Life is full of profound goodness and difficulty, beauty and injustice, connection, and uncertainty. How can spiritual practice help us navigate the inherent complexities of life in a balanced way? Join Ambika and Lily for a frank conversation about how spiritual practice can either help us or hinder us. Explore the different applications of mantra and meditation that can free us from clouded judgment, magical thinking, and inevitable misconceptions. Learn some practical interpretations of these ancient techniques from two longtime friends and seekers to empower your own path. This event includes chanting, meditation, discussion, and a question/answers period.

Lily Cushman is a teacher, musician, and author. Her work is a synthesis of Classical Yoga and Insight Meditation. For nearly a decade Lily was the Owner and Director of the Brooklyn Yoga School, a lineage-based school run entirely by donation, voted "Best of New York" by NY Magazine. Lily offers workshops and retreats around the country and serves as Director of Operations to world-renowned meditation teacher, Sharon Salzberg. Her first book “A Little Bit of Mantras” was released in 2019 from Sterling Publishing.

Ambika has been a singer and musician for most of her life, playing in various bands in NYC until she discovered chanting with Krishna Das in 1995. Kirtan had a profound effect on her, and lead her to India where she met her teacher and Spiritual Mother, Shri Siddhi Ma. As Ambika deepened her connection to the practice of chanting, it became her home and refuge. Ambika is the cofounder of Brooklyn Kirtan Collective, and has been exploring chants from other faith traditions for several years while working with a program at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Her new single, “Ubi Caritas”, is available now on bandcamp, iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, and in all the places. Fifty percent of the proceeds for the song will be donated to Cathedral Community Cares (CCC).