Adi Da Up Close
Audio/Video Library

The opening reception for the Transcendental Realism exhibit of Adi Da's Image-Art at the LA Contemporary Gallery in August, 2008.

Tags: Image-Art  

Steve Alexander describes his experiences of Huichol shamanism (while in his twenties), and his aspiration to become a shaman. Then, while on a Huichol pilgrimage in Mexico, "everything that could possible go wrong, did". For a "suburban kid from Los Angeles" it was like "trying to put on someone else's shoe".

Steve returned to focus on his university education in fine art. All the while, an awareness of a Divine Presence in his heart was growing. He describes how he cultivated his relationship with that Presence, even as he became increasingly aware of his own egoity and the ways it would tend to shut down that Presence.

Steve describes how his formal relinquishment of Huichol shamanism opened the door to the intensification of that Presence, and ultimately, to his devotional relationship with the human form of that Presence: Adi Da.

Tags: leela  

Steve Alexander describes his experiences of Huichol shamanism (while in his twenties), and his aspiration to become a shaman. Then, while on a Huichol pilgrimage in Mexico, "everything that could possible go wrong, did". For a "suburban kid from Los Angeles" it was like "trying to put on someone else's shoe".

Steve returned to focus on his university education in fine art. All the while, an awareness of a Divine Presence in his heart was growing. He describes how he cultivated his relationship with that Presence, even as he became increasingly aware of his own egoity and the ways it would tend to shut down that Presence.

Steve describes how his formal relinquishment of Huichol shamanism opened the door to the intensification of that Presence, and ultimately, to his devotional relationship with the human form of that Presence: Adi Da.

Tags: leela  

Art Panel: Orpheus in the Modern World (October 5, 2011) — The later work and aesthetic philosophy of Adi Da Samraj was the subject of discussion between Los Angeles art writers and those close with the late artist and spiritual teacher. (This is a recording of first hour of the hour and 15 minutes panel.)

Moderator: Peter Frank

Panelists:
Bill Bush (Founder of Artweek.LA)
Shana Nys Dambrot (writer/curator)
Gary Coates (author, professor of Architecture at Kansas State University)
Stanley Hastings (Co-Director of Da Plastique)

Recorded by CoaguLAradio, as Episode 25 ("Aesthetic Ecstasy") of their "Beer & Tall Buildings" series.

This Art Panel was part of the exhibit, "Orpheus and Linead: Solo Exhibition" at the Sundaram Tagore Gallery in Beverly Hills (September 8 - October 8, 2011).

Tags: Image-Art  

A dance that creatively develops the meaning of Satsang. Dedicated to Adi Da.

Choreographers/Dancers: Susana Weingarten and Tom Evert
Music: Phillip Glass and Ravi Shankar
Voiceover: Adi Da
Costume Design: Janet Bolick
"Midnight Sun" Set Design: Molly Watson

© 2012 Dancevert

Tags: dance   Susana Weingarten   Tom Evert  

"Ego Act" is a dance based on Adi Da's wisdom about the nature of egoity, or, Adi Da describes it, "the fundamental activity of self-contraction, or the presumption of separate and separative existence".

Choreographer/Dancer: Tom Evert
Music: George Crumb (as interpreted by The Kronos Quartet)
Costume Design: Raymond Zander III
Props: Tom Evert
"Midnight Sun" Set Design: Molly Watson

© 2012 Dancevert

Tags: dance   Susana Weingarten   Tom Evert  

An excerpt from "Guru As Prophet", a humorous and penetrating Discourse from the very earliest years of Avatar Adi Da’s Teaching-Work. Adi Da speaks of the Guru's role as prophet in the world, which is to create "an aggravation, a criticism, an undermining of the usual life". He speaks of how the Guru in the function of prophet is always working to produce a condition in which people's illusions may be undone.

From the CD, Money, Food, and Sex / Guru As Prophet. This talk is also published in the book, My "Bright" Word.

For another excerpt from this talk, click here.

Tags: CD  

An excerpt from "Money, Food, and Sex", a humorous and penetrating Discourse from the very earliest years of Avatar Adi Da’s Teaching-Work. Adi Da criticizes the typical conception of Spirituality as having nothing to do with the realities of day-to-day life and says that taking responsibility for money, food, and sex creates the foundation practice of genuine spiritual practice.

From the CD, Money, Food, and Sex / Guru As Prophet. This talk is also published in the book, My "Bright" Word. A course, My "Bright" Word, is also available from The Laughing Man Institute.

Tags: CD  

An excerpt from "Walking the Dog", a humorous and penetrating Discourse from the very earliest years of Avatar Adi Da’s Teaching-Work. Using the analogy of a man walking his dog to describe the usual man's self-indulgence and sub-consciousness, Avatar Adi Da Samraj humorously expounds on the true nature of our own egoity.

From the CD, The Avon Lady / Walking The Dog. This talk is also published in the book, My "Bright" Word. A course, My "Bright" Word, is also available from The Laughing Man Institute.

Tags: CD  

An excerpt from "The Avon Lady", a humorous and penetrating Discourse from the very earliest years of Avatar Adi Da’s Teaching-Work. Adi Da explains how there is no search and no dilemma when one is in Satsang (the company of the Guru).

The full talk, "The Avon Lady", is available on the double CD, The Avon Lady / Walking the Dog. The text is available in the book, My "Bright" Word. A course, My "Bright" Word, is also available from The Laughing Man Institute.

For another audio excerpt from "The Avon Lady", press "part 1" above.

For a special article from the Adidam Revelation Magazine on "The Avon Lady", click here.

Tags: CD  

Devotee Jym Daly creating a portrait of Adi Da Samraj.

Jym writes: "Life can carry on in its pattern for what seems like forever, then in one moment there can be a sudden door. The spiritual process is one which makes the door a constant presence."

Beekeeping and harvesting honey on Naitauba Island, Fiji.

For even more from the Naitauba Organic Farm, visit the Naitauba Organic Farm website.

Tags: Naitauba   Adi Da Samrajashram   farm  

Peter van Gelder (sitar), John Wubbenhorst (bansuri), and Samrat Kakkeri (tabla) will perform a Sacred Offering of classical Indian ragas on 2pm on June 3, 2012, in Land Bridge Pavilion at The Mountain Of Attention.

This is a fundraising event to support sending musicians to Naitauba for Da Purnima.

Suggested donation: $15. (No one is turned away.)
For more information, call: 301-346-0789.

Event poster here.

You are invited to "I Have Appeared From The Realm Of Light": A Four-Day Retreat at the European Danda.

Dates: July 5 - 8, 2012
Place: The European Danda (the Netherlands).

A devotional, literary, theatrical, and artistic happening, led by longtime devotee Steve Brown, with special guests Ruchiradama Nadikanta, Naamleela Free Jones, and Ruy Carpenter.

More information here.

For upcoming retreats at the European Danda, check our Special Events page.

Videographer: Matt Braithwaite

Tags: European Danda   retreat   Steve Brown   Orpheum   Mummery  

How boards are made with a chainsaw on the island of Naitauba in Fiji.

Narrated by Bill Krenz. Music ("Chainsaw Blues") by Simon Evans and Aaron Nakagawa.

For even more from the Naitauba Organic Farm, visit the Naitauba Organic Farm website.

Tags: Naitauba   Adi Da Samrajashram   organic farm