Good Vibrations

The lovely Luisa Caruso led our study group this past month with her specially chosen chants and haunting drum rhythms.

It was discussed during our last meeting (see Nov post) why chanting is often done in Sanskrit. We deepened our exploration this month.

Trayati (that which saves) is the root of -tra in the word man-tra. Mantra can effect vibratory transformation at the core level of matter. All matter is created by, and ruled by, the "gunas". These three forces are universal and recognizable for all. "Rajas" is restlessness, the intiation of creation. "Tamas" is inertia, stability. These two siblings continually create motion in our universe, until at some point "sattva", or balance, is achieved. Sattva cannot last, as rajas always injects that movement to continue in the dance of creation.

Through mantra (chanting), we can detoxify at the causal level, transforming excess rajas or tamas into a more sattvic vibe. In time, our minds (known as "chitta" in yogic philosophy) become more receptive to higher influences.

In sanskrit, the consonants represent matter; the vowels, spirit or consciousness. How they are combined can govern the energetic flow through the chakras. The consonants, in particular, have powers of manifestation.

One of the best measures of your yogic practice is not whether you can stand on your head or do 100 Sun Salutations, it's how you react to everyday stresses. When you start to notice that you are calmer in traffic, can find better words in a meeting, or are less likely to scream at your teenagers, that's when you know you are making progress. Chanting is a key part of the path because it does help refine your mind.

The most challenging mantra that Luisa prepared for us was the following:

"Teyata Om Bekanze;

Bekanze Maha Bekanze;

Radza Samudgate Soha."

This mantra is from the Buddhist tradition and prays for delivery from ignorance. To learn more about the mantra and to hear it chanted, check out this link: http://www.jivanjili.org/medicine_buddha_mantra.html

Our next meeting will be Wed Feb 16 at 6:30. All are welcome. We plan to discuss the internet movie, Zeitgeist, and apply yogic philosophy to this sometimes shocking view of our world. To watch the movie for free, check out this link: http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com