Buddhist Wisdom (Mind)

Do things really exist as we think they do? When we say here is a table, what do we really mean? If we take away the table legs is that still a table? If we take the top off is it still a table? If we take your worries away are you still you?

Buddhist Wisdom (Teaching Tales)

The weight of rain presses down on what is tightly covered, but what is open lets the rain pass through. If we remain open to experience and change, we find ourselves able to deal with life’s different weathers.

More on Mantras...

Mantras are ancient Sanskrit healing words that have a powerful effect on your entire being when chanted repeatedly during meditation or mudra practice. The hard palate in your mouth has fifty-eight energy points that connect to your entire body. Stimulating these points with sound vibrations affects your mental and physical energy. Certain sounds that stimulate these points have a very healing quality. When you repeat aloud or whisper these ancient mantras or scientific healing-sound combinations, the meridians on your hard palate are activated in a specific order that re-patterns the energy of your whole system.

I have also included a pronunciation guide to make it easier with these mantras.

Mantra Pronunciation Guide:

A like the a in about
AA like the a in want
AY like the ay in say
AI like the a in sand
I like the i in bit
U like the u in put
OO like the oo in good
O like the o in no
E like the ay in say
EE like the ee in meet
AAU like the ow in now

SAT rhymes with 'what'
NAM rhymes with 'mom'
WAHE sounds like 'wa-hay'
GU sounds like 'put'
Emphasize the 'ch' at the end of every 'such'
Pronounce the consonant v softly
Roll the r's slightly

When chanting a mantra like "Haree Har Haree Har," make sure you do not move your lips, and pronounce it with the tongue only.

Mantras:

HAR HARE HAREE WAHE GURU
Hah-rah; hah-ray; hah-ree; wa-hay; guh-roo
God/dess Is the Creator of Supreme Power and Wisdom

SA TA NA MA
Suu; tuu; nuu; muu
Infinity, Birth, Death, Rebirth

OM MANI PADME HUM
(Behold the Jewel in the Lotus)
Omm; ma-nay; pod-me; huum
Peace and compassion for all sentient beings

HUMEE HUM, BRAHAM HUM, BRAHAM HUM
Hu-mee; Hum; bra-hom; bra-hom hum
Calling upon your infinite self

I AM THINE WAHE GURU
I am Thine wa-hay; guh-roo
I am thine, divine teacher within

HUMEE HUM BRAHAM
Hu-mee; Hum; bra-hom
Calling on the infinite self

AKAL AKAL SIRI AKAL
A-kal; a-kal; si-ri; a-kal
Timeless is the one who achieves perfection of the spirit

OM NEMAH SHEVIYA
Omm; knee-ma; shi-vaya
I bow to Shiva

AKUPA AHAU (Mayan Mantra)
akupa; a-how
Anticipating the Ancestors

Chakra Mantras

When working with the Chakras, there are various ways of aligning or realigning the chakras. What follows is a chart to do just that...

One must keep in mind when working with the chakras that in order to realign all of the chakras you need to work from the top to the bottom. It is kind of like emptying a laundry basket. You cannot get to the bottom without first removing the "block" on top.
Begin by working with the Crown Chakra and move through all seven.

The Chuchumna or Chakra Tube is in a line from the base of the spine to the crown of the head (though there are other chakras, for now I'll focus on these seven). The word Chakra is a Sanscrit word that translates to "Energy Conducting Wheel" - each chakra turns or rotates the opposite way as the one that follows it, similar to the gears in a watch or clock. When one is blocked, the others become blocked too. In order to realign one, all must be realigned.

CHAKRA ----------PLACEMENT -----ATTRIBUTE ----------ENERGY ----CHANT SOUND

Base Chakra ----- pelvic area ----- Earth Connection ----- I Have ----- Oh (as in rope)

Spleen ------------lower belly ------Physical Body ----------I Feel ------ OO (as in rule)

Solar Plexus -----belly button -----Will / Power -----------I Can --------Ah (as in God)

Heart -------------mid chest ---------Emotion ----------------I Love -------Aye (long A)

Throat ------------throat ------------Communication ---------I Speak -----EE (long E)

3^rd Eye -----------mid forehead -----Insight -----------------I See --------MmmNnn (as it looks)

Crown ------------top of head --------Spirituality -----------I Know -------NgNg (ying, ying)

The use of crystals to align the chakras is a common practice. Below is a short list of some crystals that can be used:

*Some are by color, while others represent the Chakra in their attributes.

