RAGAS INFORMATION

Indian classical music is based on the ragas ("colors"), which are scales and melodies that provide the foundation for a performance. Unlike western classical music, that is deterministic, Indian classical music allows for a much greater degree of "personalization" of the performance, almost to the level of jazz-like improvisation. Thus, each performance of a raga is different. The goal of the raga is to create a trancey state, to broadcast a mood of ecstasy. The main difference with western classical music is that the Indian ragas are not "composed" by a composer, but were created via a lengthy evolutionary process over the centuries. Thus they do not represent mind of the composer but a universal idea of the world. They transmit not personal but impersonal emotion. Another difference is that Indian music is monodic, not polyphonic. Hindustani (North Indian) ragas are assigned to specific times of the day (or night) and to specific seasons. Many ragas share the same scale, and many ragas share the same melodic theme. There are thousands of ragas, but six are considered fundamental: Bhairav, Malkauns, Hindol, Dipak, Megh and Shree. A raga is not necessarily instrumental, and, if vocal, it is not necessarily accompanied. But when it is accompanied by percussion (such as tablas), the rhythm is often rather intricate because it si constructed from a combination of fundamental rhythmic patterns (or talas). The main instrument of the ragas is the sitar, although historically the vina zither was at least equally important. Carnatic (Southern Indian) ragas constitute one of the oldest systems of music in the world. They are based on seven rhythmic cycles and 72 fundamental ragas. The founder of the Karnataka school is considered to be Purandara Dasa (1494). Carnatic music is mostly vocal and devotional in nature, and played with different instruments than Hindustani music (such as the mridangam drum, the ghatam clay pot, the vina sitar as opposed to sitar, sarod, tambura and tabla). The fundamental format of Carnatic songs is the "kriti", which are usually set in the style of a raga (the raga serves as the melodic foundation).

TRANCE STATE "We manage to swallow flesh only because we do not think of the cruel and sinful thing that we do. Cruelty... is a fundamental sin, and admits of no arguments or nice distinctions. If only we do not allow our heart to grow callous, it protests against cruelty, is always clearly heard; and yet we go on perpetrating cruelties easily, merrily, all of us - in fact, anyone who does not join in is dubbed a crank." - Rabindranath Tagore Conscious & Subconsious mind Our conscious mind is like the proverbial 'tip of the iceberg' (see diagram). The subconscious mind is where all the experiences of all our lifetimes are stored. The subconscious mind is not accessible in normal waking consciousness. It can be accessed during deep relaxation states or altered states of consciousness. During past-life-regression, subjects are taken to deep levels of relaxation where they enter into a trance state. In this deep state, one can access the subconscious mind where the information about the past lives is stored. Meditation produces deep levels of relaxation or altered states of consciousness. This is the reason why past life memories often open up spontaneously during meditation. To understand what happens during trance states, it is important to know about the brain wave activity. The mind has four different levels or stages of activity (see diagram). The first level is beta, during which most of the conscious mind is works on regulating the metabolism and only a small part deals with our conscious thoughts. The second level is alpha, during which the subconscious mind is activated and our concentration is very high. Alpha stage is reached during: meditation, regression-induced trance etc. A trance-state is a natural state of mind. The common misconception is that the mind is asleep during this state. However, one is fully aware when in a trance state. The third level is theta, which relates to the part of the mind that functions during light sleep. The fourth and last level is delta and is the level we reach during deep sleep. At this level the mind gets the maximum amount of rest Trance State: When we induce a trance during regression, we communicate directly with the subconscious mind. When we are functioning at full consciousness, both the subconscious and the conscious mind are functioning simultaneously. During the trance state, our concentration level is much higher compared to our normal conscious mind. Levels of Trance States: There are mainly three levels of trance states: The first level is that of a light trance. In this level, the subject does not feel as if in trance state. They are fully aware of the noises etc. in their environment. Although regressions and progressions can be done at this level, the information obtained is not very clear. Ninety five percent of the people can achieve a light trance. The second is a medium trance. In this state the subject is more relaxed. In a medium trance, the subject may be dimly aware of external noises but does not get distracted by it. About 70 percent of the people can achieve a medium trance. The last level is called a deep trance or 'somnambulistic trance'. This is a very deep level of trance and the subject may not remember what was done in the trance state unless specifically told to remember upon coming out of the trance. Only about 5 percent of the people can go into a deep trance. Even in this deep state, the subject cannot be told to do or say anything that is against his or her moral or ethical code. The subject is always in control. This is the truth and not what is often depicted in Television and Movies where people in a deep trance state are shown as if totally under the control of the person giving them suggestions. Who can enter into a Trance? Contrary to popular the misconception, intelligent people (those who can grasp concepts quickly and reapply them easily) make the best subjects for Past-Life-Regression as they can go into a trance easily. Intelligent people have excellent memory and concentration level making it easier for them to focus better and get totally involved in the process. If you are a person who; can express emotions with ease, can visualize imagery in detail or are capable of getting so engrossed in observing nature or your surroundings that you do not feel the passage of time, then you are a person who can go into a trance very easily. If you have a cynical or excessively critical nature, the chances of your going into a trance are lowered. Children can go into a trance very easily because of their good imagination, lack of cynical attitude and lack of skepticism. On the other hand the people who experience difficulty going into a trance are those; who have very short attention spans, who are always dwelling in the past, who are constantly worrying about the future, who always use logic instead of emotions, who have very low IQs, who are cynical, who are very skeptical, who resist flowing with the process etc. Other factors that affect ones ability to enter into a trance are; severe alcoholism or drug abuse, inability to follow the language of the therapist, mental retardation, brain damage. However, it is possible to work with anyone and gradually improve his or her ability to enter into a trance though the progress will initially be slow. ECSTACY ec·sta·sy  noun \ˈek-stə-sē\ plural ec·sta·sies Definition of ECSTASY 1 : a trance state in which intense absorption (as in religious ideation) is accompanied by loss of sense perception and voluntary control 2 often capitalized : a synthetic amphetamine analog C11H15NO2 used illicitly for its mood-enhancing and hallucinogenic properties—called also MDMA, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, XTC —ec·stat·ic   adjective