Thank Goddess I didn't publish Babu Kishan's 4th book on Baul back in 2007, because there has been so much for me to learn and understand, as others write and promote themselves as Bauls?!
I only write what I learn from Babu Kishan aka Krishnendu Das Baul. Even after 16 years I am not sure I completely understand, however, I have listened and learned a lot and read just about everything ever written about Baul.
The new Book Historical Baul will be published this year 2022. I started to write it in 2007 this year is the year, I am very close. I realize this historical book on Baul will have to be more than one book. It will have to be many books, songs, history, Baul sadhana, techniques.
I can tell people til I am blue in the face, good marketing technique, in the age of internet, has created a store house of false teachings?
The main thing about Bauls is truth talking, but in this world, at this no one tells the truth it is more about using and creating a new narrative, if I follow what Purna Das Baul did and if I follow Babu Kishan and his template, I too will obtain awards and money and I too shall be a famed Baul singer? Seriously?
Fake lineage = fake Bauls but how would you know? If you do not understand Birbhum Bengali how would you know, if you do not understand Sanskrit, how would you know, just because someone marketing I am this, I am that? No you would not know? Fake singer = good singer if you say it long enough.
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New Book, the Story of Babukishan's life in the, "Oldest Living Lineage and Pioneering" family of Baul who opened the door for all Bauls to travel the world." Before him no Bauls traveled the world, Babu has always preserved his lineage and educated about what is Baul and what is not, correcting many of the famed scholars who wrote books about Baul. In the meantime a new bread of 'fake til you make it' has been born and it is downright shocking how far they will go?
Changing narratives leads to a watering down a reductionism and talking about this lineage without mentioning names is wrong. Do not name drop Nitai, do not name drop Bob Dylan or Nabani to prop up your fake lineage? It happens all the time?
This lineage, this family has performed at festivals in India and around the world hundreds of times over and over for more than 60 years. Babukishan has performed at more festivals than perhaps almost anybody on this planet, this he started with his grandfather, then his father and mother in the 70's, 80's, 90's. ..the list is endless and he performed with all top Indian musicians and western musicians in every corner of this planet.
They have been recorded by the biggest music companies, on television in documentaries, and in movies including the movie made in 1986 called Tagori about Babukishan's, Aunt Radharani Dasi.
They have been recorded by the biggest music companies, on television in documentaries, and in movies including the movie made in 1986 called Tagori about Babukishan's, Aunt Radharani Dasi.
They are legendary, this is legendary and historical.
They have written books, been interviewed by all the top scholars and associated with the top in every field of society.
It truly is an amazing story of struggle in the days before we had the internet, today it is easy to say anything, or even do anything, think how difficult it was for this pioneering family to introduce Baul to the world. They did this when hand written letters were the only way to make contact, even telephone was too expensive to call oversea's, Babu Kishan did all of this back in the late 60's 70's and 80's and did you know Babu was also, instrumental in helping Usha Harding create the Kali Mandir in Laguna Beach? Yet, all Bauls go there to take pictures of themselves as if they are the first..
Seriously Bauls follow Babu Kishan around the world, oh he did this so I will do that, he traveled so I will brag I am the only Women, when this history has already been completed a decade ago by Babu's Mother who is the last Baul Women to travel outside India, actually the first and the last.
Baul is extinct and now bragging about something that has is already done, is fake and not only fake teaching wrong and fake teachings is despicable? Yes, westerner and Indian's not trained as to what Baul is will believe this, however, there is a karma for each lie for name and fame, a cultural genocide just gets worse, watering down and reducing a small lineage?
Language was also a problem, these were sanskrit speaking, Birbhum Bengali speaking people, Babu Kishan learned english to communicate with the world and did all the letter writing.
This is the Lineage of Sri Nityananda of Ekchakka, Birbhum West Bengal India. "Baul is the poetry of the the dancing bee that tells us where the honey is." based on Indian Philosophy, Indian shastra, Yoga, Shakti-sadhana, the science of light and the science of life, flavoured with the juice (Rasa) of Buddhism and Sufi.
This is the Lineage of Sri Nityananda of Ekchakka, Birbhum West Bengal India. "Baul is the poetry of the the dancing bee that tells us where the honey is." based on Indian Philosophy, Indian shastra, Yoga, Shakti-sadhana, the science of light and the science of life, flavoured with the juice (Rasa) of Buddhism and Sufi.
Bauls accept all, love all, serve all. Other people talk about themselves, Bauls sing about everybody, and include all, in all religions, they talk about all religions, they are not fundamentalist or othodox saying this is the way. They say all ways are paths to God/dess, all people are great, and the Baul path is the a path based on the ancient sadhana's of India, flavoured with he best honey of all. However, Bauls are the Wind Catchers, yes honey Catchers but Baul is a Sanskrit Word meaning Vayu Tula, to control the vital airs, Babu Kishan is the first to talk about this, and those who use what he talks about, thank you, but give credit where credit is due, stop making like you knew this or your fake Guru told you. This has been going on for decades, I have no idea why Babu has never said anything.
I suppose he was just happy that there was an interest in the work he had done for decades. But somehow, his work has been used and abused, so many cheaters out there today just using as if they even knew??
This is the Baul lineage who introduced Baul to the world, this is the lineage who did all the leg work, so that today anybody can be a Baul. They already spent many decades traveling, lecturing at Universities, and singing since the 1950's, many eminent people around the world would visit Nabani Das Baul in Shantiniketan West Bengal.
"Baul Guru, Nabani Das Khyeppa Baul"
Nabani Das Khyeppa Baul, Lineage Baul from a many thousand year old oral living lineage. Nabani Das is Babukishan grandfather, and his initiating Baul Guru, he spent the first 8 years of his life learning and being initiated into Baul. Nabani kept Babu when he was born, massaging his crocked limbs and carrying him as his baby Krishna all over India. Through his grace Babu had darshan with all the great Saints of the 60's. Babu was at his side when he left his earthly body and he had a very profound initiation at that time and vividly recalls everything Nabani said to him.