Red/Base Chakra/1^st
Red Jasper, Red Tiger's-eye, Hematite, Tiger's-eye, Sugilite

Orange/Spleen Chakra/2^nd
Red Jasper, Bloodstone, Carnelian, Red Jasper, Ruby

Yellow/Solar Plexus/3^rd
Amber, Citrine, Tiger's-eye, Amber

Green w/pink center/Heart Chakra/4^th
Unakite, Green Fluorite, Epidote, Aventurine, Bloodstone, Moss Agate, Galaxtite, Ruby, Sugilite, Chlorite,

Blue/Throat Chakra/5^th
Blue Tiger's-eye, Blue Fluorite, Angelite, Iolite, Lapis Lazuli, Aquamarine,

Indigo/3^rd Eye Chakra/6^th
Amethyst, Sodalite, Lapis Lazuli, Moss Agate, Sugilite

Violet/Crown Chakra/7^th
Amethyst, Clear Quartz, Amber, Chlorite, Amethyst, Botswana Agate

What Is The Aura

The Aura

The Aura or electromagnetic field that surrounds and interpenetrates with the human body is ovoid in shape. The widest part is around the head and the narrowest beneath the feet. It comprises seven layers, each layer slightly larger then it's predecessor.

The seven layers constitute the physical body; the etheric sheath or energy body; the astral sheath or emotional body; the mental body; the higher mental; the casual and the bodyless body.

The bodyless body establishes that Divine part of us which has no beginning and no ending; which through practices such as meditation, enables us to realize and become one with it. From the moment of birth we are subject to conditioning. Through this, we forget our life's purpose. We then become like travelers working our way across a strange country without a map. Apart from conditioning, we are also given free will. This enables us to choose which path we take. Unfortunately, we do not always choose the correct one. How many times can you remember sitting at one of life's crossroads. Intuitively you know which way you should travel but insight reveals it to be a very stony and difficult path, so you take what looks to be the easier way. This may prove to be correct for a time but gradually you will be brought back by your higher self to the path which you intuitively felt to be correct. Our true self knows its chosen way and will, at all costs, continually confront us with it until we find the courage to take it.

The higher mental body could be called the voice of our intuition. If we learn to "tune in" to this part of our self, we are able to receive Divine inspiration. The answers to life's problems will be revealed and we will be taught spiritual truths and cosmic law. The law which creation adheres to and works with.

The mental body is connect with thought. Each thought that we think creates a pattern or form. These accumulate in the mental body and can be projected out into the environment, surrounding us with thought forms which we and other individuals have created.

These thought forms also attract the thought forms surrounding us that are of a similar nature. Therefore, if we think negative thoughts we will attract negative thought forms; likewise, positive thoughts attract positive thought forms. It is therefore important to have a positive outlook on life, especially when working with self-healing.

When working with absent healing, the mental body is part of the aura with which we work. We visualize the person who has requested healing lying in peaceful surroundings. We then create beautiful healing forms and project them to the patient. The greater the control we have over the mental body, the greater the strength of healing. When we have acquired the power of thought, it must only be used for the good of others. Remember the law of karma; what ever good you do be repaid with good; what ever evil, retribution will follow. In other words, "what you send out, returns to you."

The emotional or astral sheath is our "feeling" body. In those people who have not learned to be the master over their emotions, this body is in a state of imbalance. Because it is interspersed with the other layers of the aura and the physical body, these too are affected. It is similar to one of the organs of the physical body being diseased and the rest of the body being affected through trying to compensate for it.

The sheath nearest to the physical body is the etheric. The etheric and physical body are closely interwoven and disintegrate together at death. Every physical particle has its etheric counterpart, which is a perfect replica of the physical form. This is why it is known as the etheric double, and why people who have had a limb amputated can still feel pain or sensation from it - it is still present in it's etheric form. The etheric lays down the basic pattern upon which the physical body is directly related to the tone and quality of the etheric body. Apart from containing the nadis, it contains seven major and twenty-one minor chakras plus numerous acupuncture points. A major chakra is defined by the crossing of twenty-one energy lines, a minor chakra constitutes fourteen energy lines, and an acupuncture point is seven.

The Nadis are the very fine energy channels that are within the same sheath or "Chuchumna" or chakra tube, through which pranic energy flows. This network of infinitely intricate nadis constitutes the counterpart of the entire nervous system which forms an important part of the human mechanism. The number of nadis are numerous. Some ancient documents state there to be 72,000, while others say there are as many as 350,000.

Where did Reiki Come From?

Where did or does Reiki come from?

