Recently I received an email from the Rev. Canon Scott Kingsbury. His words just came right from the heart, and really inspired me. I wanted to share this with all of you, because of how this man is strong enough in his own faith and experience, to reach out to other traditions and gather inspiration from them. In this day and age it is almost unheard of. I really pray to have the same strength, and the same sight (both inner and outer) to do the same, and also pray for all of humanity that we may all rise to this awareness. Sat Nam.
This letter was reprinted with permission.
"Sat Nam Snatam,
I don't know how many people amongst your legions of fans are Catholic priests...but if I am The First (I doubt it!) - may I say that I will carry the title with pride!!
I feel moved in my heart to write this...and to thank you for being a part of my life in such a wonderful and powerful way. I have all of your CD's and they are a constant companions as I travel around the Diocese (I'm the Canon Missioner, a job which entails a lot of driving around California and Arizona)...
Specifically I wanted to share with you a story about my Lent, Holy Week and Easter this year...
I have known that I will be moving to India early in the year. Knowing that I would be enjoying my last Easter in my home state for at least the next two years. - I dedicated myself this Holy Lent to prayer and meditation...and to preparing myself to go to India. I leave in 21-days. I am 90% excited and 10% terrified...God and I are working on that 10%!
I did have some real spiritual breakthroughs in these last few months. One of my spiritual directors, an old Irish priest, told me that I would be going to "the most spiritual country on the planet" and that it would most certainly "change me". I can't wait to find out how!
I've always been one of the more ecumenically-minded priests in my Diocese. My home parish is just down the block from the Gurdwara... I've been known to slip inside in full dress cassock and collar to get a taste of what goes on inside.
God has truly been speaking to me of late. The more I read the Hebrew Scriptures, my own beloved New Testament, the Gita, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (in English...my Gurmukhi is a little weak!)...I am beginning to see with clarity the Oneness of all of them.
Now, I must say that I intend to remain a Christian until the end...and by God's grace I hope to be the best Christian I can. I believe that Guru Nanak would advise me to do this as well.
"Guru Nanak shah fakir, Hinduon ka guru, Mussalmanon ka pir".
When you came to Westwood for your L.A. concert, I made sure I that I was in the building. After Mass on Sunday, March 14th, I was there. Something drew me like a magnet...there was nothing that would keep me away...
Your uncommon grace, your God-given talent used for His Glory, your peaceful countenance (I could go on and on...) - - you really connected with the audience that night...Krishan did an awesome job putting on the show. It was incredible.
Fast-forward to Good Friday, Holy Saturday and my trip up North to Hollister, CA for Easter. I was called to celebrate Mass for our church up there and - as always - I drove.
I took three of your CD's in the car along with me and listened to them all the way up during the 5 1/2 hour drive....my first night up there was filled with hospital visits....but I had this incredible energy!
The peace that I experienced was mystical....
The next morning (Easter Sunday) - - I drove from Gilroy where I was staying, back down to Hollister ... and I listened to "Prem" all the way through. I arrived at the Church early....and sitting in the parking lot...I just sat there, chanting along with you...
Aad guray nameh
Jugaad guray nameh
Sat guray nameh
Siri guru devay nameh....
Snatam...I celebrated that Easter Mass with such clarity of mind...such power in my voice (I felt moved to chant the entire liturgy!) My Easter sermon was one of the best I've ever preached...
Our people came up to me afterward and told me so....
What do I owe it to?
Singing kirtan with Snatam, of course! I'm not sure our people are quite ready to hear that. Yet. But give them time!
I don't know many other priests who would be willing to say that!
Thank you so much for sharing your gifts with us, dear one.
Ang Sang Waheguru!
In Christ.
(The Rev. Canon) Scott E. Kingsbury
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What a wonderful email! Wahe guru! It is so inspiring to read such heart-felt words from someone who is confident and comfortable with his faith, yet open to other learning about other paths and recognizing that all paths lead to God.
satnam….this is really interesting…..thank you….s
love equality and respect of all religions truely showed by Rev. Scott E.Kingsbury.beatiful message shared by him in the above letter..and snatem kaur..well she is as per always..lovingly awesome in her blissful ways.
blessed be
God bless you, Father! May you open the hearts of many to the One!
Que emotiva carta! puedo decir que siento lo mismo; la verdad es que Todos somos uno y la fè en cualquier forma es camino hacia una misma direcciòn.
Sat Naam
What an amazing letter! Ek Ong Kar! Wahe Guru!
Snatam, this is truly touching! I know exactly what the priest is talking about! Thanks for sharing your God given talent and touching so many lives!
Wahe Guru! Growing up Catholic it is truly a joy to know that a Catholic priest appreciates the Light of God’s Love expressed through your beautiful music. His e-mail is a testament of the magic of your music. Whatever path one may be on, your music serves to strengthen the connection we all have to That which beats in all our hearts.
Although I am no longer Catholic, I appreciate the beauty of the faith. While we all may differ in the practice of our worship of God via religion, we experience the Divine connection to God’s Infinite Grace which you reflect through your voice reaching beyond the realm of Time and Space. Reaching beyond the practice of religion to the experience of the Spirit! Thank you dear daughter for serving all our Souls!
Sat Nam
I feel the same way as the priest. I am also a Catholic and find great peace and joy with her music. I love the way she sings the prayer to St Francis . Lets all remember that there is one God shared in different ways by many. Thank you for your talent. See you in Kirpalu in June!!! Blessings
I am a minister in a Christian church. Last year during our children’s day service the first and second grade children sang “The Sun Shines on Everyone” during worship. The congreation joined in on the chorus! I also played Snatam’s Servant of Peace that includes The Prayer of St. Francis for the liturgy and worship class I was taking at Yale Divinity School. Everyone loved it. Snatam your music is truly universal and I will keep sharing its beauty.
What I love of Yoga is its universality. I am catholic and will always be; I really enjoy the catholic practices, rituals, prayers, everything. I also practice Kundalini Yoga and I listen Kundalini Yoga Music, so I keep myself “tuned” with God all the day long!
I think this letter is an example of the results we can get when we open the heart and let everything just flow through it.
Thank you for sharing and see you in Montreal on May 26th.
Sat Nam.
I agree with the above. Your music touches me, deeply. Thank you.