The ego, and divine consciousness as told by the Ramayana. (How to work with the ego in manifesting and spirituality)

HANUMAN CHALISA & the ego

“People don’t know,  every line of the Hanuman Chalisa is a mahamantra. “

– Sri Neem Karoli Baba

In the Ramayana, the exiled Lord Rama and his wife, Sita, take refuge in the forest. They are living happily as hermits when the demon king of Lanka, Ravana, discovers them and abducts Sita, beginning a great war.

As with all great parables, the surface level of the story is the children’s version, but hiding underneath there are layers of wisdom and divine bliss to be found….in this story:

Sita represents the mind, or individual consciousness.

Rama represents Ishvara, or universal consciousness. 

Ravana is the ego-mind. 

(And later, Hanuman enters to save the mind…)

The ego;  A demon, with his ten heads and ten arms symbolizing  the senses.

Individual Consciousness and Universal consciousness (Ishvara) should always be united. ( Sita and Rama should always be united), but Ravana, the demon, comes to separate them.  Ravana, the ego,  represents our obstacles to one-pointedness.  

(Patanjali’s list of obstacles (Yoga Sutra 1:30-1:32) includes: carelessness, inability to withdraw from sense cravings, confused understanding, and mental distractions.) 

Ravana represents these obstacles.

indian couple in traditional outfits standing in forest with cow laying on ground
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This is the story:

“The exiled Lord Rama and his wife, Sita, take refuge in the forest. They are living happily as hermits when the demon king of Lanka, Ravana, discovers them and abducts Sita, beginning a great war. 

Aided by a demon disguised as an enchanting golden deer, Ravana lured Rama away from the hut. Suspicious—he knew there were demons in the forest—Rama refused at first to go after the deer. But Sita begged him, “It’s so sweet! You know I never ask for anything, but it would be such a darling pet for me here in exile.” “All right,” said Rama, “but be safe! Don’t cross this threshold until I return.” And he set off uneasily.

As soon as Rama was out of sight, Ravana appeared, standing shyly at the door in the shape of an aged holy beggar. Although Sita had been warned not to step one toe outside the door (which was protected by magical mantras), she was deceived by Ravana’s innocent appearance. She crossed the threshold and fell into his trap.

At first he tried to flatter Sita. He admitted that he was no ascetic, but a king, so smitten by her beauty, that he had resorted to this ruse in order to be near her. He swore his love and offered her a prominent place in his harem. Sita, horrified, rejected his advances. Then Ravana bared his fangs, assumed his own horrific ten-­headed form, seized Sita in his ten arms, and hauled the screaming, struggling queen up into his vimana, his flying chariot, and zoomed away like an evil meteor streaking toward Lanka.

As they flew, Sita cried desperately to the trees, the birds, and the animals: “I am Sita, wife of Rama! Bear witness, brothers and sisters, children of my mother Earth! Tell Rama! Mark my trail!” And, one by one, she flung pieces of her jewelry over the edge of the vimana.”

“The Indian epics refer to these flying machines (vimanas), and unlike the classic horse-­drawn chariots that carried warriors into battle, these multi-storied constructions flew of their own accord, like birds. 

The most famous was the Pushpaka (“flowery”) vimana designed by the divine architect Vishvakarman for the god of wealth, Kubera, but co-opted by Ravana.  Pushpaka is said to have been two stories high, not unlike Lufthansa’s super-modern A380 airbus. Its elegant exterior sheltered spacious, windowed rooms from which the occupants could view the scenery in comfort. It made a musical sound as it passed like a bright cloud through the sky. And its most special feature was this: no matter how many passengers it carried, there was always a vacant seat.”

The Vimana represents the flight our minds and ego’s take when we are seduce by all that glitters…..Not all “dreams: are perfect for us, and the true life path is always clear as long as we stay balanced in our minds, consciousness, mind, and ego.

What happens in the story?

Ravana can’t “get it on” with ShaktI, that is, unless Shakti agrees, which she of course doesn’t. 

There is only ONE MAN for Sita, and it is RAMA. This causes Ravana’s head to explode in a thousand pieces. 

THE EGO can’t GET IT ON.  This means that you will never reach one pointedness, samadhi, enlightenment, BLISS, by letting the EGO  take the lead, or take your individual mind into flights of fancy, or to inflate, (and fly off in a vimana).  If the ego takes the lead, it will take over the individual consciousness, (INTELLECT / MIND /  Nature)  and the ego will grow so large that it forms a giant wall between your mind and your divine consciousness. In a nutshell.

SHAKTI is divine feminine, but she is not “woman” as such. She is in men and women both, she represents  life giving earthly dimensional sensorial existence. Without Shakti, (Sita) we have no life, we are just divine consciousness. 

The western concept of mind is different from the Hindu concept of mind in the following way, and Patanjali gives three functions of the MIND: 

The EGO, Ahamkara, literally means the I-maker. It is not like the ego in the west. The I-maker can be inflated,  sure, just like in the west, but it also means “identification with”. This is a function that the west does not recognize, and the path to enlightenment inevitably leads through a doorway in the mind where the veil of illusion is lifted. This veil can only be lifted if we have understood the concept of the ego as the “I-maker”, the part of mind that says “I am this”.   

Behind the veil, we see, through our third eye, that identifications of the earth plane are false. This aspect is important to understand, because the ego, Ravana, although he does have his place in the forest, can not come into the abode of Lord Rama; One pointedness. Ego has its place in our mind, but it can not enter divine consciousness, it stays behind as we enter samadhi. 

Identification ceases. 

