Bauls are itinerant and household minstrels and spiritualists primarily dwelling in Bangladesh's rural and sometimes urban areas. Baul spirituality or "shadhana" is a belief system and non-consumerist lifestyle that follows the tradition of guru-disciple transmission of education. A Baul guru is the teacher of his or her school of thought and philosophy, and anyone can become a disciple in the guru's "shadhon-ghar" or the spiritual school. Almost all forms of spiritual education in the Baul tradition are expressed through songs and performances. This paper examines the role of non-consumerism, meditation, and well-being in the guru-disciple transmission of music education in Baul communities. It will explore how musical education and practices teaching non-consumerism address the psychoanalytical approaches to collective illusion, reference points, and hedonic adaptation. Through various songs and practices, Baul gurus teach disciples about the challenges of mass illusions in materialist or capitalist life, the toxic practices of comparison among humans, and the loss of value of assets and goals after achievement. This paper will also investigate the practices of meditation in Baul communities and rural folk industries, where the teachings manifest the significance of nature-centred life. Baul gurus demonstrate several types of meditation music primarily practiced in forests and on grassy fields, and such meditations are meant to teach the disciple how to connect with the soul of mother nature. Finally, this paper will study the songs and performances used to teach Bauls' concept of well-being that celebrates the bonding of every kind of human relationship.

Authors:
Golam Rabbani, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Golam Rabbani is a Sessional Lecturer and Former limited-term Assistant Professor at the School of Creative Industries, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University) in Canada.

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