Chidananda

“Chidananda” is a gorgeous painting of the deep transformation and expansion in Brenda McMorrow’s own musical and spiritual journeys. Her prayer for this album is that it invites us to relax into our own unique and beautiful hearts and to profoundly connect with the peace that resides there. Brenda’s soulful voice and masterful songwriting takes listeners into a place of both stillness and expansion; healing, inspiration and a recognition of one’s inner strength. Her deep honoring and unique interpretation of sacred, ancient Indian mantras allows people all around the world to rest back into a rich tapestry of soothing and joy-inducing vibrations.

“Chidananda” features Benjy Wertheimer’s (Shantala/The Hanumen) hauntingly beautiful Esraj on “Adi Shakti” and “Beloved of My Heart”, along with contributions from a host of other talented musicians. This is Brenda’s second album produced by acclaimed producer/mixing engineer Warren Huart (Trevor Hall).

Including a rendition of Miguel Molina’s “Agua de Estrellas”, the album is dedicated to the healing of the Mother Earth and to all beings upon, above and within it.

Brenda McMorrow is known for her unique and warmly embracing style of mantra music, in which she blends elements of acoustic folk, world rhythms and ancient Indian chants with a sweetly introspective singer-songwriter’s sensibility. Yoga Journal describes Brenda as having “a knack for expressing the deepest realizations in the sparsest lyrics”. As spiritual teacher Ram Dass has said: “Brenda has a gift”, and her music has been touching people’s hearts worldwide.

Credits
Released November 1, 2019

Brenda McMorrow, All Tracks (Vocals) Tracks 1-7 (Acoustic Guitar)
Warren Huart, Tracks 7, 8 (Acoustic & Electric Guitars)
Chris Gartner, All Tracks (Bass) Tracks 1, 8 (Bowed Bass)
Dave Allen, Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 (Percussion)
Philippo Franchini, Track 3 (Acoustic Guitar) Track 6 (12-String Acoustic Guitar)
Timothy Frantzich, Track 3 (Background Vocals)
Paul Frantzich, Track 3 (Background Vocals)

Produced & Mixed by Warren Huart
Engineered by Eric Gonzalez
Mastered by Adam Ayan at Gateway Mastering, Portland, ME
Recorded & Mixed in August, 2019 at Spitfire Studio, Los Angeles, CA
Primordial Spiral Art by Dan Schmidt
Photo by Jeremiah Hill
Photo Concept by Michael Moon
Graphic Design by Richard Harrison

All songs by Brenda McMorrow ©2019 Ameya Music SOCAN
except Agua de Estrellas by Miguel Molina ©Breadfruit for Breakfast Music BMI

Chidananda Album Lyrics

1. Falling Away/Namah Shivaya

Anything I thought I should be, everything I thought was me

Now is giving way to something with no form or identity

This is all that ever has been and forever more shall be

Everything I thought I had been, everything that I believed Is falling away, falling away, falling away, falling away

Everything that has a meaning, anything that can be seen Is a figment now of what it had been, just one thing now that I could be What it is is beyond description, really is no form or thing

All that lent my heart protection, everything I thought I’d need

Is falling away, falling away, falling away, falling away

Om Namah Shivaya Shivaya Namah Om

Jaya Shiva Shankara Namah Shivaya

Shiva, the Lord of transformation and destruction, is also seen as our higher self. He is the destroyer of ignorance and that which no longer serves us. Anything that keeps us from God or the truth of who we really are, can be destroyed by Shiva.

Shankara: an epithet of Shiva, meaning the “annihilator” (of the universe). Also means also means the one who bestows peace on his devotees. The “Bliss Maker”

2. Adi Shakti Adi Shakti, Adi Shakti, Adi Shakti Namo Namo

Saraba Shakti, Saraba Shakti, Saraba Shakti Namo Namo

Pritham Bhagvati, Pritham Bhagvati, Pritham Bhagvati Namo Namo

Kundalini Mata Shakti, Kundalini Mata Shakti, Kundalini Mata Shakti Namo Namo Namo

To the mother, I bow I bow Adi Shakti, I bow, I bow Namo, Namo, Namo, Namo

“I bow to the primal power. I bow to the all-encompassing power and energy. I bow to that through which the Divine creates.I bow to the creative power of the Kundalini, the Divine Mother Power” - from 3HO.org

3. Radhe Govinda/The Light that Shines

Govinda Gopal, Govinda Gopal Gopal I’ve seen the light that shines in you, You’ve seen the light in me too I’ve walked many miles alone, But I’ve found many on that road Govinda Gopal, Govinda Gopal Gopal Radhe Govinda Radhe Gopal Radhe Govinda Radhe Govinda Radhe Govinda Gopal Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

A call to the Beloveds, Radha-Krishna, the combined forms of the Feminine and Masculine realities of the Divine.