Ravana (ego) exists but there is one palace where he (it) can not go. Ravana is also unable to enter into a willing love with Sita, she is not interested in anything but one pointed consciousness, awareness and Bliss. She got carried away, by a moment of letting the MIND take over. (the three functions of mind are: EGO, MIND, INTELLECT)  

Once again: 

“Sita represents mind, or individual consciousness; Rama represents Ishvara, or universal consciousness; and Ravana represents the obstacles to one pointedness, or the ego; with his ten heads and ten arms symbolizing the claims of the senses. “

Consciousness and Ishvara should always be united. When ego, or desire for sense objects, takes over, the mind gets separated from Ishvara and carried away in a fantasy, symbolized by VIMANA, the flying vehicle. Flying off in vimana means letting your thoughts and ego run rampant. “I will do this, I will have that, I will be rich, successful, envied…” There is always room for one more seat in Pushpaka, (Vimana) just as there is no end to uncontrolled thoughts.  There is ALWAYS just one more useless thought waiting…

Can you recall a time when you were swept off your feet by a person, a train of thought, or a set of circumstances which appeared compelling but proved to be false and dangerous? 

Has a “golden deer” or someone, or something, appeared in your life, too beautiful to be real but too attractive to ignore?  Too enticing. Maybe your gut instinct said no, but it was quickly covered by lust or greed. 

Do you ever catch yourself engaging in addictive thinking or behavior? Of course you do; we all do. 

What helps “bring you back to earth”? Every faith system has their own eightfold path, or ten commandments, put in place, exclusively for this circumstance. We got carried away, right from wrong disappears, and suddenly we FEEL like wrong is right. If you followed the wrong path even once in your life, you know how it might have left a trail of destruction behind. 

These concepts are not speaking judgment into your lifestyle, they are here to protect you from yourself, your own inner demon, an inflated ego.

exotic park with stone monuments in tropical country
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How does the story end, and what is the way out of this conundrum:

Hanuman, the great monkey God of the Ramayana is a symbol of the mind that has become disciplined and filled with devotion. 

Hanuman is the evolved state of our unruly monkey mind that constantly jumps from thought to thought. This mind is fully focused on the presence of the Divine Self, the Lord of Life within the heart.

Sita will never be with anyone but RAMA…However, it is not real Sita that was kidnapped by Ravana the demon, The real Sita has been switched out by a cursed goddess.

SIta is actually in subtle form and this other cursed goddess being, is the one who is actually  kidnapped. 

Meanwhile, Rama is forlorn and broken hearted, he doesn’t know where Sita is.

He meets Hanuman, the great monkey the ambassador of the king of monkeys in the woods. An alliance is made. 

When Hanuman comes to the rescue here in the story, he is representing the value of physical practice (sitting in chant, meditation, yoga practice etc) as a vehicle for “rescuing” the distracted mind and restoring its unity with the spirit. 

The monkeys, led by Hanuman, search for Sita, until only Lanka (land of demons, egoic mind)  remains to look in.

Lord Hanuman jumps over the ocean and finds Sita.

After a fierce battle the negative forces of the ego are destroyed.

(Hanuman is also equal to Prana, the Son of the wind, and this is the life force, the pranic breath, the essential energy in the body.)

This life-force-energy called Prana, flows through 84000 channels or Nadis, without any block, and this free flowing energy is accomplished by by for example:

Chanting  the Hanuman Chalisa.

Chanting changes fate. 

Changes Karma. 

Frees us of our  negative Karma.

.

“The great Indian epics of Gods and demons are in fact the most sublime psychology of the higher Self. With the key to their true meaning these ancient blockbusters will reveal to us the great perennial wisdom taught by the highest sages.” 

– Ram Dass.

Each God in Hinduism represents an aspect of our enlightened mind. 

(Compare this to concepts of God, or the creation of ascended masters etc, this complex and evolved ancient spiritual tradition of Hinduism always hides something deeper, and  even more divine wisdom. The more you learn the more aha  moments you have.)

This is the process of the dynamics of SOUL,  and ego,  the process of DEVOTION and higher intelligence, the development of faith and removal of ignorance.  In this story the aspects have come into form, the form of Gods and demons, and it is taught this way so we can understand ourselves.

This mind represented by HANUMAN, is fully focused on the presence of the Divine Self within the heart. The three minds, EGO, MIND and INTELLECT are under the control of DEVOTION.  The mind can now find Bliss within one-pointedness. 

This is a story of the heart of mankind. The doorway to our soul. The path to experiencing our own divinity.

When Rama asks Hanuman, “How do you look upon me?” the great monkey gives a three-part answer;

  • When I believe I am the body, then I am your faithful servant.
  •  When I know I am the soul, I know myself to be a spark of your eternal Light. 
  • And when I have the vision of truth, you and I, my Lord, are one and the same.

With this answer, he shows us three states that we flow through in our spiritual quest. 

It is not just a one way straight and then we are there, we flow in and out of these states, each state holding but a faint memory of the other two. The latter holds the one-pointedness of conscious awareness and Bliss. You and God are one and the same, in love, in unity, the veil drops, and you see the one consciousness that looks out of every pair of eyes is one and the same. Handyman is the vehicle that we use for the removal of the veil.

  • When I believe I am the body, then I am your faithful servant:

Many times, most often,  we identify with our person, the body – mind – ego and we think we are that. At those times we can realize that we are here to do God’s work, to serve that higher Self in us, and in everything. This is the foundation of Karma Yoga, the yoga of service. The service must be done FOR the divine, (not merely as an ego trap to make ourselves feel high and mighty)…Service for the divine, and the divine only, helps us stay out of this trap.

