Mantras are a repetitive word, phrase, or sound with vibrational qualities and inherent meanings. Mantras are believed to have spiritual, transformative, and religious power. The use of mantras is at least 3500 years old and appears to originate from India, with records in Vedic Sanskrit of mantras still in use today. Mantras have many uses in our modern lives. They serve to quite the mind for meditation, offer the power to bring focus to your mind, and bring a sense of happiness by countering negative thinking. Mantras are mind tools meant to bring you into a higher state of being, a higher vibration.

The word mantra is believed to originate from the Sanskrit words manas= mind + tra= tool, thereby meaning a “tool for the mind”. Science is beginning to grasp an understanding as to exactly why this ancient technique actually is a mind tool. As humans we have what is known as a “Default Mode Network” or DMN. This DMN is a network of regions within the brain that are active and interacting with one another when a person is not focused on the world outside of himself or herself. Essentially, anytime we are not engaged in a cognitive task or external stimulus our brains are operating in DMN. To an extent this is totally normal, however, there is a correlation between an overactive DMN (someone always in their own heads) and negative thinking. One of the wonderful effects of using the repetition of mantra is by engaging a person in the cognitive task of repeating the mantra, the DMN is deactivated. For ailments such as depression, turning off the negative inner critic or negative ruminating can be the difference between recovery or continued illness.

Mantras are more then just a sound or a word, they are also a vibration. Vibration is the language of energy, and the vibrations of some mantras have the ability to shift our internal energy, which in turn shifts our external energy for the better. When we consciously raise our personal vibrations we experience more synchronicities and positive experiences in our lives. When we keep our energy and vibration high, we attract more of the same into our lives leading to an overall more positive life experience. By raising our vibrations through beneficial mantra we are bringing ourselves into tune with the vibration of love and abundance in the universe.

Mantras have meaning. Because of these meanings, mantras have the ability to strengthen our divine connection, increase our focus, and deepen our self-worth and self-love. Through repetition we increase our connection to the meanings within the mantras allowing the truth of those meanings to burn like a flame as truths in us. When mantra is used to elevate your beliefs of love, truth, and connectedness over time it simply becomes who you are and not just what you believe in.

There are several ways you can begin to incorporate mantra into your life:

• If you have been looking to start a meditation practice the use of mantra is a wonderful tool to help focus the mind from random or not-so random thoughts such as your grocery or to-do list. You can use the mantra in rhythm with your breath or you can just use the mantra when you become aware that your mind has started to wonder. If you are just getting started you can read more about meditation here: https://flowingriverretreat.com/meditation-101/

• Sometimes in life we can find ourselves sort of stuck on a negative past occurrence, an event, interaction, or something observed that has hooked our attention. It’s something our coworker said that rubs us the wrong way, the person who cut us off in traffic, or we wish we would have responded differently in a situation and we replay this over and over in our minds. Anytime you catch yourself in a negative thought loop, using mantra is an excellent way to break the pattern and shift your thinking. Begin by taking a big inhale and an even bigger exhale and then begin your mantra at the pace and length that suits you. You don’t need to repeat the mantra for a long period to get its benefits when using it for this purpose; it really takes less then a minute to shift your mindset.

• A traditional way to use mantra is the practice of  Japa, which translates into “muttering, whispering”.  Sanskrit mantra is used by speaking the mantra out loud, whispering the mantra, or speaking it silently to oneself. Malas or rosaries made of various natural manmade beads are employed in this mantra practice to keep count of the number of times the mantra is recited thus becoming a sacred spiritual tool. Malas and rosaries traditionally have 108 beads but can sometimes be half (54) or a quarter (27) of the 108 beads. 108 is thought to be a significant number in yogic philosophy relating to the planets, therefore it is believed that by repeating a mantra 108 times it helps to bring one into harmony with the universe.

If you’re wondering how to find a mantra, here are a few of my favorites:

• So Hum is a simple mantra that translates literally to So = “That”, Hum = “I”. It’s meaning is “I Am That” or “I Am”. The energy of this mantra is of oneness or becoming one with all and the universe. So Hum is fairly easy to remember as well as pronounce making it a wonderful mantra to start with. When using this mantra try to incorporate your breath with the mantra, such as using “So” on your inhale and “Hum” on your exhale.

• Sat Nam is another simple mantra which translates to Sat = “Truth”, Nam = “Identity”. It’s meaning is “Truth is my Identity”. The energy of this mantra is about identifying with the truth of your own divinity and as a being of this divinity your true nature is love. Sat Nam is another easy to pronounce and remember mantra, making it a handy tool to keep in your toolbox of wellness. Like So Hum, you can use your breath to deepen your mantra practice by using “Sat” on an inhale and “Nam” on an exhale.

