Have you ever been to a yoga class and had your instructor invite you to touch your thumb to your pointer finger? Do you know what this is or why it is done during yoga and meditation? This action is called a mudra, Sanskrit for “mark” or “seal,” which is a symbolic, ritual gesture in Hinduism and Buddhism.
I hope you all had a wonderful time with friends and family during this holiday season. The holidays come and go so quickly, it can be difficult to fully dwell in the moment and embrace the joy and comfort of the season. Today I want to talk about a special mantra as we close out our mantra series for the month of December. The phrase Om Namah Shivaya is known as the greatest redeeming mantra and translates to “I bow to Shiva” or “I honor the divinity within myself.”
Wow, here we are at Christmas week already! I hope chatting about different mantras has been helpful and inspiring for you while preparing for and celebrating the holidays. Today I want to talk a bit about the word Soham (pronounced sohum), which is Sanskrit for “I am THAT.” Soham answers the universal question, who am I?
These words by the Indian mystic and guru Osho are wonderful ones to meditate on, especially during this festive season spent with family and friends. It speaks of the idea that to live a full life is to love deeply. To love others is the greatest gift we have been given and that we can bestow onto those around us. Osho believed that loving and living are one and as we move into a new week I hope to remember and live these words. What is one thing you can do this week that shows love as a miracle?
Today I want to continue our series on mantras, which are phrases or even single sounds typically used during meditation. These phrases can be said out loud or silently to oneself. One mantra that I mentioned briefly last week was Om Mani Padme Hum. I love this mantra because when repeated and meditated on, it is meant to bring you towards enlightenment and understanding of the true nature of suffering.