  • When I know I am the soul, I know myself to be a spark of your eternal Light. 

One level up and we realize we are not as separate from divine intelligence as we thought, that there is a higher knowing and presence working through us. We sense we are not separate from other beings and that our existence is an expression of the indescribable presence of God in us. This is where Bhakti and Raja Yoga open us further.

  • And when I have the vision of truth, you and I, my Lord, are one and the same.

The most dramatic shift in our perception occurs when all veils lift and we have the vision of truth. Then we know that we are all that exists. We are the Source; we are One. Jnana Yoga aims at this direct perception.

What allows Hanuman to have this complete vision, this fullness of knowing oneness?

It is faith.

Hanuman is the manifestation of faith that gives us strength. 

Strength which transforms our minds and memories, and leads us through samadhi to perfect wisdom and one-pointedness.

True faith is not belief, or “a belief system”.  Belief is the same as “not knowing”, and faith is the same as knowing and trusting.  Faith is not what we  have been told in the west, nor is faith equal to  “belief in someone else’s belief, therefore it has nothing to do with the faith of a church doctrine, for example, it is much more real than that. Faith is a personal experience of truth.   Faith  is based on the direct experience of Truth and therefore more solid than a rock. 

Faith is rock-solid knowing.

“For those on the devotional path, faith is born out of love, and love grows our faith. We know we are onto something most real, most important.” 

  • Ram Dass

As our strength grows, it changes our subconscious imprints,  (samskaras), and our “divine center” grows.  Our memory evolves. (Smriti). 

“Realizing the crucial importance of our spiritual practice, our commitment becomes increasingly stable and we approach a state of continuous remembrance of our Source”.

  • Ram Dass 

When we engage in spiritual practice, it does more than just cause a few moments of inner peace, it changes our whole brain and nervous system, it stills useless thoughts and gives us a higher perspective that allows us to let the thoughts pass by without falling for the seeming realness and importance of those thoughts. We are onto them now, and we let them go. 

“Rather than falling for our stressful thoughts, we witness the mind and become less vulnerable to its distractions. Instead, we are able to surrender to the Divine at our core again and again. With that, we come to taste states of meditative absorption in the Divine presence within (samadhi) and our mind becomes settled and unperturbed.

The sage Vyasa tells us that the awareness that we are constantly loved by the Divine, is the greatest force that allows us to surrender spontaneously to the inner Source. We realize what we have been seeking is what we are. The joy of that realization frees us from temptations and distractions and we embrace the fullness of our true nature. Our attachment to a God outside us melts away and, held in the embrace of our spiritual family (Satsang), we discover the true inner presence of guru and Self.

Focused on the Divine presence within we realize we are the giver and receiver of love – the lover and the beloved – in one. This is the blossoming of perfect wisdom (prajna), the clear perception of the enlightened state. We discover we are all that exists. We are one appearing as many and able to give ourselves fully to love because we realize there is no possibility to be hurt in this inner union.

As we are filled from inside, we shed the need for love, for attention and acknowledgment from outside and therefore we are able to share ourselves with great abundance. We have become infinitely rich. Happiness is not something we seek. It is what we are. It is our timeless and indestructible essence.

This inner wealth of love wants to share itself because that is its nature. It is the nature of Hanuman, the faith that moves mountains, that heals and serves God in all things. The mind fully focused on the Divine knows itself and is free of all fear.

with love,”

  • Ram Dass
Hanuman Chalisa 48 times, with Krishna Das

Shri Hanuman Chalisã

Mangala mürati maruta nandana sakala amangala múla nikandana

Son of the Wind, embodiment of blessings and joy, you destroy the root of all that is inauspicious.

Shri guru charan saroja raja 

nija mana mukura sudhari

baranau raghubara bimala jasu

 jo dayaka phala chari

Having polished the mirror of my heart with the dust from my Guru’s lotus feet, 

I sing the pure flame of the best of Raghus, which bestows the four fruits of life.

buddhihina tanu janike 

sumirau pavana kumar

bala buddhi vidya dehu mohi 

harahu kalesha bikar

I know I have no intelligence, I recall the Son of the Wind. Please give me strength, intelligence, and wisdom and remove my suffering and impurities.

sivã vara ramachandra pada iava sharanam

Hail to the refuge of the feet of Sita’s husband, Ramachandra.

1 Jaya hanumana jana guna sagar

 jaya kapisa tihu loka ujagar

Glory to you Hanuman, ocean of wisdom and virtue. 

Hail to the Lord of the Monkeys, the illuminator of the three worlds.

2. Rama dúta atulita bala dhama

añjani putra pavanasuta nama

Ram’s emissary, abode of matchless power, 

Anjani’s son, named Son of the Wind.

3. Mahabira bikrama bajarangi

kumati nivara sumati ke sangi

Great hero, mighty as a thunderbolt 

remover of negative thoughts and companion to thegood.

4. kanchana barana biraia subesa

kanana kundala kunchita kesa

Golden hued and splendidly adorned with heavy earrings and curly locks.

 5. hatha vajra au dhwaja biraje

kandhe munja jane-u  sajai

In your hands shine mace and a banner; 

a sacred thread of munja grass adorns your shoulder.

6. shankara suvana kesari nandana 

teja pratapa  maha  jaga bandana

You are Shiva’s incarnation and Kesari’s son 

Your glory is renowned throughout the world.

7 vidyavana gunati chatura 

râma kaja karibe ko atura

You are the supremely wise, virtuous, and clever. 

You are ever intent on Ram’s work.

8. Prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiyã 

râma lakhana sita mana basiya

You delight in hearing of the Lord’s deeds. 

Ram, Lakshman, and Sita dwell in your heart.

9. Sukshma rupa dhari sivahî dikhava 

bikata rüpa dhari lanka jarava

Assuming a tiny form you appeared to Sita, 

and in an awesome guise you burned Lanka.

10. Bhima rupa dhariasura sanhare

rāmachandraji ke kaia sanvāre

Taking a dreadful form, 

you slaughtered the demons and completed Lord Ram’s mission.

11. Lava sajivana lakhana jivāye

shri raghubir harashi ura laye

Bringing the life-giving sanjivani herb, 

you revived Lakshman, and Shri Ram joyfully embraced you.

12. raghupati kinhi bahuta bara-i

tuma mama priva bharathi sama bha-i

Greatly did the Lord of Raghu’s praise you saying, 

“You are as dear to me as my brother Bharat.”

13. Sahasa badana tumharo jasa gavaï 

asa kahi shripati kantha lagavee

“Thousands of mouths sing your praise,” 

So saying, Sita’s Lord drew you to himself.

14. Sankadika brahmadi munisa

nârada sharada sahita ahisA

Sanak and the sages, gods, Brahma, great saints, 

Narada, Sharada, and king of the serpents,

 15. Yama kubera digapala jahan te 

kabi kobida kahi sake kahan te

Yama, Kubera, and the guardians of the quadrants, 

poets and scholars – none can express your glory.

16. tuma upakara sugrivahi kinha

Rama milaya rajapada dinhA

You rendered great service to Sugriva. 

Introducing him to Lord Rama, you gave him kingship.

17. Tumharo mantra vibhishana manã

Tankeshvara bhaee  saba jaga jana

Vibhishana heeded your counsel 

and became the lord of Lanka as all the world knows.

18. Yuga sahasra yojana para bhanu

lilyo tahi madhura phala janù

Even though the sun is millions of (eons) miles away, 

you swallowed it, thinking it to be a sweet fruit.

19. Prabhu mudrika meli mukha mahin

jaladhi lānghi gaye acharaja nahin

Holding the Lord’s ring in your mouth, 

it is no surprise you leapt over the ocean.

20. Durgama kaja jagata ke jete

sugama anugraha tumhare tete

Every arduous task in this world 

becomes easy by your grace.

21. Rama duare tuma rakhavare 

hota na ajna binu paisare

You are the guardian at the door of Ram’s abode, 

no one enters without your leave.

22. Saba sukha lahai tumhāri sharanã 

tuma rakshaka kahú ko dara nã

Taking refuge in you, one finds complete contentment. 

Those you protect know no fear.

23. Apana teja samharau apai

tind loka hanka te kanpai

You alone can withstand your own splendor. 

The three worlds tremble at your roar.

24. bhüta pisacha nikata nahi avee

mahavira iaba nama sunavai

Ghosts and goblins cannot come near, 

great hero, when your name is uttered.

 25. Nasai roga hare saba pira 

japata nirantara hanumata bira

All disease and pain is eradicated 

by the constant repetition of your name.

26. Sankata se hanumana chhurāvai

mana krama bachana dhyana jo lavai

Hanuman releases from affliction 

those who remember him in thought, word and deed.

27. Saba para rama tapasvi raja

tina ke kaia sakala tuma saia

Ram the renunciate king reigns over all. 

You carry out all his work.

28. Aura manoratha jo ko-i lavai

so-i amita jivana phala pavai

One who brings any yearning to you 

obtains the four fruits of life.

29. Charo yuga paratapa tumhara 

hai parasiddha jagata ujivarã

Your splendor fills the four ages; 

your glory lights up the world.

30. Sādhu santa ke tuma rakhavāre

asura nikandana rama dulare

You are the protector of saints and sages, 

the destroyer of demons, and the darling of Ram.

31. Ashta siddhi nau nidhi ke datã

asa bara dina janinaki mata

You grant the eight powers and the nine treasures 

by the boon you received from Mother Janaki [Sita].

32. Rama rasayana tûmhare pãsã

sada raho raghupati ke dasã

You hold the elixir of Ram’s name 

and are forever his servant.

33. Tumhare bhajana rāmaji ko pavai 

janma janma ke duhkha bisaravai

Singing your praise, 

onefinds Ram and the sorrows of lifetimes are left behind.

34. Anta kala raghubara pura iã-i 

jahān janma hari-bhakta kaha-i

At death one goes ot Ram’s own abode, born as God’s devotee.

 35. Aura devatã chitta na dhara-i 

Hanumata se-i sarva sukha kara-i

There is no need to remember any other deity; 

worshiping Hanuman one gains all happiness.

36. Sankata katai mitai saba pira 

jo sumirai Hanumata bala bira

Al suffering and pain vanish when one remembers the brave Hanuman

37. Jai jai jai hanumana gosã-i

kripa karahu gurudeva ki nã-i

Glory, glory, glory to you Lord Hanuman. 

Bestow your grace on me as my Guru!

38. Jo shata bara pâtha kara ko-i

chhütahi bandi mahā sukha ho-i

Whoever recites this 100 times 

is freed from bondage and enjoys bliss.

39. Jo yaha pare hanumana chalisã

 hoya siddhi säkhi gaurisã

These who read this Hanuman Chalisa 

gains abilities and success, as Gauri’s Lord (Siva) bears witness.

40. Tulasidasa sada hari cherã

kijai natha hrdaya mahã dera

Says Tulsidas, Hari’s constant servant,

 “Lord, please make your home in my heart.”