• Om/Ohm is a common but powerful mantra. Om/Ohm is a sound/vibration and therefore does not have a literal translation. Om/Ohm is said to be the first and most prevalent sound vibration in the universe. It is the vibration that underlies all other vibrations. The energy of this mantra is of connectedness or oneness with all, as well as bringing oneself into the harmony of the universe. This mantra is uttered exclusively on the exhale, and its use serves to extend the exhale creating more calm in the body and mind.

• Aham Prema is less common but one of my go-to mantras which translates to Aham = “I”, Prema = “Love” or “Affection”. It’s meaning is “I Am Divine Love”. The energy of this mantra is of connecting to the divine love that is our core essence. This mantra is a more energizing mantra and is very easy to sing making it a great mantra to use while being active.

In this modern word we have access to so many amazing tools to increase our life satisfaction and day-to-day experiences, mantra is without a doubt one of those tools with the added benefit of being very easy to incorporate into daily life. If it feels like too much to take on another wellness practice, try to add mantra into your daily life with activities you are already doing, (especially if your body is busy but your mind is free). If you want to try mantra give it a go in meditation, on your commute to work (be sure to use an energizing mantra if you’re driving), walking your dog, while your doing the dishes, folding laundry or any other housework. One of the beautiful things about mantra is that you do not have to say them out loud to get benefits, which means you can use them just about anywhere and anytime.

Wish you more ups then downs in this journey of life. Leave a question or comment if you feel called to do so. Namaste.

Sahasrara, Crown Chakra

The Crown Chakra is the 7^th chakra of the seven major chakras. Sahasrara is the Sanskrit name for this chakra meaning “Thousand (Spoked or Petalled (Lotus))” because this chakra radiates like the rays of the sun, extending our soul up into the cosmos and connecting us with our Divine Source when it is healthy, balanced and open. The main function of this chakra is “To Know” as it is our connection to Spirit and to our innate wisdom. The Crown Chakra is known as the seat of liberation allowing us to dissolve our attachment to ego resulting in the union of our truest and highest selves. The lower six chakras are a journey through the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of being, coming together and building up to the shifts needed to allow our Crown Chakra to fully open. When our Crown Chakra is healthy and balanced we experience feelings of unity, wisdom, bliss, understanding, and an awareness of our own divinity. When this chakra is blocked or out of balance we may be spacy, suffer from mental illness, have depression, learning disabilities, or apathy, as well as feeling as though we are alone and separate.

Along with opening, strengthening, and balancing the other six chakras here are ways to work with the Crown Chakra:

• Violet & White are the colors most associated with this chakra. Color can be utilized by wearing violet or white clothing, visualizing one of the colors as a radiant ball above your head where the crown chakra is located, or eating violet/purple colored foods such as purple kale, mulberries, grapes, and any other naturally colored purple food.

• OM/AUM is the seed sound of the Crown Chakra. Om can be chanted to strengthen and balance the connection to all. Additionally, because the Om seed sound also has a symbol, quieting the mind while gazing at the symbol is of benefit.

• Crystals are wonderful tools to work with the chakras. They can be worn, used in meditation, placed around your home in areas where you relax and also placed under your pillow while you sleep. The following crystals are beneficial for the crown chakra: diamond or Herkimer diamond, amethyst, clear quartz or any other purple, white or clear gemstone you feel called to work with.

• Essential oils that support this chakra are frankincense, myrrh, and sandalwood. These oils can be diffused in your home or car, or can be worn diluted.

• Affirmations are a powerful tool to shift your thoughts to bring in healthy balanced qualities you wish to nurture. The following affirmations help focus good energy to the crown chakra:

“I am one with ALL”

“I am wise and share my wisdom”

“Bliss is my true nature”

• Yoga is a way to bring balance into our entire being. The following yoga asanas or postures can be practiced to bring vitality to the Crown Chakra:

Headstand

Rabbit Pose

Corpse Pose

I invite you to explore any or all of these tips to work with your Crown Chakra. Each of these suggestions is powerful tool when used with intention to help you create the life and experience you desire. Trust that what you are drawn to is because it will have benefit for you.

Ajna, Third Eye Chakra

The Third Eye Chakra is the 6^th of the seven major chakras. Ajna, the Sanskrit name for the 3^rd Eye Chakra means “Command” due to its function as our command-center and is the key to accessing our higher perspective. The main function of this chakra is “To Perceive” as it is the gateway to our intuition or inner knowing. When this chakra is open and balanced we experience insight, clarity, a connectedness and belief in our intuition, vision to imagine our lives the way we desire it, and it gives us a deeper perception to the larger picture of our lives and relationships. When the 3^rd Eye Chakra is closed or out of balance we can experience a disconnection to our intuition, headaches/migraines, hallucinations, nightmares, sleep disorders, and sinus problems.