Dr. Mikao Usui was a master teacher who had studied many faiths. In fact many faiths have tried to claim him. He says that he belongs to all for when you have true enlightenment you are at source where all is one. It is taught that Dr. Usui learned Reiki from Buddhist Monks (some believe that Jesus also learned his healing methods from Buddhist Monks). He defined the practice and gave it a more specific direction as he was directed by his visions or guides, as Reiki opens you to your guides as well. He spent the rest of his life healing and helping people. By the time of his death he had made 16-18 people Masters. One of them Hayashi, attuned Hawayo Takata who was one of the first known women Reiki Masters. Before her death in 1980 she attuned 22 Masters who have helped to spread the teachings of Reiki throughout the world.

Basically Reiki is an energy that is passed or taught much like the game of telephone. That is why from teacher to teacher the methods may vary or different things may be taught. It is very important that you have complete trust in your teacher so that you can be opened to receive the energy freely. You will feel a flowing sensation often combined with a warmth or heat (Mark 16.18) when receiving Reiki.

What are the effects or qualities of Reiki?

It vitalizes your body and soul, balances your body's energy, loosens blocks and promotes total relaxation, cleans out toxins, it adjusts itself to fit the need of the recipient, it is a holistic method that helps the body's natural ability to heal, and it can also be used on plants or animals.

Reiki can also be used to charge or bless your food, or used to clear and charge crystals. (We'll get to this a little later.) Reiki will open you to the love from source and allow you to feel the subtle unity between yourself and the universe.

Reiki can open Karmic processing, sometimes very subtly and other times not so subtle. It releases held emotions and helps you to move forward on your spiritual path.

The Top 10 Things to Know about Reiki

When Jesus healed the sick, he turned to the crowd watching and said..."All these things I do, you can do also...and more." Maybe he was right!

1. We ALL have Reiki energy.
Everyone is a healer. What has happened over lifetimes and eons, is that doubts and "can't be's" have plugged up the channel. The painter who gets drops of inspiration in his mind...this is Reiki energy making its way through this very clogged channel.

2. Reiki is everyone's birthright.
Everyone has the Reiki channel. And touch always heals. Anyone can lay their hands on another person (or animal, or plant) and help heal them by transferring their own Reiki energy. But you're using your personal energy. With the Reiki attunement, the channel is cleared and you now have an inexhaustible supply of healing energy.

3. Reiki is holistic.
Reiki balances the body, mind and spirit. And Reiki is very happy to work with all other energies. It's like jell-o after a meal. It sort of runs down and fills in all the spaces and connects everything.

4. Reiki can correct problems before they manifest.
All of us are surrounded by an electromagnetic field. And it has been proven scientifically, that everything that comes into being physically first forms in the electromagnetic field. So a problem that is getting ready to occur in the physical, has already formed in the electromagnetic field. And Reiki is capable of going into that electromagnetic field and correcting the problem before it has physically manifested.

5. Reiki can have many effects on the body.
Peace and relaxation are the most common things that might be experienced. But Reiki can also balance energy; increase awareness; increase creativity; help to release emotions, energy blocks, stress and toxins; support the body's natural ability to heal itself; vitalize both body and soul; re-establish spiritual equilibrium and mental and emotional balance; loosen up blocked energy; and is an extremely pleasant, non-invasive, and holistic method of healing.

6. Reiki can help in the present, go into the past and into the future.
Some of the most profound healing comes from healing the cause, not the affliction. Reiki can go into the past and heal the CAUSE of the problem. Reiki can also go into the future, to an event that is coming up, and there will be healing power waiting for you as you step into that event.

7. Reiki can be sent over infinite distances instantly.
Next door, across the state, around the world. And it's not like you cut a pie into nine pieces and give each person a piece. Everybody gets the whole pie.

8. Reiki is a thousand-year old tradition.
Reiki is a very ancient science and has been documented in 2500 year-old Sanskrit sutras. Stanford researchers, using highly sensitive instruments which can measure the flow of energy as it enters the body, determined that Reiki energy enters the healer through the top of the head and exits through the hands of the Reiki healer.

9. Reiki is the Japanese word for Universal Life Force Energy.
When you break down the two syllables: "REI" means universal. "KI" is the vital 'life force energy' which flows through all living beings (like the 'chi' in Chinese medicine).

10. Reiki must be experienced to be appreciated.
Reiki is a living, breathing thing. Totally alive. Totally sentient. Reiki is a friend and an ally. If you can't trust anything else in your life, you can trust Reiki. Several months ago there was an article in a national magazine about a teaching hospital in the East that allows Reiki practitioners into the operating room to give Reiki to patients during surgery. All reports were that these patients healed more quickly and spent less post-op time in the hospital than those who did not receive a Reiki treatment during surgery.