Krishna Das, also known as “the chant master of American yoga” (New York Times), is one of the most influential figures in bringing Kirtan—the chanting of sacred names from the Bhakti tradition of Indian spirituality—into contemporary Western spiritual life. A devotee of Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaj-ji), whom he met in the late 1960s in India, Krishna Das came back to the United States with a simple directive of service—one he later understood as bringing devotional chanting to the West as a living, accessible practice. Blending traditional mantra with melodies shaped by gospel, blues, folk, and rock, Krishna Das helped take Kirtan out of temples and yoga studios and into concert halls worldwide, becoming the best-selling Western chant artist and releasing 16 albums, including Live Ananda, which received a Grammy nomination in 2012. He is the author of Flow of Grace: Chanting the Hanuman Chalisa, and Chants of a Lifetime: Searching for a Heart of Gold, and the founder of the Kirtan Wallah Foundation, through which he continues to share the teachings of Maharaj-ji.

Could our deepest sufferings have any hidden virtues? Why do we so often chase moments of transcendence, and yet struggle to live them in our everyday experience? How can we take control of our mind and train it to take instructions from us? Can the repetition of certain sounds become a pathway to quieten the mind and reclaim our inner space? And what does it truly mean to walk the spiritual path, not once, but for a whole lifetime?

Find out from Krishna Das, exclusively in conversation with Dr. Hitendra Wadhwa on Intersections Podcast.

“I had never been in the presence of that kind of love. There was no manipulation. We didn’t have to do anything. We didn’t have to be anything. He led us into the room where love lives—just as we are.”

Krishna Das

This episode offers key insights on:

• How to take control of our mind

• The science behind devotional chanting

• What it takes to walk the spiritual path for a whole lifetime