Home Tours in Final Month of the Season
The International Friendship Club (IFC) will present an Introduction to Kirtan Chanting on Thursday March 12 at 7:00 PM at the IFC. Classically trained local musician Raoul Díaz de la Garza will lead an hour of Kirtan chanting. Kirtan is call-and-response chanting performed in India's bhakti devotional traditions. Kirtan practice involves chanting mantras in the beautiful ancient language of Sanskrit to the accompaniment of instruments. Raoul will play the harmonium and guide the chants.
Raoul leads monthly Kirtan gatherings at Davannayoga Studio on Matamoros and Corona. His background includes 2 years at Beijing's School of Performing Arts and two years at UC Berkeley as well as 5 years of Private Piano Immersion in Mexico City with Piano Masters.For the past six years he has been the director at Saraswati Multidimensional Creativity. This group explores the creative process of music and language as an expression of consciousness.
Prior to his music career, Raoul's creative background includes being a creative director at McCann Erickson, a well known advertising agency, in Mexico, Japan, and Hong Kong. He spent five years prior producing, editing, and assisting the director for Mandoki films in Mexico City, Mexico.
Raoul leads a meditation group twice per week in his own meditation space in Vallarta and loves to surf, practice yoga and meditate. He has performed live piano concerts in Australia, China, France, India, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, and the USA.He has produced six CD's of piano music composed in India, Japan, and Mexico.
Raoul says,"The attraction that one finds in music makes one wonder if there is a mystery hidden behind it, if there is a language of sound which could be learned. The answer is that the language of music and sound is the language of the soul. It is our inner language, the natural language of life.”
"It is the tone and rhythm of sound which have an influence on the tone and rhythm of our being,” says Raoul.“By the help of music we can tune ourselves to the spheres where we wish to be, aiming to higher planes of expression where we can discover the inner and outer balance of our own bright soul, for understanding, freedom and love."
Kirtan is a major practice in Hindu devotionalism, Sikhism, the Sant traditions and some forms of Buddhism, as well as other religious groups. No background or religious affiliation needed to attend, just an openness and desire to enjoy an hour of relaxing and enlivening chanting!
$50 pesos or 2 kilos of social service aid (rice, beans, sugar, diapers, toilet paper)donation at the door. Doors open 6:15.
LAST THREE WEEKS FOR IFC HOME TOURS THIS SEASON
This IFC Home Tour season has flown by, breaking all records. Approaching their 30th season, Home Tour popularity has increased because these are one-of-a kind experiences, and many guests come back many times.
Four beautiful homes are includedon every tour, with the homes rotating weekly. The IFC continues to seek out homes and homeowners who are willing to share their properties with our guests. As always all personnel are volunteers. The proceeds fund the IFC Cleft Palate program, first and foremost, with additional donations used for other charities supported by the IFC.
The final tours of the season will be held on March 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25. Tickets are $500 pesos per person and can be purchased on line using PayPal or a major credit card, at the IFC office M-F, 9-2, or on the day of the tour in pesos at the Sea Monkey beginning at 9:00 AM. Tours depart promptly at 10:30 AM and return around 1:30 PM. The Sea Monkey is located on the beach at Aquiles Serdan. For more information go to ifctoursforvallarta.com or call 222-5466.
The International Friendship Club is a registered charitable organization in Mexico listed as Club Internacional de la Amistad de Puerto Vallarta A.C. It is located at the northeast corner of the Insurgentes Rio Cuale Bridge above the HSBC Bank, Colonia El Centro, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, 48300. Phone: 322-222-5466. Website: ifcvallarta.com Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..