Pavana tanaya sankata harana mangala mürati rûpa 

râma lakhana sit sahita hrdaya basahu sura bhüpa

Son of the Wind, king of gods, banisher of sorrow and embodiment of blessings, 

dwell in my heart together with Ram, Lakshman, and Sita.

Siya vara râmchandra pada jaya sharanam

Hail to the refuge of the feet of Sita’s husband, Ramachandra.

photo of a marigold flower
Photo by Akash Pawar on Pexels.com

Without translation:

Om Shree Hanumate Namo

Mangala mürati maruta nandana sakala amangala múla nikandana

shri guru charan saroja raja 

nija mana mukura sudhari

baranau raghubara bimala jasu 

jo dayaka phala chari

buddhihina tanu janike

sumiraû pavana kumar

bala buddhi vidyã dehu mohi 

harahu kalesha bikār

sivã vara râmachandra pada java sharanam

1. jaya hanumana jana guna sagar 

jaya kapisa tihù loka ujagar

2. râma dúta atulita bala dhâmã

añjani putra pavanasuta nama

3. mahabira bikram bajarangi

kumati nivara sumati ke sangi

4. kañchana barana biraia subesã

kânana kundala kuñchita kesa

 5. hatha vajra au dhwaja biraje

kāndhe münja jane-ü sajai

6. shankara suvana kesari nandana 

teja pratãpa mahã jaga bandana

7.  vidyavâna gunati chatura 

râma kaja karibe ko atura

8. prabhu charitra sunibe ko rasiyã 

râma lakhana sita mana basiya

9. sükshma rüpa dhari sivahî dikhavā 

bikata rüpa dhari lanka jaravã

10. bhima rüpa dhariasura sanhâre

rāmachandraji ke kaia sanvāre

11. lava sajivana lakhana jivāye

shri raghubira harashi ura laye

12. raghupati kinhi bahuta bara-i

tuma mama priva bharatahi sama bha-i

13. sahasa badana tumharo jasa gavaï 

asa kahi shripati kantha lagavaï

14. sanakādika brahmadi munisa

nârada sharada sahita ahisã

 15. yama kubera digapala jahan te 

kabi kobida kahi sake kahan te

16. tuma upakara sugrivahi kinhã

râma milaya rajapada dinhã

17. tumharo mantra vibhishana manã

Tankeshvara bha-e saba jaga janã

18. yuga sahasra yojana para bhânù

lilyo tahi madhura phala janù

19. prabhu mudrika meli mukha mahin

jaladhi lānghi gaye acharaja nahin

20. durgama kaja jagata ke jete

sugama anugraha tumhare tete

21. râma duare tuma rakhavāre 

hota na ajña binu paisare

22. saba sukha lahai tumhāri sharanã 

tuma rakshaka kahú ko daranã

23. apana teja samharau apai

tino loka hanka te kanpai

24. bhüta pisacha nikata nahi avai 

mahabira iaba nama sunavai

 25. nasai roga hare saba pira 

japata nirantara hanumata birã

26. sankata se hanumâna chhurāvai

mana krama bachana dhyana jo lavai

27. saba para râma tapasvi rajã

tina ke kaia sakala tuma saia

28. aura manoratha jo ko-i lavai

so-i amita jivana phala pavai

29. charo yuga paratapa tumhara

 hai parasiddha jagata ujivarã

30. sādhu santa ke tuma rakhavāre

asura nikandana rama dulare

31. ashta siddhi nau nidhi ke datã

asa bara dina janiki mata

32. râma rasayana tûmhare pãsã

sada raho raghupati ke dasã

33. tumhare bhajana rāmaji ko pavai 

janama janama ke duhkha bisaravai

34. anta kala raghubara pura jã-i 

jahān janma hari-bhakta kaha-i

 35. aura devatã chitta na dhara-i 

hanumata se-i sarva sukha kara-i

36. sankata katai mitai saba pira 

jo sumirai hanumata bala bira

37. jai jai jai hanumana gosã-i

kripa karahu gurudeva ki nã-i

38. jo shata bara pâtha kara ko-i

chhütahi bandi mahā sukha ho-i

39. jo yaha pare hanumana chalisã

 hoya siddhi sakhi gaurisã

40. tulasidasa sada hari cherã

kijai natha hrdaya mahã dera

pavana tanaya sankata harana 

mangala mürati rûpa

râma lakhana sitasahita 

hrdaya basahu sura bhüpa

siya vara râmchandra pada jaya sharanam

pavana tanaya sankata harana mangala mürati rûpa râma lakhana sitasahita hrdaya basahu sura bhüpa

mangala mürati maruta nandana sakala amangala múla nikandana

shri guru charan saroja raja 

nija mana mukura sudhari

baranau raghubara bimala jasu 

jo dayaka phala chari

buddhihina tanu janike

sumiraû pavana kumär

bala buddhi vidyã dehu mohi 

harahu kalesha bikār

manifest magazine

Seed Syllables | Bīja बीज |  种子 | The Origin Of Sound | Total healing and transformation

Seed Syllables | Bīja बीज |  种子 | The Origin Of Sound | Total healing and transformation

“Sanskrit has come out of Kundalini’s movement, when She ( Kundalini) makes a sound, all was recorded by the great saints and like that every chakra has got vowels and consonants according to the number of sub-plexuses they have, or, you can say petals they have, and all of them make the alphabets of Sanskrit language.”

“Kundalini is the Shakti who gives life to the Jiva (Embosied human) . It is she who in the Muladhara Chakra, is the cause of the sweet, indistinct and murmuring Dhvani which is compared to the humming of a black bee.”