Ways to bring balance to the 3^rdEye Chakra:

• Indigo is the color most associated with this chakra. The indigo color can be utilized by wearing indigo clothing, visualizing indigo light at the center of your forehead where the chakra is located, and eating foods that resonate with this chakra such as grapes, blackberries, plums, eggplant, and any other naturally indigo/purple colored foods.

• OM/AUM is the seed sound of the 3^rd Eye Chakra. Om can be chanted to strengthen and balance the seat of our intuition. Additionally, because the Om seed sound also has a symbol, quieting the mind while gazing at the symbol can be used as a meditation to bring vitality to this chakra.

• Gemstones such as sodalite, lapis lazuli, and azurite, as well as any other deep blue/indigo/deep purple crystals you are called to work with can be worn as earrings, used in meditation, or simply placed in spaces of your home where you relax to bring in vibrations that heal the 3^rd Eye Chakra.

• Essential oils that support this chakra are clary sage, rosemary, and ylang ylang. These oils can be diffused in your home or car or can be worn diluted. (With strong oils such as rosemary always use small amounts if applied to the skin and test for sensitivity.)

• Affirmations are a powerful tool to shift your thoughts and bring in health, balanced qualities that you wish to nurture. The following affirmations help to strengthen the 3^rd Eye Chakra energy:

“My intuition is strong and clear”

“I trust and follow my inner guidance”

“I see the bigger picture in relationships and situations”

• Yoga is a practice to bring balance to our entire being. The following yoga asanas or postures can be practiced to bring more vitality and awareness to the seat of our intuition:

Child’s Pose

Wide-Legged Forward Fold

Dolphin Pose

I invite you to explore any or all of these tips to balance and strengthen your 3^rd Eye Chakra. Each of these suggestions is powerful tool when used with intention to help you create the life and experience you desire. Trust that what you are drawn to is because it will have benefit for you.

 Vissudha, Throat Chakra

The Throat Chakra is the 5^thof the seven major chakras. Vissudha is the Sanskrit name for this chakra, meaning “Purity” and is related to the need to balance and open the lower chakras 1-3 and the 4^thchakra in order to fully activate, open, and balance this chakra. This is because the throat chakra is about expressing your truth with honesty and purity, most especially to yourself, requiring a lack of fear (1^stchakra), creativity (2^ndchakra), personal power (3^rdchakra), as well as compassion and love (4^thchakra). The main focus of the throat chakra is “Self Expression & Life Purpose”. When our throat chakra is open and balanced we can experience our truth, purpose, our expression and communication is compassionate, and we experience synchronicities in life. When the throat chakra is blocked one can experience teeth and gum issues, hearing problems, and thyroid imbalances, as well as habitual lying, a fear of speaking and a lack of purpose.

Ways to help bring balance to the Throat Chakra:

• Blue is the color of the throat chakra and can be used by visualizing a ball of color at the throat area, wearing blue clothing, and eating blue colored foods such as blueberries, blue-green algae and blue potatoes.

• HAM is the seed sound of the Throat Chakra and can be chanted to strengthen and open this energy center of personal truth.

• Gemstones such as lapis lazuli, turquoise, blue kyanite or any other blue stone you are drawn to can be worn as a necklace or earrings. Additionally, these crystals can be meditated with or simply kept nearby in relaxing areas of the home.

• Essential oils that support the throat chakra becoming fully expressed are jasmine, lavender, and frankincense. These oils can be worn diluted or diffused in the home or car.

• Affirmations, a powerful tool, can be used to shift your thoughts and bring in the healthy, balanced qualities that you wish to nurture. The following affirmations help to strengthen the throat chakras energy:

“I live my truth by speaking my truth”

“I am guided to live my purpose”

“I express myself with compassion”

• Yoga is a practice meant to bring balance into the entire being. The following yoga asanas or poses can be used to focus on the throat chakra:

Lion’s Breath Pose

Shoulder Stand Pose

Plow Pose

I invite you to explore any or all of these tips to balance and strengthen your throat chakra. Each of these suggestions is powerful tool when used with intention to help you create the life and experience you desire. Trust that what you are drawn to will have benefit for you.

Anahata, Heart Chakra

The Heart Chakra is the 4^th of the seven main chakras. Anahata is the Sanskrit name for this Chakra meaning “Unstruck” referring to the Vedic concept of unstruck sound, encompassing a calmness which is without violence. The main focus of this chakra is “Love & Connection” and it is the well within us that compassion and serenity flow from. When this chakra is open and balanced we experience deep love, trust, connection, balance, an ability to surrender our control, and equanimity in our lives and relationships. When the heart chakra is blocked or stagnant ailments of the heart, lungs, and breasts can arise, as well as feelings of loneliness, disconnectedness, and anti-social behaviors.

