October’s theme is “detachment,” and our affirmation this month is “I view my life/my situation from a new perspective.”
I have two young children. Sometimes, when things are not going their way, they will say something like, “This is the worst day ever!” or “Mom, you have ruined my day!” From my perspective, their troubles are just small setbacks. Stepping back to look at the big picture, I can see that they are safe, supported, and in the process of learning something new – which, admittedly, is not easy. But when I say this to them, they are usually still in the throes of despair and won’t believe me. No, they say, this situation here is just terrible, totally frustrating, and not the way it should be!
Hearing this kind of talk in my girls has led me to observe that we adults do the very same thing ourselves – it’s just not quite as obvious. But we too tend to hang onto our limiting thoughts and perspectives… when shifting our perspective could reveal a bigger picture. We don’t have to believe every thought we have. As we take a step back to observe our thoughts, we can discriminate which ones serve us, and which ones don’t. And then we can let go of the thoughts/beliefs that pull us down. This is the yogic practice of discernment and detachment (viveka and vairagya, in Sanskrit)
A dear friend recently reintroduced me to the five koshas, the five layers/sheaths of our being. I had first learned of these some years ago, and had not thought much about them since. But now, for the past few weeks, I can’t think of anything else but these koshas! In brief, the theory is that we are made up of five layers (somewhat like an onion):
- annamaya kosha: the physical layer, or food sheath
- pranamaya kosha: the energy layer
- manomaya kosha: the layer of mind
- vijnanamaya kosha: the wisdom layer
- anandamaya kosha: the bliss layer
- We have a physical body made up of matter, taken from the food that we eat.
- Energy (prana) animates this body, making the heart pump, the lungs breathe, etc. Energy also animates our mind. Our energy can be high or low, focused or scattered, directed inward or outward, and so on.
- In most people, the mind is full of chatter. This mental chatter reflects our deeply held, often subconscious beliefs and perspectives. This chatter is quite repetitive, circular, following the same grooves over and over again.
- Beyond the layer of mental chatter, there is a reservoir of discernment, clarity, and wisdom – an inner voice with clear, loving guidance.
- Beyond this layer, there is stillness, silence, peace and contentment.
And beyond even this layer, there is pure awareness – awareness without an object – an awareness of simply being.
Absorbed in the layer of mental chatter, we cannot access the other layers of our being. We lose touch with the natural intelligence of the body, and become deaf to its messages. We lose touch with our vital energy, and allow it drain away. (Where the mind goes, our energy follows.) We lose touch with our inner wisdom and innate bliss. We forget those deeper aspects of who we really are.
To access those other layers of our being, we need to step out of the mind. It’s like pulling yourself out of a raging river, so that you can watch the waves from the safety of the riverbank. And from the riverbank, you can see not only the waves, but also the solid earth beneath your feet, the beautiful sky overhead, and everything in between. From here, you have a better perspective. You can see/hear the bigger picture. You can be at peace, knowing that all is well.
And how to step out of the mind? The yoga masters have offered us a powerful tool to steady and transcend the mind: mantra. Mantra is made up of two Sanskrit words: manas, mind, and tra, to cross over or liberate. A mantra is a sound, word, phrase or verse that elevates our consciousness. It can be in any language. Yoga offers us many beautiful Sanskrit mantras that inspire not only through their meaning, but through the vibration/feeling they create in the body-mind.
Pick a mantra. Set a regular time and place for mantra meditation. Mine is before bed, in a screened-off corner of my bedroom. It can be as short as 3 minutes to start. Once the practice becomes a bit more familiar and comfortable, I bet you’ll want to do more! Don’t worry if the mind wanders. Simply notice the interrupting thought, return to your mantra, and continue. If you want to see results, be regular in your practice, and ideally stick to the same mantra. Give it at least 40 days, and then re-assess.
Here are some examples of short mantras in Sanskrit and in English. The English ones are meditation phrases offered by Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh:
- Om shantih shantih shantih (om peace)
- So hum (That I am)
- Anandohum (I am bliss)
- Aham prema (I am love)
- Aham swastha (I am health)
- Aham sthiram (I am stability)
- Aham sukham (I am ease)
- I have arrived, I am home
- I am solid, I am free
- Present moment, wonderful moment
- Happiness is the way
- Open heart, open mind
- Peace is every step
- Peace is every breath
- Breathe and smile
- Be still and know
For more ideas or guidance on mantra meditation, I recommend Swami Vishnudevananda’s book “Meditation and Mantras.”