(And...just because inevitably. the newbie MANIFESTRS will ask.... "Do I need this to manifest x, y or z???"   The answer is NO!   You don't need anything to manifest another thing.  

No manifestation is dependent on another for its manifestation. 
This information is for higher levels of awareness)

Bīja mantras are used in resonance with the chakras, that align with the spine. Each chakra is associated with its own Bīja mantra:

  • Lam – muladhara (root) chakra
  • Vam – svadisthana (spleen or sacral) chakra
  • Ram – manipura (solar plexus) chakra
  • Yam – anahata (heart) chakra
  • Ham – visuddha (throat) chakra
  • Sham – ajna (third eye) chakra
  • Om – sahasrara (crown) chakra

Og Image

The best known Bīja mantra is Om (or Aum), which is the sound of Brahman, the vibration or primordial sound. The unstruck sound, which is really the sound reverberations heard long after the sound was struck… like ripples on a clam lake after a pebble was tossed in. It is often chanted during yoga practice and meditation. Other common Bīja mantras include:

  • Krim – believed to awaken the lower chakras.
  • Shrim – correlates to the goddess Lakshmi and is thought to promote health, joy and beauty.
  • Hrim – associated with creativity, purification of the heart and healing.
  • Hum – energizes the body and eliminates negativity.
  • Lung – associated with the earth element and is used as a grounding chakra
  • Vang – associated with the water element and is used to ground and increase sensuality
  • Rang – associated with the fire element and is an energizing mantra
  • Phat – The word phaṭ means something like “crack!” is imported from the Vedic tradition. In the Vajrasattva mantra it is added when the mantra is used to subdue demons.
  • Svaha – This is particularly important in Mantra yoga. There are various translations of svaha, but the simplest is that it means “so be it.” 

As a Mantra-Shastra, the Tantras have greatly elaborated the Bijas.

Though a Mantra such as a Bija-mantra may not convey its meaning on its surface, the initiate knows that its meaning is the own form (Svarupa, its TRUE form) of the particular Devata whose Mantra it is, and that the essence of the Bija is that which makes letters sound, and exists in all which we say or hear. 

Every Mantra is thus a particular sound form of the Brahman.

There are a very large number of these short unetymological vocables or Bijas such as above mentioned Hrim, Shrim, Krim, Hum, Hum, Phat called by various names.

Thus the first is called the Maya Bija, the second Lakshmi Bija, the third Kali Bija, the fourth Kurca Bija, the fifth Varma Bija, the sixth Astra Bija. Ram is Agni Bija, Em is Yoni Bija, Klim is Kama Bija, Shrim is Badhu Bija, Aim Sarasvati Bija and so forth. 

Each Devata has His or Her Bija. Thus Hrim is the Maya Bija, Krim the Kali Bija. The Bija is used in the worship of the Devata whose Mantra it is. 

All these Bijas mentioned are in common use. There are a large number of others, some of which are formed with the first letters of the name of the Devata for whom they stand, such as Gam for Ganesha, Dum for Durga.

There are composite consonants such as Śhra, Kla, Tva, etc., which have correspondences with particular chakras or Deities.

The vowels are all associated with the Viśḥuddhī Chakra and give the power, quality or direction (ā is Left Side, ī – Central Channel, etc.) (Ida, Pingala, Shusumna Nadi)

Ida, Pingala, Shusumna Nadi

Mantras are solar (Saura) and masculine, and lunar (Saumya) and feminine, as also neuter.

The two main Nadis, Ida and Pingala, reaching their pinnacle of evolution and contributing to the vital energy.

But what exactly are Ida and Pingala?

Ida – The Left Energy Channel – LUNAR

Ida is located on the left side of the spine (your left). It is associated with the vibration of the moon, which represents the emotional part of a person – the Yin energy.

In the Sanskrit language, Ida means “comfort”.

Regardless of our gender, we all have a female and masculine side.

Each one of those manifests in different situations according to our inner state of mind at a given time.

Ida is the one connected to our female part. It corresponds to the left nostril to the right side of our brain.

This is the more introvert part of our bodies. Ida transports the energy to the nervous system. This process calms the body, mind, and soul.

Pingala – The Right Energy Channel – SOLAR

Pingala is located on the right side of the spine. It represents the masculine, pragmatic part – Yang energy.

In Sanskrit, Pingala means “channel” or “flow”.

It connects to the right nostril and to the left hemisphere of our brain. 

Pingala brings the element of the sun which represents the intellect. It connects to the more extroverted and masculine side.

Pingala controls essential life elements such as vitality and strength.

What Do Ida And Pingala Represent

Even if they are presented as a duality in Hindu tradition, let’s not forget that they are within the same body. Everything is a whole and works together.

For example, a coin has the “heads” printed on one side and “tail” on the other, but it’s one coin. Thus, this creates balance and in the end a whole object. Neither of the pieces can be absent. It is what it is because of the two sides.

The same goes for Ida and Pingala, Yin and Yang, masculine and feminine.

Therefore Ida and Pingala, together with Sushumna, are the most important energy channels that we have.

These three Nadis keep the energy flowing, intersecting themselves at the most important junctions – the chakras. 

The prana (or light) energy flows from the base of the spine all the way up to the crown chakra, exiting as a fountain of light.

They Are Gateways

Ida and Pingala are in strong connection with the chakras. These are gateways that connect the subtle realms with the physical ones. 

Through them, we are able to express inner emotions, thoughts, words, and actions. 

