Awaken The Heart Through Chanting & Mantras - by Carrie Grossman

COURSE

Awaken The Heart Through Chanting & Mantras

With Carrie Grossman

Awakening the Heart through Chanting and Mantras is a journey into the path and practice of Bhakti, the yoga of love. This ancient tradition draws on sacred music, meditation, and other art forms to open the heart. Over 10 sessions, you will explore teachings from the mystical traditions—along with guided meditations, mantras, and chanting—to inspire and enrich your life.

LoveRelationshipsMusicMantraGentle RepetitionBhaktiReligionAwakeningSpiritualChanting MeditationChanting & MantrasSpiritualitySpirituality

Meet your Teacher

Carrie Grossman
Great Barrington, Massachusetts, USA

Carrie Grossman (Dayashila), MA, is a devotional singer and lifelong student-practitioner of the mystical traditions. At the age of 21, she first traveled to India where she was introduced to kirtan (call and response mantra chanting). The beauty of the practice inspired her to sing, but due to shyness and self-doubt, 10 years went by before the music within her emerged. It wasn’t until a difficult life period that she began to write songs and play the harmonium. She has since produced several albums, including Soma-Bandhu: Friend of the Moon (2010), The Ram Sessions (2016), and Pranam (2017). For over 20 years, Carrie has immersed herself in contemplative practices and explored the connection between personal and social transformation. She began her journey as a scholar, earning degrees in Religious Studies from Brown University (BA) and Naropa University (MA), but ultimately she longed to experience the teachings directly. This desire led her to study with some of the world’s great masters and to receive further training and certification in yoga, mind-body medicine, and the healing arts. Carrie is deeply influenced by her longtime spiritual teacher Amma, and the many guides and mentors she’s had along the way. Also a writer, Carrie spent eight years as the Senior Editor of Common Ground magazine. Her work explores the intersection of spiritual practice and social engagement, sacred sound, forgiveness work, and the wisdom of the feminine. She shares her love of bhakti (the yoga of love) through her heartfelt kirtans and workshops.

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10 Days

27.1k students

4.9 stars

17 min / day

Love

English

Lesson 1

The Light of the Heart: An Introduction

In this introductory session, we’ll begin our exploration of mantra, and explore the mystery and wonder of the heart. We’ll also look at the global epidemic of loneliness and depression, and see why teachings on love and compassion are more important than ever. We’ll conclude with a short meditation and invocation to set the foundation for our course.

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Lesson 2

Bhakti: The Path of Love

Session Two will illuminate the different paths of yoga, including bhakti—the path of love. We’ll explore the essential teachings of Sanātana Dharma (the Eternal Path, commonly referred to as Hinduism), the Bhakti Movement, and the wisdom of the poet-saints. From there, we’ll immerse ourselves in a restful soundscape with the mantras Ma and Om.

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Lesson 3

Chanting: The Sound of Devotion

Session Three will explore the transformative power of chanting. We’ll learn about the Kali Yuga, the Dark Age of Materialism, and why chanting is considered one of the most helpful practices for our current era. We’ll also learn about mantras and some beneficial ways to use them. For our practice, we’ll take a musical journey into the Tibetan mantra Om Mani Padme Hum.

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Lesson 4

Japa: Refuge in the Name

In Session Four, we’ll look at various forms of japa (mantra repetition)—spoken, whispered, silent, and written. We’ll also learn about different types of prayer beads, the significance of the number 108, and how to choose a mantra. From there, we’ll experience a japa practice set to music with the beloved mantra Om Namah Shivaya.

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Lesson 5

Smarana: Remembering the Divine in Everyday Life

Session Five will introduce the concept of sacred remembrance, also known as smarana. We’ll contemplate the connection between love and concentration, learn how to cultivate more awareness in daily life, and explore the value of satsang. We’ll also consider the “guru principle” and the role of the teacher. For our practice, we’ll sing the Adi mantra—Ong Namo Gurudev Namo—from the Kundalini Yoga tradition to honor the divine teacher within.

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Lesson 6

Meeting the Shadow: Working with Difficult Emotions

Session Six will explore how chanting can help us meet the shadow, transform uncomfortable emotions, and embrace our full humanity. We’ll also touch on the process of purification and the power of prayer. We will then invoke the blessings of Green Tara, the “mother of liberation”, through her mantra Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha.

