking, next to him “I’m nobody” and I kept thinking “I’m nobody” and again “I’m nobody”. Finally I was reminded of an old story:
Once there was a Rabbi who wanted to impress everyone with his humility and spiritual attainment. So one day he threw himself on the floor next to the altar, in front of the congregation, and began to wail “Lord, I’m nobody”, “I’m nobody”. He kept on, and then the congregation’s Cantor was so impressed that he also threw himself on the floor and started to say “Lord, I’m nobody.” Out in the hallway there was a janitor who heard the commotion and he peeked in to see what was happening. He became so inspired that he too, entered and threw himself on the floor and began saying “Lord, I’m nobody.”
When the Rabbi saw the janitor on the floor he became irritated and said to the Cantor, “And look who thinks he’s nobody!”
May 29th, 2008
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