This helps us understand that we are spiritual beings living a physical experience. In the end, this has to lead to spiritual growth and awareness.

Many people live within the vibration of Ida and Pingala and less in Sushumna.

This is reasonably balanced, meaning if the exterior is calm we will also feel calm. But if the exterior changes, we will react to this change. It’s the basic pattern on which they function.

Yet, we can surpass this condition and raise our awareness and consciousness. Through wisdom and understanding, we can expand beyond that and become virtually immune to the outside world.

They simply won’t affect us anymore.

But the energy cannot flow without these two channels being properly cleansed and energized. That’s why there are quite a few Yoga breathing exercises out there.

Call on Hanuman to change your destiny:

ओं ह्रीं श्रीं ह्रीं ह्रौं ह्रैं ह्रः हन-हन, दह- दह, पच-पच, गृहाण-गृहाण,मारय-मारय,मर्दय-मर्दय, महा महा भैरव भैरव रूपेण, धूनय-धूनय, कम्पय कम्पय,विघ्नय-विघ्नय, विश्वेश्वर, शोभय-शोभय,कटु-कटु,मोहय हुं फट् स्वाहा।

“There is a widely diffused lower mind which says, “what I do not understand is absurd”. But this science, whether well-founded or not, is not that.

Those who think so might expect Mantras which are prayers and the meaning of which they understand; for with prayer the whole world is familiar.

But such appreciation itself displays a lack of understanding.

There is nothing necessarily holy or prayerful alone in Mantras as some think.”

Some combinations of letters constitute prayers and are called Mantras, as for instance the “Gayatri Mantra”.

Seed syllables are Consciousness (chit) manifesting as letters and words. 

 “Om” is the most prominent example of a “meaningless” Mantra, that is, one which does not bear its meaning on its face, and of what is called a seed or Bija Mantra, because they are the very quintessence of Mantra, and the seed (Bija) of the fruit which is Siddhi (spiritual achievement). These are properly monosyllabic.

Om is a Vedic Bija, but it is the source of all the other tantric Bijas which represent particular Devata aspects of that which is presented as a whole in 0m.

FREE DOWNLOAD, learn everything about the mystical Sanskrit SEED mantras:

Manifest magazine

Trauma and the nervous system


Trauma and the nervous system

Trauma can change the nervous system so that your ability to create and sustain relationships is altered.

This change can lead to a belief that love and connections aren’t safe, and you may find it hard to trust others, and you may withdraw or avoid people.

However, when love and connection is missing from our life you may carry distress in your nervous system, where survival responses are chronically activated. You can get stuck in anxiety, agitation, or freeze and shut down mode for long periods of time.

We continuously receive messages from our culture, and from social media posts that encourage autonomy and independence, and this can cause shame for a traumatized person, for having a healthy need to connect with others, especially when facing adversities, making them believe that they have to go through hard times alone.

We get hurt alone, but we heal together. It is biologically essential to connect with others and to co-regulate with others through nurturing relationships.

Comments like “you need to be happy on your own first,” are particularly harmful. Loneliness brings pain. Loneliness increases pain and loneliness increases physical illness and psychological pain.. Loneliness increases heart disease, weakens the immune system, and increases the prevalence of depression.

Similarly, messages to “not be needy” causes social disconnection, we are all needy sometimes, and we are all in a position to hold space and to be present for someone who is needy at other times, even if those times last for years, and there is no shame in that, it is human nature. Social disconnection and social exclusion, and cancel culture activates the same pathways as experiencing physical injury. The need for connection does NOT make you needy, it is part of being human, and this connection is even more important in times of stress.

A nurturing relationship is probably the most powerful form of nervous system regulation that there is. Co-regulation is a powerful antidote to distress, and it can shift your nervous system from activation back to “rest and digest”. which is a state of ease and calm.

Being a co-regulator for another person is one of the greatest gifts you can give, having people in your life who help shift your nervous system out of survival mode will improve you mental emotional and physical wellbeing.

What about when you are already in survival mode? You can do things like visit a park, or another place where people are such as a museum or a classical concert, or a yoga or meditation class ( in person) Take a walk where other people are. Take a real time class with other people, even if it is online, but even better, in person. You can reach out to others, call a friend, visit your community center or the library. You can visit someone you trust, or you can work with a therapist.

You have the power to heal your life, and you need to know that. 

Louise Hay

LOA ‘s talking point of “self-concept” is meaningless, until you understand that to hold space for another, a loved one or a partner, until you hold space for yourself. Until you meet your own trauma with gentleness and empathy you will meet the manifestation of another’s trauma with a trigger.

This post is a cross-post from my acupuncture blog:

Physiology, the brain and nervous system after acupuncture:

It has been found in studies that acupuncture may:

  • regulate the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase.
  • heal impaired gastric motility and dysrhythmic slow waves by regulation of vagal nerve activity
  •  regulate the autonomic nervous system by affecting specific activities in the hypothalamus, medulla oblongata, ventrolateral periaqueductal gray and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex of the brain
  •  activate vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGLUT3), a protein that mediates the uptake of glutamate into synaptic vesicles

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Brainspotting or EMDR, SE, Hypnotherapy and NLP?

Brainspotting:

What is Brainspotting?

Brainspotting (BSP) is a talk therapy that reveals a client’s unprocessed traumas through fixed eye positions.

Specific eye positions each link to their own “brainspot,” an area of the mind that retains thoughts and emotions. Clients fixate on troubling brainspots to uncover hidden mental challenges.