Ways to help keep the Heart Chakra balanced:

• Green is the color most associated with the heart chakra, however pink is also a color that resonates with this love-energy center. Color can be used to contribute to a healthy heart chakra by visualizing it in the physical heart/sternum area where the chakra is located and by eating green foods brings.

• YAM is the seed sound of the Heart Chakra and can be chanted to help strengthen and balance this center of compassion.

• Crystals such as emerald, green aventurine, and rose quartz, as well as any other green or pink stones which you feel called to can be worn as pendants, meditated with or kept nearby in areas of your home where you relax to bring in the loving and healing vibrations of the heart chakra.

• Essential oils which support the heart chakra are rose, rosewood and neroli. These oils can be worn diluted or diffused in your home or car.

• Affirmations are a powerful tool to shift your thoughts and bring in the healthy, balanced qualities that you wish to nurture. The following affirmations help to strengthen the heart chakras energy:

“I am a being of love, both loving and lovable”

“I am compassionate”

“I am calm and balanced”

• Yoga is a practice to balance our entire being. The following yoga asanas or postures bring more vitality into our heart centers:

Camel Pose

Upward Facing Dog

Wheel Pose

I invite you to explore any or all of these tips to balance and strengthen your heart chakra. Each of these suggestions is powerful tool when used with intention to help you create the life and experience you desire. Trust that what you are drawn to is because it will have benefit for you.

Manipura, Solar Plexus

The Solar Plexus is the 3^rdof the seven main chakras. Manipura, which is the Sanskrit name, means “Lustrous Gem” which, is representative of the precious nature this chakra’s role plays. The main focus of the Solar Plexus is “Power and Identity” and indeed is the foundation of our personal power, which informs and shapes our identity. A healthy, open Solar Plexus fill us with confidence, humor, mental clarity, will power, and the personal strength (power) to be able to act on our passions and ideas. In essence it allows us to show up authentically and fully in our own lives. When the Solar Plexus is out of balance a person may experience low self-esteem, rage, timid-ness, chronic fatigue, and issues related to the digestion and processing of nourishment.

Ways to keep the Solar Plexus balanced:

• Yellow is the color associated with this chakra. Yellow can be used by: visualizing a vibrant yellow color below the ribcage, above the navel in the diaphragm area, by wearing the color yellow, and by eating yellow colored foods such as: yellow squash, melon, and golden delicious apples.

• RAM is the seed sound of the Solar Plexus and can be chanted to help balance and strengthen your Lustrous Gem.

• Gemstones especially resonate with the energy of the Solar Plexus and can be worn as jewelry or carried on your person. Meditating while holding your crystal or placing it nearby can also be a powerful way to bring this energy into your Solar Plexus. Some gemstones to use are: citrine (natural), tiger’s eye, and honey calcite, however any yellow colored crystal you are attracted to will work nicely.

• Essential oils that can be worn (diluted) or diffused in your environment are: bergamot, ginger, or lemon.

• Affirmations are another powerful tool to work with your chakras. When we begin an affirmation with “I am” we bring the words following into our experience. Here are a few to help with the Solar Plexus:

“I am powerful”

“I can do anything”

“I live my life authentically”

• Yoga is a tool that we can use to help keep our Solar Plexus strong and balanced with the added benefit of contributing to a balance in our whole being. The following asanas or postures are beneficial for the Solar Plexus:

Boat Pose

Reverse Plank

Warrior 3

Implementing any of these tools is a great way to help bring stability and balance into your Solar Plexus. You can choose one or two or you can combine many of them to fit what resonates with you and trust that what you are called to include is because it is the most beneficial for you.

Svadhisthana, Sacral Chakra

The Sacral Chakra is the 2^ndof the seven main chakras. Svadhisthana, the Sanskrit name for the chakra means “One’s Own Place” and is representative of our emotional body, encompassing our sexuality and creativity. The main focus of this chakra is “Emotions and Intimacy” and it governs our connection to our partners and the creative force in our lives present through the act of creating another life as well as the creative expression found in passions such as making music, art, food, and other form of expression. A healthy, open Sacral Chakra leads to a sense of joy, sensuality, creativity, fertility, and ability to indulge in pleasure. When the Sacral Chakra is out of balance a person may experience issues around sexuality and fertility, fear and insecurity, jealousy, disorders of the sexual organs, rigidity, and a lack of inspiration or creative expression.

