Intention
Before you start
Words are not decorative: they refer to God, a deity or a specific teaching. We can listen with respect without taking them back as our own prayer.
Preparation
Settle into attentive listening
- Read a translation when possible.
- Identify who the song is addressed to.
- Respect sacred words without changing them.
Proposed sequence
4 steps, in this order
Links open the platforms in a new tab. You remain free to pause or stop at any time.
Songs of Taizé
Open on Spotify ↗O Lord, Hear My Prayer
Taizé Community
A short Christian sentence repeated in a common prayer.Understanding tradition →Bhajan
Open on Spotify ↗Bhaja Govindam
M. S. Subbulakshmi
A Hindu devotional address worn by a great voice.Understanding tradition →Gurbānī kīrtan sikh
Open on Spotify ↗Waho Waho Gobind Singh
Bhai Harjinder Singh Ji
The Gurbānī sung in a specific Sikh tradition.Understanding tradition →African-American Spirituals and Gospel
Open on Spotify ↗Take My Hand, Precious Lord
Mahalia Jackson
End with the gospel's power of supplication and hope.Understanding tradition →Return to silence
To conclude
Keep a sentence that has touched the listening, without tearing it off from its tradition.