Ragas as an Antidote to Modern Life

Can ragas act as an antidote to modern life?

When I was playing Raga Malkauns today morning, one of the oldest ragas, it hit me.

A sense of timelessness. No matter the circumstances, no matter the modern life with all its distractions. The raga remains the same.

Most of us are constantly connected.

We live in the information age, with endless access to information.

And it goes fast. Last few years with mobiles, internet, apps and now AI, is really changing how we see and interact with the world.

Even though you decrease the usage of it, it is literally a part of society now.

So our life situation might be very different from just 100 years ago. But life, and human experience, is very similar.

And that’s what the ragas can teach us.

Turn off your TV, skip the podcast and put your phone away.

Breathe life into the flute and listen to the notes. Feel them. Let the raga guide you through a pure experience of life itself.

It can be transformative. Life-changing even.

The ragas are not affected by modern life. They are not impressed by technology. No, not even that very smart function on your new car.

Like a meditating monk. Caring about nothing worldly.

Music is an abstract art form.

You know how sometimes it’s good to do something grounding - like going for a walk, going to the gym or swimming in the lake. Just connect with the body. Earth.

I would say it is equally important to do something that connects you to life itself. The timeless. The spirit.

And art can do that. Especially music. It is pure and still. Heaven.

Earth and Heaven. Balance. 

Bansuri playing has another aspect to it - the breath. And I think we all now how important the breath is to our existence. Back to the modern life, breath work and breathing techniques has never been so accessible and widely used as now. Thousands of people testify about the transformative power of breathing exercises.

Breathe in, breathe out… And now your breath has become a note. It has transformed inside the flute to a sound.

Just like that, you can also transform with the sound.

Start your journey today!