"Tabla Beyond Borders: Life, Spirit, and Rhythm with Ritesh Das"
Tabla Beyond Borders: Life, Spirit, and Rhythm with Ritesh Das
This podcast is a space for real conversations—about rhythm, discipline, and the deeper purpose behind music. Hosted by tabla teacher and composer Ritesh Das, each episode brings together musicians, students, spiritual practitioners, and cultural workers to explore what tabla—and art itself—can reveal about life.
We speak about tradition without being bound by it. We talk honestly about the path—its doubts, its rigour, its joy. Music here is not entertainment. It’s practice. It’s presence. It’s a way to listen.
Whether you’re a student, an artist, or someone walking the inner path, these conversations invite you to reflect, question, and remember what really matters.
Episodes
17 episodes
Why Study Tabla?
Tabla study is more than learning rhythms — it’s a complete training for attention, memory, timing, and pattern thinking. In this episode, I share what tabla is, how it’s learned through an oral tradition, and how speaking, playing, a...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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20:09
Listening is the real skill
In this episode, Ritesh Das explores the often overlooked art of listening—through the lens of a tabla class.From childhood instinct to adult distraction, from classroom interruptions to moments of deep focus, he walks through how...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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14:59
“Learning Tabla, Living Better”
In this episode, Ritesh Das talks about how learning tabla can become a meaningful part of your life. From the first sounds and rhythms to deeper stillness and self-awareness, he shares how daily practice supports balance, focus, and clarity. W...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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20:50
The Ones Who Didn’t Perform
Not every student wants the stage. And not every great player ends up on one.In this episode, Ritesh Das reflects on a quieter kind of journey in the world of tabla—one not measured by applause or public recognition. Through personal sto...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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11:54
Episode 13 – The Joy They Didn’t See
What if the joy you’re chasing isn’t really joy?In this episode, Ritesh Das explores the quiet truth behind lasting joy—not the kind that comes from applause or outcomes, but the kind born from presence, practice, and deep inner alignmen...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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16:04
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"False Gurus, Real Lessons" Episode 12
In this powerful follow-up to Episode 12 (What is a Guru), Ritesh Das dives into the difficult but necessary topic of false Gurus—and the lessons they leave behind.Drawing from Vedic roots and personal experience, he explores ho...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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13:28
What is a Guru - Really ?
Episode 11: What Is a Guru—Really?In this episode, I return to the source. Not to talk about gurus as personalities or institutions—but to ask: What does the word “Guru” actually mean? And how has that...
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21:07
“Because That’s What This Is”
“Because That’s What This Is” is a raw, unfiltered reflection from the heart of Ritesh Das—composer, tabla teacher, founder of the Toronto Tabla Ensemble, and lifelong seeker. This podcast is not about performance. It’s not for promotion...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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22:46
Live Sound vs. Recording – Two Worlds of Music
In this episode, I dive into the contrast between live performance and studio recording—two different experiences that shape the way we create and hear music.🎵 Live vs. Studio: What’s gained, what’s lost—does one capture mo...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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17:41
Balance in Life, Rhythm, and Melody
In this reflective episode of Tabla Beyond Borders with Ritesh Das, we welcome Isabelle Delaney from Montreal, a gifted percussionist whose journey with tabla and congas offers profound insights into life and balance. Through Ritesh's ...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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27:03
The Rhythmic Path to Visualization - The Power of Tabla Meditation
Join Ritesh Das in this compelling episode of "Tabla Beyond Borders," where he explores the transformative power of sound meditation through tabla. Discover how the focused meditation of sound not only enhances musical artistry but also serves ...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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24:21
"Rhythmic Legacies: The Enduring Influence of Zakir Hussain"
In this episode of "Tabla Beyond Borders," I reflect on the immense influence of Legendary Zakir Hussain, a virtuoso whose mastery of tabla has touched countless lives, including my own. My encounters with Zakir Bhai, though brief, were profoun...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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24:12
Harmonies Across Borders - A Journey with Aman Folk Ensemble
In this episode, I delve into the profound impact of my time with the Aman Folk Ensemble, a pivotal chapter that shaped my musical perspective and approach. Join me as I recount the rich experiences of touring across the USA, from the bustling ...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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24:13
Collaboration with Kiyoshi Nagata
In the latest episode of 'Tabla Beyond Borders: Life, Spirit, and Rhythm with Ritesh Das,' I share the story of my special collaboration with Kiyoshi Nagata on the piece Sare Panch with Taiko drums.Collaboration, to me, is like ...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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18:04
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The Rhythm of Life: Themes, Variations, and Tihai.
In this episode of “Tabla Beyond Borders,” I explore the profound connection between tabla compositions and the rhythms of daily life. At the heart of tabla lies the concept of theme, variation, and Tihai—a structure that mirrors ...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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16:47
Tradition to Innovation
Tradition to Innovation—Planting the Seed for CreativityIn this episode, Ritesh Das delves into the roots of his innovative approach to tabla through the lens of his teaching. Drawing from traditional tabla compositions, Ritesh expla...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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18:27
Why I Started the Toronto Tabla Ensemble
In this inaugural episode, Ritesh Das takes listeners on a heartfelt journey into the origins of the Toronto Tabla Ensemble (TTE). Discover the vision and passion that led him to establish TTE in 1991, and how he set out to introduce and blend ...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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21:09