Ways to help keep the Sacral Chakra balanced:

• Orange is the color associated with the Sacral Chakra, visualizing this color in the area above the pubic bone and below the navel, wearing orange and eating orange colored foods can all contribute to a healthy Sacral Chakra.

• VAM is the seed sound of the Sacral Chakra and can be chanted to help strengthen and balance this sensual and creative chakra.

• Crystals the resonate with this energy center are: carnelian, peach moonstone, orange aventurine, and any other orange colored gems which can be worn or kept in your pockets.

• Essential oils that can be worn (always dilute before applying to your skin) or diffused in your space are cardamom, clary sage, and orange blossom.

• Affirmations are another powerful tool to work with your chakras. When we begin an affirmation with “I am” we bring the words following into our experience. Here are a few to help with the Sacral Chakra:

I am creative, and adaptable.

I am sensual and sexual.

I enjoy life’s pleasures.

• Yoga is a wonderful tool to help strengthen your Sacral Chakra energy center and contributes to an overall sense of wellbeing. The following asanas or postures are beneficial for our center of creativity:

Bow Pose

Low Lunge

Goddess Pose

Any or all of these tools can be used, individual or combined, to help bring strength and vitality into your Sacral Chakra. Trust your intuition that what you are most called to implement is the best choice for you.

Muladhara, Root Chakra

The Root Chakra is the 1^stof the seven main chakras. Muladhara, the Sanskrit name for this chakra means “Root Support” and is truly representative of our foundational needs to be rooted and supported, giving us a strong foundation which we can move forward inour lives with. The main focus of this chakra is “Physical Existence” and it governs our basic survival needs such as nourishment and shelter, as well as emotional interconnectedness.  A healthy, open, vibrant Root Chakra leads to a sense of stability and safety, vitality, prosperity, grounded-ness, and lack of fear in foraging ahead in life and overcoming obstacles. There is also a connection between our financial abundance and a strong healthy root chakra since we can move towards our goals in a supported and fearless way. When the Root Chakra is out of balance a person can experience disorders of elimination, anxiety, spaciness/ungrounded-ness, chronic fear, and financial problems.

Ways to help keep the Root Chakra balanced:

• Red is the color which is associated with the Root Chakra, visualizing the color red at the base of the tailbone, wearing red and eating red foods can all contribute to a healthy Root Chakra.

• LAM is the seed sound of the Root Chakra and can be chanted to help strengthen and balance this fundamental chakra.

• Gemstones that resonate with this energy center are: garnet, ruby, red jasper, and fellow red colored gemstones, all can be worn or kept in your pockets.

• Essential oils that can be worn or diffused in your space are vetiver, patchouli, and sandalwood.

• Affirmations are another powerful tool to work with your chakras. When we begin an affirmation with “I am” we bring the words following into our experience. Here are a few to help with the Root Chakra:

I am grounded, safe, and secure.

I make a good living doing what I love

I am stable, strong, and healthy

• Yoga can also not only help strengthen our Root Chakra energy center it can also help us find overall balance. The following asana or postures are beneficial for our foundational chakra:

Warrior 2

Forward Fold

Childs Pose

Bridge Pose

Implementing any of these tools is a great way to help bring stability and balance into your Root Chakra. You can choose one or two or you can combine many of them to fit what resonates with you and trust that what you are called to include is because it is the most beneficial for you.

As we journey through the trials, tribulations, victories, defeats, loves, and losses of our lives, we we continually cycle through 3 basic archetypes that correspond to the characters of all the great myths and legends of human history: These archetypes are the Hero, the Victim, and the Healer. These 3 archetypes correspond to the 3 gunas or fundamental qualities of manifestation, as described in Sankhya Darshana- Rajas, Tamas, and Sattva. The Hero archetype is synonymous with the Rajas guna, Pingala nadi, the Sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous system, the Sun, the masculine. When the Rajas guna is stable, the hero is able to use her energy, skills, and power to make great change for the better of all. When there is too much of the Rajas guna present, the hero becomes destructive, violent, egotistical, cruel, overbearing, domineering, or develops a savior complex.

The Victim archetype corresponds to the Tamas Guna, Ida nadi, the parasympathetic nervous system, the moon, the feminine. When the Tamas guna is present in its correct amount, we are fully receptive and aware of how our thoughts, actions, intentions, and beliefs are affecting others and how others’ thoughts, actions, intentions, and beliefs are affecting us. However when there is too much of Tamas guna present, the victim blames the external circumstances of life for her own internal state, constantly seeks scapegoats on which to place blame for her internal state, thus giving her power away by perceiving that everything is happening “to” him rather than just happening. Too much time spent in this state leads the hero to become bitter, self-defeating, and cynical.

