Maestro Zakir Hussain

Wow. What else can you say? With an ensemble of drummers and two violas (at least that’s what I think they were), he played at the Lensic last night. The dexterity of their fingers is nearly out of this world. I'm not sure I've ever seen someone's fingers move so fast. In fact, I'm not sure that I've ever seen ANY human part move so fast....and in rhythm! Actually, Zakir seems to have about 10 rhythms going on at once....as if each finger has its own independent rhythm.

Though Ustad was not with Zakir last night, this is a fantastic sample of what I'm talking about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLvKNlB1pB0

The joy, the concentration and the awareness that these people demonstrate when they play is meditation in action. They are totally absorbed in the moment and in what they are doing. It is prayer. It is presence. It is perfection. It is yoga.

Zakir’s playing reminded me of a verse in Chapter 6 of “The Bhagavad Gita According to Gandhi” which I will now reproduce for you along with Gandhi’s commentary (pg 120-121).

(18) When one’s thought, completely controlled, rests steadily only on Atman (God within) when one is free from longing for all objects of desire, then onc is called a yogi.

(19) As a taper in a windless spot flickers not, even so is a yogi, with this though controlled, seeking to unite himself with Atman.

(20) Where thought curbed by the practice of yoga completely ceases, where a man sits content within himself, Atman having seen Atman.

“Atman having seen Atman, that is, when his mind has become absorbed in the Atman and he lives for ever content in the Atman.

(21) When he experiences that endless bliss beyond the senses, which can be grasped by reason alone, wherein established he swerves not from the Truth.

If a person has perceived with his intellect the reality which God is, if he has understood with it his duty and then yoked himself to the chariot of God, if, shaking off lethargy, he has entered his name in God’s office for duty—such a person will never be shaken from his purpose.

(22) Where he holds no other gain greater than that which he has gained, and where, securely seated, he is not shaken by any calamity however great---

....(I skipped the commentary here)…….

(23) That state should be known as yoga (union with the Supreme), the disunion from all union with pain. This yoga must one practice with firm resolve and unwearying zeal.

Thank you, Zakir and friends, for a beautiful experience.