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Lesson 7

Befriending Ourselves: The Medicine of Self-Compassion

In Session Seven we will look at the habitual ways we keep love at bay and consider Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings on the inner child. From there, we’ll experience an English chant and forgiveness meditation to heal the heart. The focus of this session will be self-acceptance—an essential foundation for awakening universal love.

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Lesson 8

I Am That: Coming Home to Presence

Session Eight will explore the timeless presence that lives within us—the witness. We’ll learn about wabi-sabi, the Japanese art of imperfection, and the Buddhist doctrine of the “two truths”. We’ll also learn about abstract nirguna mantras and Vedantic formulas that affirm our oneness with all of creation. Through the formless mantra So Hum, we will rest in the deep silence on the other side of sound.

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Lesson 9

Selfless Service: Love in Action

In Session Nine we will contemplate compassion and service as integral components on the path of love. We’ll also reflect on the Mahayana Buddhist teaching known as the Jewel Net of Indra and consider emerging research on neuroscience and meditation. We’ll discuss the practice of bodhicitta (“awakened heart”) and karma yoga, and conclude with a mantra for the happiness of all beings.

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Lesson 10

This Sacred Life: An Ocean of Grace

In our final session, we will focus on gratitude and the Buddhist teaching of ‘precious human birth’. We’ll also consider the importance of positive emotions and how chanting can help us cultivate more gratitude and appreciation. Reflecting on all that we’ve learned, the course will end with the traditional Gaelic blessing “Deep Peace”—a heartfelt prayer for you.

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Ask your teacher

This course includes 748 community questions and 131 audio replies from Carrie Grossman. The community classroom and teacher audio replies are only available via the app.

748

4.9 (2593)

Recent Reviews

Rowena

February 4, 2026

An absolutely beautiful course! I'm lost for words really. Immense gratitude🙏.

D

February 3, 2026

I thoroughly enjoyed this course so much. Than-you.

Stefania

January 27, 2026

Love trascends the screen

Marti

January 21, 2026

One of the best courses I've found on insight timer. Learning about mantras is why I started this course. But it's SO much more! Carrie offers great encouragement and insights into navigating daily life and growing in our sense of self and sense of our connection to our community.

Deb

January 6, 2026

so authentic. loved how this reset me

Jacqueline

December 30, 2025

A beautiful experience ♥️ Thank you 🙏

Philip

December 25, 2025

Wonderful series! One of my favorites and ended on Christmas Day for me. What a gift you are!

Yami

December 19, 2025

This course brought so much peace to my heart. Thank you 🙏

Katherine

December 11, 2025

Carrie has a beautiful voice that is both soft and filled with wise words. Each of the parts was the perfect length. I loved the mantras and songs. If Carrie has recorded her music I would enjoy being able to replay the songs. Thank you for taking the time to create the course and share your knowledge and the gift of your beautiful voice.

cynthia

December 7, 2025

What a beautiful course. I want more!!

Natalie

December 4, 2025

Loved this coarse🙏

Tamara

November 30, 2025

Lovely tourney into better understanding the background of mantra’s, guided by a beautiful voice and singing. Thank you 🙏

Paula

October 17, 2025

Thanks for this beautiful intro to chanting, Carrie. Deep peace to you always.

Susan

September 25, 2025

I really loved this course. I'm drawn to mantra and this course was very accessible to begin learning it. The message in each session was beautiful.

Judith

September 18, 2025

Beautiful , gentle and heartwarming!

Karen

September 16, 2025

I enjoyed this course so much! I will do it again at a slower pace so I can absorb even more. Thank-you Carrie for allowing me to walk with you on this journey🤗💫

Donna

June 1, 2025

Exceptional content from the depths of one’s soul and heart…

Girija

May 16, 2025

Amazing!! So deeply moving and helpful, thank you!

Drew

April 25, 2025

Beautiful, energetic, love and calm filled course that takes you on an intimate and educative journey with yourself Carrie and Mantra. Each lesson was a unique experience and true blessing 🙏🏻💕✨🌴

Damien

March 24, 2025

Thank you Carrie ❤️ Small gradual gentle shifts definitely have great power for change.

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