The healer archetype is synonymous with Sattva Guna, the Sushumna nadi (the central channel, a perfect balance of Ida/Pingala, Sun/Moon, Masculine/Feminine, Parasympathetic/Sympathetic nervous systems, etc.). The healer, embodying this archetype, is fully aware of his internal processes, his own evolution, and is concerned with spreading love, healing, assisting themselves and others to evolve and taking full responsibility for their own power, healing, and emotional state.

The cycle through these 3 archetypes follows a similar trajectory in all the great myths and constantly throughout our lives. First we become inspired by some great ideal or cause, we want to be a vessel for change, we really want to help, so we charge into the world headstrong, taking action and making change. In this process, we necessarily placing great importance on the external world and generally face great resistance in doing so. Eventually, we use up all our energy on this great cause of action, burn out, retreat, recharge, process, and enter into victim archetype- during this process, we realize how much importance we placed on our cause to save the world, and we also see how much suffering we have inflicted upon ourselves and others, simply by our actions carried out in Rajas mode. Usually, as we recover and reflect in Tamas mode, we are able to discover the Healer/Sattva archetype by recognizing both the cause and the remedy for all the suffering we have caused to ourselves and others while constantly vacillating between hero and victim. Eventually, we heal and recover, and then something else happens that stimulates us to action, and we repeat the process.

However, gradually, the more time we spend under the influence of Sattva Guna, cultivating our Sattvic state, our Healer mode, the less time we spend vacillating between the extremes of hero and victim. Our internal pendulum no longer swings so deeply into the extremes of this duality and the suffering begins to alleviate. While swinging back and forth between healer and victim, there is still a sense of duality and disconnection (the hero necessarily perceives an ‘antagonist’ that must be conquered; the victim feels powerless against some external force), whereas the healer is deeply aware of the total interconnectedness and unity of all things and all beings. Fear is the enemy which disconnects, separates, and fragments our awareness into that duality and away from the unity consciousness of the Healer. Love is that which connects.

So, of course, the hero/victim duality is required for living. There will always be external battles for us to fight. The heroine puts herself in danger and exposes herself to ridicule and anger of the world, often sacrificing herself for the greater good. Playing the hero all the time is completely unsustainable- examples in myth and legend abound- to wit, the “great doubt” we see in every hero who ever walked the earth is a result of this. In the Ramayana, at the scene of the last great battle, after Rama had defeated the hordes of grotesque asuras, or demons, and was about to face off with the demon king Ravana, he finds himself injured, exhausted, ready to give up, cursing his fate, on the verge of defeat. The opening scene of the Iliad finds Achilles in the same mode- 10 years into the war, burned out, refusing to fight any longer, disillusioned, hiding away in full on victim mode, with a “the world screwed me, so screw the world” mentality, although he is the greatest warrior in Greece and his army desperately needs him. Same story with Arjuna on the edge of his great battle in the Bhagavad Gita. Bruce Willis’s character at the beginning of Die Hard- cynical, weary, recuperating, blaming the world for all his troubles. In all of these scenarios, at the darkest moment of doubt, a mentor comes along- for Rama, it is the sage Agastya who appears on the scene just in the nick of time, teaches him the Aditya Hridayam-The Heart of the Sun- the most powerful mantra that exists, which immediately restores his Rajas guna, solar/masculine/Ida/Sympathetic nervous system, pulls him immediately out of victim mode, and back into the heroic state so that he can defeat Ravana and save the world. For Achilles, it is Nestor, the blind sage, who wanders in and convinces him to jump back in the fray so the Helen can be saved. Obi Wan and Yoda, guiding a silly, bumbling, inexperienced Skywalker towards his destiny. Krishna revealing his true form to Arjuna at the moment of his deepest doubt and victimhood. In each of these scenarios, the healers, guides, mentors represent the Sattvic state. Agastya, Nestor, Obi-Wan and Yoda, are never themselves the ones fighting, nor are they the victims cursing the world and blaming others for their fate. They are simply there to restore the balance of Rajas/Tamas, playing a middle role so that the protagonist can continue his mission. Ever wise, equanimous, and content, representing the deeper wisdom beyond the ever revolving Rajas/Tamas fluctuation, these Healers have all put in a lifetime fluctuating  between these modes, but through their wisdom practices have come to fully embody the Healer archetype and are no longer subject to the fluctuation.

