The 7 Systems of Indian Philosophy
- Who am I? From where I came and why have I come? What is my relationship with the manifold universe and other human beings?
- What is the essential nature of my being, and what is the essential nature of the manifested world, and its cause?
- What is the relationship of the centre of consciousness and the objects of the world?
- What is the nature of the forms and names of the objects of the world, and how do they serve the essential nature of man or universal consciousness?
- What are the guidelines for action as long as we live in the natural body? Do we live after death?
- What is truth, and how do we arrive at rational conclusions on questions of truth?
"The physical body is a manifestation of consciousness. It is a crystallization of karmic (behavioural) patterns created by the mind."
~ according to the philosophy of yoga
"Suffering* is not in the actual things or experiences, it is in the way we relate to these things and experiences."
~ Gauttama Buddha
(Suffering* = the tendency of the mind to cling to something which are impermanent, be it objects or forms)
"Breath is central to yoga because it is central to life... and Yoga is about Life." ~ T Krishnamacharya
"Asana as pranic energy: The asana is like a car with Prana as the driving force. The pranic impulse behind the asana is as important as the asana itself.
Asana as thought and intention: Prana manifests when the body is still. Prana follows the energy of attention. The bodily posture is an outcome of that."
~ from David Frawley's Yoga For Your Type
"We are all blessed with the gift of the whole universe. When we stop and really look, we see that we are supported continuously in literally countless ways. We are all connected. This is the highest wisdom of yoga - the truth of interbeing, of no separation."
~ excerpts from Thcih Nhat Hanh, Buddhist monk
"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was 'thank you', that would be suffice." ~ 13 th century mystic Meister Eckhart
"Living in the world without being of it."
"Do less, be more"
"Be present"
"You are not your thoughts" ~ one of my teachers, Matthew Sweeney
"Why not?" ~ my own
"Life is not a time table" ~ my own
"The teacher is the student, the student is the teacher"
Mantras
Ashtanga Yoga Mantram / Invocation to Patanjali
Vande gurunaam Chavanaravinde
Sandarshita svaatma sukhaava bodhe
Nih shreyase jangkalikaayamaane
Samsara halaahala moha shaantyai
Aabaahu purushaakaaram
Shankha chakraasi dhaarinam
Sahasra shirasam shvetam
Prananami Patanjalim
I pray to the lotus feet of the supreme guru
Who teaches the good knowledge, showing the way
To knowing the self-awakening great happiness
Who is the doctor of the jungle, able to remove
The poison of the ignorance of conditioned existence
In his guise as the divine servant,
With 1000 white radiant heads,
Human in form below the shoulders,
Holding the sword of discrimination
And the fire wheel of time
And the conch of divine sound
To the sage Patanjali I prostrate
Ashtanga Mangala Mantra
Svasthi praja bhyah pari pala yantam
Nya yena margena mahi mahishaha
Go brahmanebhyaha shubamastu nityam
Lokaa samastha sukhino bhavanthu
Let prosperity be glorified
Let rulers rule the world with law and justice
Let divinity and erudition be protected
Let people of the world be happy and prosperous/free
Om saha navavatu saha nau bhunaktu
Saha viryam karavavahai
Tejaswi navadhitam astu ma vidvisavahai
Aum shantih shantih shantihi
Students and teachers let's pray together
Let's not resent each other
Let us nourish and help each other
With our combined strength
We shall be liberated and enlightened
Sarvesham svasti bhavatu
Sarvesham shantir bhavatu
Sarvesham purnam bhavatu
Sarvesham mangalam bhavatu
Aum shantih shantih shantih
May all have good fortune
May all attain peace
May all become whole
May all be blessed
Om peace peace peace
Asatoma sadgamaya
Tamasoma jyortir gamaya
Mrutyorma amruthan gamaya
Aum shantih shantih shantih
Lead me to untruth to truth
Lead me from darkness to light
Lead me from weak to immortality
Om peace peace peace
Ong na mo guru deva na mo: I bow to the creative wisdom within myself
Om namah sivaya: salutations to auspiciousness, the transformative aspect of spirit
Om gum ganapatayei namaha: salutations to the remover of obstacles (of happiness)
Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya: O my Lord, the all-pervading Personality of Godhead, I offer my respectful obedience unto You
Hari om: refers to the spirit that removes the obstacles to awakening
Sat nam: truth is my identity
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