MANTRAS

Mantras are a useful tool to help you to improve on a particular quality or area of life. To be best utilized, select one and use it everyday for 40 days. While meditating, repeat the mantra to yourself for a selected number of times - usually a multiple of 108 or for a specified period of time. (Mantra beads are helpful for keeping track of the number of repetitions that you've done.) Do this every day and you will feel when the mantra has become a part of who you are. You may then find your mantra repeating itself within your mind without any conscious instigation on your part.

Outside of meditation, repeat the mantra whenever you have time during your day. This can be during any idle time or while doing any kind of repetitive work that doesn't require active thinking - such as when you're doing the dishes, taking a shower, walking, etc… Put yourself to sleep at night while repeating your mantra. Wake up with your mantra. Make it a part of your very essence.

A mantra must connect you with the sacred. Here is a list of some useful mantras. They are all in Sanskrit - a holy language from India. Select one that resonates with the area of life or quality that you'd like to enhance. If you don't know which one to select I would recommend using Om as your first mantra.

Om (ohm) The greatest of all mantras it is the representation of the Supreme Being. The past, present and the future are all included in this one sound. Meditation on this sacred syllable is said to satisfy every need and leads to liberation.

Om Shanti (ohm shahn-tee) The peace of God.

Om mani padme hum (ohm mah-nay pahd-may hoom) For opening the heart center and developing compassion.

Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha (gah-tay gah-tay pah-rah gay-tay pah-rah-sahm gah-tay bow-dee svah-hah). To go beyond all illusion to the ultimate reality of God.

Shivo ham (shi-voh-hum) To awaken to one's own spirituality.

Tayata om muni muni maha munaye soha (ta-ya-ta ohm moo-nee moo-nee moon-aye-yay so-ha) To awaken the Buddha mind - the mind of enlightenment.

Om tare ture tuttare ture soha (ohm ta-ray too-ray too-t-tar-ray too-ray so-ha) To liberate oneself from fears.

Hari om tat sat (huh-ree ohm tut sut) For purification and for the benefit of departed souls.

Om namo bhagavate vasu devaya (ohm nam-o bhag-a-va-tay va-sue day-vai- ya) 12 lettered mantra. Oh infinite Lord, indweller in the heart of all beings, unto you do I turn my consciousness. To see the God within everyone and everything.

Ah (ahh) Seed mantra for manifesting thoughts into the physical world. Begin by chanting or repeating this mantra, then visualize whatever it is you'd like to manifest. See it clearly and then repeat the mantra again until your visualization has been penetrated with the mantra.

Thiru neela kantam (theeru nayla kan tam) To remove current karmic conditions.

Om Gum Ganapatayei Namaha (ohm goom gana-pa-tie-ay na-ma-ha) To remove obstacles that are standing in the way of your progress.

Om Shrim Mahalakshmiyei Swaha (ohm shreem maha-lak-shmee-yay swa-ha) For prosperity and for attracting wealth of all kinds - such as friends, family, health, etc…

Om Namah Shivaya (ohm nah-mah shi-vay-ya) With great respect I honor my heart, my inner teacher. Use this mantra to ease your spiritual unfoldment.

Om Sri Rama Jaya Rama, Jaya, Jaya Rama (ohm sree ramah jah-yah ram-ah jah-yah, jah-yah ram-ah) To enable one to live a divine life within a human body. This mantra was used by Mahatma Gandhi for over 60 years.

Om Sharavana-bhavaya Namaha (ohm sha-ra-van-a bha-vai-ya) To brighten and increase the positive effects of everything in your lif

Mantras Nancy will be teaching starting March 2008.

Chanting… “Kiritan”

In the Ashtanga (the eight limb path) Yoga system, kirtan is categorized as pratyahara (methods which draw the mind inward). Kirtan can be seen as a bridge between our outer and inner selves and an expression of our desire to know and love God within. Concentration on the different Names, the meanings, or the ragas (melodic structures) increases the focus of the kirtan.

In red you will find the phonetic spelling to help you learn the proper way to speak Sanskrit.

Lokaha

(Repeat three times)

Lokaha  Samastaha Sukhino  Bhavantu

LO Ka Ha   Samas ta ha   Su kino   Ba von too

Lokaha Samastaha Sukhino Bhavantu

Lokaha Samastaha Sukhino Bhavantu
Lokaha Samastaha Sukhino Bhavantu
Om Shanti Shanti Shanti- ee

Translation: May all beings in all three worlds be blessed with Peace, Contentment and Freedom

The Three Worlds are the known, the unknown and the unknowable

Om Asatoma

Om Asatoma Satgamaya

Om    Asa Toe Ma     Sat Gam eye a
Tamasoma Jyotir Gamaya

Tama SewMa    Joy Tear    Gam eye a
Mrityorma Amritam Gamaya

Mrit Your Ma     Am rit am     Gam eye a

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti i

Translation: Lead us from Deception to Truth, from Darkness to Light, from Death to Blissful Immortality

Om Namah Shivaya

Om Namah Shivaya

Om   Na Ma    She Vi Ya

Translation: With Great Respect & Love I Honor My Heart, My Inner Teacher

Namaste

Na Ma Stay