In my understanding, the practice of Yoga, with a firm understanding of Sankhya philosophy and the three Gunas, is the original metaphor for the journey through these archetypes, and a way to gain greater control over, or at least better understanding of, this eternal fluctuation so that we can see how it affects our psyches. Specifically, in the 5 pranayamas Krishnamacharya passed to BNS Iyengar from the Himalayan sages, Ida = Tamas = left nostril = sympathetic nervous system = moon; Pingala = Rajas = right nostril = parasympathetic nervous system = sun; Shusumna = central channel = perfect sympathetic/parasympathetic balance; perfect sun/moon balance. The practice of pranayama is a very potent metaphor for this fluctuation. Puraka (inhalation ) Rechaka (exhalation) and Kumbakha (retention) correspond to these three states. The 5 specific are pranayamas accompanied with visualisations and mudras for balancing and working within these modes- by working with one channel or the other, depending on which archetype we are inhabiting, we can stimulate the opposite channel, returning to balance, inducing longer periods of kumbhaka in which we inhabit and remain within the Sattvic state for longer periods of time.

‘Nature’ is the manifest world subject to the immutable laws of Rajas/Tamas/Sattva fluctuation. For the universe to even exist, polarity must occur – Duality must be at play in order for any kind of manifestation, and for us to exist in physical form at all, we must agree to play this game of fluctuation. However, through certain specific practices of Yoga and pranayama, we are able to bring greater conscious control over the interplay of Rajas/Tamas within our own consciousness, spending more time under the Sattvic archetype, and learning how to greater witness the nature of that interplay within our own psyches and eventually master it rather than being dragged back and forth by the eternal tug-of-war.

Joey Paz (RYT-500), who will be teaching our Yoga retreat March 3-11, 2019, is a longtime practitioner and devotee of the 8 limbs of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in the lineage of Sri BNS Iyengar. Click here to read his complete bio.

Sankhya Darshana: The Theoretical Foundations of Yoga Philosophy

In the west, we often use the term “yoga philosophy” to describe the essence and meaning of texts such as The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Upanishads, and Bhagavad Gita. In India, there is another word that is more commonly used for philosophical texts, doctrines or theories- the Sanskrit word “Darshan.” At the same time, however, the English word “philosophy,” which comes from the Greek “Philo”- (wisdom) and “Sophia”- (love), is not necessarily the best translation for this word. “Darshan” in Sanskrit, is more accurately described along the lines of “vision” or “to see”- something seen or revealed to the great Rishis of ancient times through deep states of meditation. In Darshan, the Rishis, through the great Vedic scriptures, reveal to us what has been revealed to them, so that we may have the same vision ourselves. But what visions await us? What is it that we are meant to see? The true self. The ultimate goal behind all Darshan is to know, “who am I?” There are two directions one can go in search of the answer to this question- outward, or inward. The former journey finds its expression in physics, biology, the scientific method. The latter method, the inward path, is expressed through Darshan, ultimately leading to the science of Yoga.

The basis of all Indian spiritual thought are the Vedas. The importance of the Vedas, the oldest known extant religious scriptures and the earliest known examples of human literature, cannot be overstated when discussing the origins of yoga philosophy. The textual representation of the Vedas are divided into 4 compilations:

• Rig Veda, concerned with the universal consciousness,

• Yajur Veda, concerned with rituals and karma (actions),

• Sama Veda – concerned with chanting, vibration, and sound,

• Atharva Veda – concerned with formulas, magic spells and occult knowledge such as Yantra, Mantra, and Tantra.

With the Vedic texts as a foundation, there have evolved 9 main Darshans over the last several millennia in India. These 8 darshans are divided into 2 categories: Āstika and Nāstika. Āstika Darshan accept the supreme authority and premise of the Vedas -in western terminologies, orthodox philosophies- while Nāstika (heterodox philosophies) do not accept the Vedas as the source of all knowledge.

The 6 Āstika darshans are:

– Sankhya Darshan, the enumeration school- founded by the sage Kapila, Sankhya Darshan introduces the concept of Purusha and Prakriti and describes the elements of creation – more on this later.

– Yoga Darshan, founded by Patañjali (which assumes the metaphysics of Sankhya), is the first Darshan to give structure and practical steps to the practice of yoga. Its foundational text is the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

– Nyaya Darshan, the school of logic, asserts that there are only 4 sources from which knowledge can be attained: 1. Perception, 2. Comparison, 3. Inference/experience, 4. Words of enlightened beings such as Patanjali, Kapila, etc.

– Vaisheshika Darshan, the atomist school – perhaps the most “scientific” of the Darshans, Vaisheshika asserts that there are only 2 sources of knowledge – perception and inference. Vaisheshika also introduces elements of atomic theory.

– Mimamsa Darshan, the tradition of Vedic exegesis. This Darshan is karma and ritual based.

– Vedanta Darshan, the Upaniṣadic tradition- “The conclusion of the Vedas.” Vedanta Darshan can be either dualistic or non-dualistic (Advaita Vedanta of Shankaracharya is considered non-dualistic Vedanta), and is mainly concerned with the interplay between Brahman (ultimate reality/soul) and Jivatman (Individual reality/soul).

