On Harmony

When we are chanting the holy names in congregation, if the leader of the kirtan sings one melody and everybody in the group decides to sing whatever melody they like best, the resulting sound won’t be melodious. Therefore, whether we like the melody or don’t like the melody, everybody surrenders to sing the same. For a kirtan to sound beautiful and sweet it needs cooperation. Cooperation means the higher principle. We may have preference for a melody or a preference for a tempo or a style, but we all accept to follow the leader in unity. When the kirtan is harmonious with so many people, it’s a tumultuous beautiful sound. We can’t hear just one voice during the chorus; or rather we do hear one voice. But that one voice is actually the sound of everyone’s voice in harmony. That’s our offering to God. And why is it so pleasing to the Lord? Because we are all cooperating for a higher purpose. We are all united for the pleasure of the center, for the pleasure of Krishna, in spite of all our differences. —  Radhanath Swami