4. Agua de Estrellas by Miguel Molina

En tus ojos de agua infinita, se bañan las estrellitas mamá Agua de luz, agua de estrellas, Pachamama vienes del cielo Limpia, limpia, limpia corazón, agua brillante Sana, sana, sana corazón, agua bendita Calma, calma, calma corazón, agua del cielo, mamá Pachamama, Pachamama, Madre Tierra, Pachamama

In your eyes of infinite water the stars are bathing, mamma Water of light, water of stars Pachamama you come from heaven Cleanse, cleanse, cleanse the heart, brilliant water Heal, heal, heal the heart, blessed water Calm, calm, calm the heart, water from heaven, mamma Pachamama, Pachamama, Mother Earth, Pachamama

5. Beloved of My Heart/Sri Krishna

Beloved of my heart, I’ll find my way home Beloved of my heart, you’ll find your way home We’ll find our way home

Sri Krishna Govinda Hare Murare He Nata Narayana Vasudeyva Vasudeyva

A call to Krishna by some of his various names (Krishna is an incarnation of Vishnu, Preserver of the Universe)

6. Om Eim Saraswati Om Eim Saraswatyei Namah Om Eim Saraswatyei Namah Om Eim Hrim Klim Maha Saraswati Devaya Namaha

“Devi Saraswati is the goddess of knowledge and arts and represents the free flow of wisdom and consciousness. Chanting the Saraswati mantra regularly improves memory, speech, and concentration in studies. It has the power to eliminate ignorance and confusion and bestow intelligence.”

7. Lullaby Shiva Om Namah Shivay Om Namah Shivay Shivaya Namah Om Om Namah Shivay Om Namah Shivay Shivaya Namah Om Om Namah Shivay Om Namah Shivay Om Namah Shivay Om Namah Shivay Shivaya Namah Om Shivaya Namah Om

“I honour the Divine within myself and all things”

8. Chidananda (The Nirvana Shatkam)

melody by Brenda McMorow and text by Adi Shankaracharya, 788 AD

mano buddhya hankara chittani naaham na cha shrotravjihve na cha ghraana netre na cha vyoma bhumir na tejo na vaayuh chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham

na cha prana sangyo na vai pancha vayuhu na va sapta dhatur na va pancha koshah na vak pani-padau na chopastha payu chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham

na me dvesha ragau na me lobha mohau Mado naiva me naiva matsarya bhavah na dharmo na chartho na kamo na mokshah chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham

na punyam na papam na saukhyam na duhkham na mantro na tirtham na veda na yajnah aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhokta chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham

na me mrytyu shanka na mejati bhedah pita naiva me naiva mataa na janmah na bandhur na mitram gurur naiva shishyah chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham

aham nirvikalpo nirakara rupo vibhur vyapya sarvatra sarvendriyanam sadaa me samatvam na muktir na bandhah chidananda rupah shivo’ham shivo’ham

I am not the mind, the intellect, the ego or the memory, I am not the ears, the skin, the nose or the eyes, I am not space, not earth, not fire, water or wind, I am the form of consciousness and bliss, I am the eternal Shiva, love and pure consciousness

I am not the breath, nor the five elements, I am not matter, nor the 5 sheaths of consciousness Nor am I the speech, the hands, or the feet, I am the form of consciousness and bliss, I am the eternal Shiva, love and pure consciousness

There is no like or dislike in me, no greed or delusion, I know not pride or jealousy, I have no duty, no desire for wealth, lust or liberation, I am the form of consciousness and bliss, I am the eternal Shiva, love and pure consciousness

No virtue or vice, no pleasure or pain, I need no mantras, no pilgrimage, no scriptures or rituals, I am not the experienced, nor the experience itself, I am the form of consciousness and bliss, I am the eternal Shiva, love and pure consciousness

I have no fear of death, no caste or creed, I have no father, no mother, for I was never born, I am not a relative, nor a friend, nor a teacher nor a student, I am the form of consciousness and bliss, I am the eternal Shiva, love and pure consciousness

I am devoid of duality, my form is formlessness, I exist everywhere, pervading all senses, I am neither attached, neither free nor captive, I am the form of consciousness and bliss, I am the eternal Shiva, love and pure consciousness