And the 3 main Nāstika darshans are:

– Charvaka, the materialist or skeptic school – “eat, drink, and be merry”

– Jainism, the liberation school

– Buddhism, the school of the 4 Noble Truths and Eightfold Noble Path.

Diving into the depths of these schools of thought would, and indeed has, filled volumes. But since the title and hence the focus of this entry is the Sankhya Darshan, let us now turn to it for further discussion.

The word “Sankhya” is composed of two separate Sanskrit roots: The noun sankhyā, meaning number; based on the root khyā (to “name” or “make known”) with the prefix sam-  meaning “together.”  The system of Sankhya Darshan was first composed in written form by the philosopher Ishvarakrishna, in the 3rd century CE, although many references to Sankhya can be found in earlier texts, such as the Mahabharata, suggesting that Sankhya itself is actually much older than its first written composition, The Sankhya Karika of Ishvarakrishna would suggest.

In brief, this text attempts to enumerate the 25 elements of creation which compose the dual nature of reality. In doing so, Sankhya is the first system to describe two very important terms that can be found in many following systems of Indian thought – these are Purusha and Prakriti. Purusha is pure consciousness, the latent, formless, qualityless, unmanifest spirit that encompasses and pervades everything that exists, while Prakriti describes the manifested elements of creation- matter, in other words. With this concept of Purusha and Prakriti, Sankhya makes its case for the both the evolution and the dual nature of reality.

Prakriti, on its own, cannot evolve. It is stagnant. The force of evolution can only occur when Prakriti is infused with Purusha. This fusion is the source of all growth, movement, and evolution. It is only when Purusha fuses with Prakriti that nature can manifest itself. When this fusion of consciousness/spirit and matter occurs, manifestation of matter and the process of evolution can begin. When the pure consciousness of Purusha manifests itself as Prakriti, it needs some method of perceiving itself. This necessitates the formulation of the Buddhi- individual intelligence or awareness. Out of Buddhi, Ahamkara is formed – the individual, self-identifying ego consciousness that allows us to identify ourselves as existing in the universe as individual beings, as well as maneuver through prakriti.

The ahamkara further divides into the jñanedriyas (the organs of perception- sight, taste, touch, smell, hearing); the karmendriyas (the organs of action- arms, legs, mouth, genitals and anus);  and the Pancha Bhuta- the five gross elements, consisting of space (akasha), air (vayu), fire (agni), water (apa), and earth (pruvthi). The ability to identify and experience these elements requires manas – the analyzing mind commissioned with the task of coordinating the sense impressions.

The entire manifest universe is the result of the ever-changing permutations and combinations of these various principles, through with the Purusha can function as the driver of evolution.

In The Sankhya Karika of Ishvara Krishna with commentary by Radhanath Phukan, published by Ishwar Ashram Trust, Phukan writes in the introduction:

“The method of analysis is the same in the Sankhya as in the modern science. In science also, gross matter is taken up first for analysis which is carried ultimately to such a subtle stage that one may doubt whether the universe is at all real. The Relativity and the Quantum Theories lend support to the conclusion of the Sankhya philosophies and to one who is conversant to these theories, a proper understanding of the Sankhya philosophy would be quite easy.”

Thus, one can say that Sankhya is both macrocosmic and microcosmic in its scope. In breaking down the elements of creation to its most subtle building blocks, it aims to demonstrate that there is no end to the subtlety, and that no matter how closely one looks at physical reality, it is pure spirit or consciousness that can be found as both the basis and the animator of it all. So eventually, when peering into these quantum depths, we arrive at the obvious question: where does yoga come into the picture? What does this system of ancient quantum mechanics have to do with downward facing dog?

It is a common statement in India that Sankhya Darshan and Yoga Darshan are “sister systems” in that Sankhya is the theoretical aspect of Yoga and Yoga is the practical aspect of Sankhya. While Sankhya pinpoints, describes, and breaks down its vision of cosmology and creation, Yoga comes along and tells us exactly what steps we must follow in order to disentangle our ahamkara, or ego, with the prakriti that composes our physical bodies, so that we may identify with purusha, which is our true self. This is where Patanjali comes in with his famous Sutras. Without first understanding Sankhya, it is difficult to truly understand Patanjali’s step by step guide on how to stop fooling ourselves to believe that we are part of what our senses can identify in order to finally see what we truly are – Purusha, soul, pure consciousness.

Now that we have discussed Sankhya, the “theory” of yoga philosophy, in our next entry we will discuss The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali, often referred to as “the bible of yoga”- the practical, step by step system by which we can retrain our minds to identify with that Purusha which gave birth to our individual consciousness.