Category: Blissfull

Altars [EN]

6/15/2020

Where I was born and raised in Portugal the idea of altars was only present in my life in a church in a very conventional way. Setting up a cross, lighting candles and worshiping whatever that is, how ever that meant. And I would more often see it in chapels and churches, cemeteries even, in a very strict, structured and formal way. Almost like you had to have permission to set up an altar in that formal way. And I was raised in this society, although very open to other religions, it was mostly Catholic. I never practiced it. My parents never really did. The reason why they never baptized me was let me choose my belief systems or practice my own beliefs, in the way that I wanted. Later I saw myself seeking truth more than hollow beliefs. That led me to become more aware of life’s mysteries, life’s most obscure and mysterious vibes of nature, and within ourselves holding the power of the mind, or /and under the powers of the mind. In the phenomenons of nature and chemistry there is a lot we don’t know and it is to that unknown that I give the same strength of faith or belief that a god believer would give in his prayer. So it’s in that hole. It’s in that so vast and unknown space within our knowledge that I concede, to myself, that idea of god, as in the root and direction of our belief. So for me that idea of worshiping something that is unknown, is not just for the sake of being unknown. So I realized that everything else under our sense-scope is under our physical perception, but all these things are under the influence of something greater something that we can call the ‘unknown’. Many sciences have labeled, when coming to confront these facts in their research, as space or ether. 99.9% of an atom is space. And from that, we include all our physical life forms under this realization, all is atom based. Properties, elements, compounds, substances, and 99.9% of it is just space. And what are all these substances based on? So that’s where on a rational level I started to embrace the idea of god. Also throughout my readings and studies, I think I came to terms of naming the idea of god, the absolute, the supreme or the supreme-self… Which is great. I think it gives space for acceptance of different form of that which is formless. And slowly, gradually faded into and went through different forms of acknowledgement. I used to think more about it in a meditation. Taking it to the day-to-day life, used to talk to people and try to see what is between us in that space. See what is there beyond the words they speak, and the words I perceive. In an attempt to expand my senses to a broader spectrum.

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निर्वाणषटकम् Nirvana Shatakam - A View On [EN/PT]

4/28/2020

निर्वाणषटकम् Nirvana Shatakam - composed by Sri Adi Shankaracharya

मनोबुद्ध्यहङ्कार चित्तानि नाहं Mano-Buddhy-Ahangkaara Cittaani Naaham
न च श्रोत्रजिह्वे न च घ्राणनेत्रे । Na Ca Shrotra-Jihve Na Ca Ghraanna-Netre |
न च व्योम भूमिर्न तेजो न वायुः Na Ca Vyoma Bhuumir-Na Tejo Na Vaayuh
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥१॥ Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo’ham Shivo’ham ||1

न च प्राणसंज्ञो न वै पञ्चवायुः Na Ca Praanna-Samjnyo Na Vai Pan.ca-Vaayuh
न वा सप्तधातुः न वा पञ्चकोशः । Na Vaa Sapta-Dhaatuh Na Vaa Pan.ca-Koshah |
न वाक्पाणिपादं न चोपस्थपायु Na Vaak-Paanni-Paadam Na Copastha-Paayu
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥२॥ Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo’ham Shivo’ham ||2

न मे द्वेषरागौ न मे लोभमोहौ Na Me Dvessa-Raagau Na Me Lobha-Mohau
मदो नैव मे नैव मात्सर्यभावः । Mado Naiva Me Naiva Maatsarya-Bhaavah |
न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः Na Dharmo Na Ca-Artho Na Kaamo Na Mokssah
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥३॥ Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo’ham Shivo’ham ||3

न पुण्यं न पापं न सौख्यं न दुःखं Na Punnyam Na Paapam Na Saukhyam Na Duhkham
न मन्त्रो न तीर्थं न वेदा न यज्ञाः । Na Mantro Na Tiirtham Na Vedaa Na Yajnyaah |
अहं भोजनं नैव भोज्यं न भोक्ता Aham Bhojanam Naiva Bhojyam Na Bhoktaa
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥४॥ Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo’ham Shivo’ham ||4

न मृत्युर्न शङ्का न मे जातिभेदः Na Mrtyur-Na Shangkaa Na Me Jaati-Bhedah
पिता नैव मे नैव माता न जन्मः । Pitaa Naiva Me Naiva Maataa Na Janmah |
न बन्धुर्न मित्रं गुरुर्नैव शिष्यं Na Bandhurna Mitram Gurur-Na-Iva Shissyam
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥५॥ Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo’ham Shivo’ham ||5

अहं निर्विकल्पो निराकाररूपो Aham Nirvikalpo Niraakaara-Ruupo
विभुत्वाच्च सर्वत्र सर्वेन्द्रियाणाम् । Vibhu-Tvaacca Sarvatra Sarve[a-I]ndriyaannaam |
न चासङ्गतं नैव मुक्तिर्न मेयः Na Caa-Sanggatam Naiva Muktirna Meyah
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥६॥ Cid-Aananda-Ruupah Shivo’ham Shivo’ham ||6

Once back in Mysore for the practice of Ashtanga Yoga in KPJAYI, and most directly for the study of yoga, I was back to enjoying the chanting classes with Laksmish. These classes, as it is traditionally in all teachings on yoga, are of a followed and rhythmic synthesized and condensed flow of information. With time traditionally this information on study is discussed, clarified and explain by the gurus to the shisyas. These chanting classes are based only on hearing the well recited sanskrit verses, by the teacher, and repeating them in our best approach to the correct pronunciation. The students follow the teachers’ indications as he conducts the classes: what parts are to repeat after he chants; what parts are to chant altogether; and what noticeable pronunciation mistakes are there to be corrected. We learn the tempos, Sanskrit pronunciation and the total specific sound of all the mantras that were chosen to be chanted in class by Laksmish. Of what I’ve understood there is a whole field of knowledge on how to recite and chant the mantras, to harness their benefits. In contrary to many students, I find well enough to understand about the complexity that it could be to come to learn it all so perfectly. And for the exact same reason I respect, well enough too, the way yoga teachings, as well are these chanting classes, are traditionally led - in the most synthesized and direct form as possible.

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Altars [EN]

निर्वाणषटकम् Nirvana Shatakam - A View On [EN/PT]