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WORLD April 26, 2000 VNN5891 Comment on this story Catching The Ears Through Storytelling BY SANKIRTANA DAS USA, Apr 26 (VNN) — A little over ten years ago I discovered the world of storytelling. The art of storytelling was making a comeback. I found out that there were storytelling gatherings all over the United States and in different parts of the world. For years I had been involved in presenting the stories of the Vedic literatures through transcendental theater, but the thought of dramatic storytelling struck a cord with me.
Srila Prabhupada had written the players that the art of acting is "to catch the ears" of your audience. To catch the ears one must capture the imagination of the listener. Dramatic storytelling was a simple, direct route. The idea is to make the Vedic conclusions available to the Western public in a palatable form; a way that will help me network and build bridges. I joined the National Storytelling Association. I began to develop a repertoire, along with a name for my project - the Vedic Storytelling Institute. I wrote a collection of stories entitled "The Fish Who Wouldn't Stop Growing And Other Wisdom Stories Of Ancient India." Last year, I dubbed the house I rented from New Vrindavan as the Center For Sacred Storytelling. Now I travel extensively. My programs of sacred storytelling take me to temples, churches, colleges, and special events. I offer workshops on the uses and dynamics of storytelling, as well as individual coaching in storytelling and theater skills. Recently, I was invited to Chicago to give workshops and a presentation at the Religious Communications Congress 2000. The event was attended by over twelve hundred people, many active in the field of religious communications. I also took the opportunity to offer the following message to the conference goers: Life is actually very short. Historically, the generations are constantly unfolding. The efforts of our ancestors were quickly devoured by all consuming time. Empires fade or topple. Fortunes move from one family to another. The forces which we must contend with in this world are formidable. When one removes the thin veneer of pleasure, we see people enveloped by struggles of many sorts. Even in the most comfortable of residences, individuals are prey to great anxieties, and daily struggle with physical and emotional issues. Whenever we open the newspaper, it is not uncommon to read about people of diverse religious and ethnic traditions imposing curses and calamities upon one another. This has been the case for centuries. The age we live in is very crucial in many ways. What type of legacy will we leave the generations to come? Never before in history have people of such diversity lived in such close proximity. If we continue to linger in the mindset which has driven religious and ethnic traditions thus far, it could have devastating consequences. It is important now that people of faith should not seek to add to the problems nor contribute to the conflicts of this world. But people of faith should want to bring relief from the disturbances which plague us. In the ancient Vedas it is explained that the age we now live in is called the Kaliyuga - the age of quarrel, hypocrisy and cheating. Quarreling is everywhere from families to nations. It continues not only amongst various religions, but even within churches. The world, it seems, is a vast ocean of quarrel and criticism. But it doesn't have to be. For society to live in peace, the leaders, be they religious, political, cultural, artistic or academic, must provide fitting examples. It is explained in Bhagavad Gita that whatever great men do the common man will follow. Thus, we can humbly ask God to allow us to become such leaders; to become beacons of light and hope, that we may provide an example of comfort and inspiration to all. We cannot accomplish anything without God's blessing. Whether we are Christian, Moslem, Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, or of an indigenous tradition, let us work for the good of all. Ultimately, no society can live in peace without encouraging it's members to seek out and cultivate their relationship with the Lord Within The Heart. Real happiness is found by understanding our relationship with God and seeing the loving hand of the Lord in all things. To understand this relationship is our prime duty in life. The sacred teachings, of not only the Vedas but of all traditions, tell us that the chanting and glorification of God's Holy Names is the doubtless and fearless way of success for all. For more information about my programs and workshops please contact me at story108@juno.com or visit http://www.sacredvoices.com Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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