BSP therapy is based largely on modified methods from other therapies:

  • Somatic Experiencing (SE)
  • Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
  • Acupuncture (but without needles)

Together, these work to diagnose and treat potential roots of your trauma

Brain Spotting, Neuro Linguistic Programming, Mindfulness and Hypnotherapy

“We are traumatized alone, but we heal together”

Brainspotting locates points in the client’s visual field that help to access unprocessed trauma in the subcortical brain.

“Where you look affects how you feel”.

Brainspttong makes use of this natural phenomenon through its use of relevant eye positions.

This helps the Brainspotting therapist locate, focus, process and release a wide range of emotionally and bodily-based conditions.

Who does Brain Spotting work with?

We believe that BSP taps into and harnesses the body’s natural self-scanning, self-healing ability. When a Brainspot is stimulated, the deep brain appears to reflexively signal the therapist that the source of the problem has been found. BSP can also be used to find and strengthen our natural resources and resilience. BSP is designed as a therapeutic tool that can be integrated into many of the healing modalities.

Brainspotting can unpack deep traumas linked to the root of your depression, anxiety, blocks, or addictions

If you’ve felt at a standstill with your progress in manifesting, or in your emotional healing, brainspotting can dig deeper, and it does this in a way that is not retraumatizing. 

The role of brainspotting is similar to EMDR in mental health therapies, but it is not the same, and it is similar to Somatic Experiencing, but again, it is not the same.

Brainspotting allows clients to guide themselves through their own subconscious.  They choose what issue they’d like to start with.  Then, they explore in and around it with only light guidance by their therapist.  This method uses fixated, steady eye positions.

EMDR, (Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)  also tackles client’s deep traumas.  The therapist over stimulates the client’s senses to reduce the emotional weight of the chosen issue.  EMDR usually uses rapid, repetitive eye motions, whereas the brainspotting techniques keeps the eyes in a fixed and steady position.

Hypnosis, again takes on the deeper traumatic issues stored in a client’s mind, but here, the therapist has a more active role by creating the hypnotic state for the client, and the client has a more passive role.  The therapist tells the client what to focus on, acting as the main direction for sessions.

Difference Between Brainspotting, EMDR, Hypnosis, and SE

Brainspotting, EMDR, SE, and hypnosis cause similar brain states, or brainwave states, in clients, but each method specializes differently for each persons unique needs.

Brainspotting can help you if:

  • Had trouble reaching a significant breakthrough in previous therapies.
  • Are in addiction therapy.
  • Feel intense anxiety, depression, or other emotions that don’t improve.
  • Have relapsed on multiple occasions due to overwhelming situations.
  • Can’t move on from toxic situation

Brainspotting is ideal in trauma therapy treatment when a client needs more freedom to confront their traumas.  You may find that with more control over your own therapy, you’ll have a more meaningful and rewarding experience. Brainspotting is beneficial for clients who have discovered manifesting techniques, such as the Law of Assumption and Neurolinguistic Programming, but has failed to make progress.

The basic process of brainspotting boils down to the following:

  • Revealing repressed traumas via guided brainspot-searching sessions.
  • Physical and mental healing by allowing unprocessed trauma to be released.

Additional methods can also be applied to assist your healing.  You can continue to attend regular therapy sessions, and you can continue any LOA practice that you have.

Format of a brainspotting session:

 Based in psychotherapy, aka talk therapy.  The therapist primes the client to explore their subconscious, then guides them to sift and sort through baggage and guides the client in mending and healing of the specific brainspot

Structure of a session:

Led by the client.  While the client’s vision is directed into a challenging brainspot, they are allowed to fixate and dive into this mental area as much as they choose to.

Length of treatment:

Can range from 2 or 3 sessions to many more.  This depends on the severity of one’s mental trauma. 

Skills Learned in Brainspotting

  • Overcoming fears of vulnerability
  • Overcoming tightness and pain in the body
  • Embracing change to thoughts and feelings
  • Becoming more self-aware
  • increasing self confidence
  • Familiarity with the power of emotional release, without the out-of-control feelings of “purging”
  • Becoming mindful of how you hold stress in your body, and how to instantly release it
brainspotting and fixed eye porition

manifest magazine

One more for the becoming indifferent to CIRCUMSTANCE!

One more for the becoming indifferent to CIRCUMSTANCE!

The number one, biggest obstacle that people believe stands between them and their fulfilled life is still circumstances.

The most asked question is ALWAYS about circumstances, as if one circumstance was different and was the one circumstance that actually mattered.

Your head and your heart needs to be in agreement when you manifest, the feeling of confidence, of KNOWING that this is what you are going for can only come when mind and emotions have agreed. This is why people ask “but should I manifest this sp or the divine selection”

There is no divine selection that someone else can advise you on, there is only you, and the true and genuine connection that your heart has with another soul, and your mind that agrees that this is a good person for you.

There is no outer force that decides for you  what fulfills you. Your heart knows, and your mind agrees that this is good. That is it. If the two are in agreement you become unstoppable.

Circumstances might always show you opposition, but your task is to show the opposition indifference.

You know what you want right?

Now end the arguments in your mind, and tear down the walls around your heart, this is not a time for false modesty.

This is a time to say YES! THIS is me, this is who I am, and THIS is who I am becoming.

Unconditional indifference  to opposition, and unconditional commitment to the person you want to be.

Commit and detach.

  1. Commit to yourself, to who you want to be
  2. Detach from the fear of circumstances.

TRAIN yourself in to serenity and stability, instead of the roller-coaster knee-jerk reactions

This is FAITH IN ACTION, you have to practice this daily. It doesn’t matter how many times you read something if you don’t put it to practice.

  1. You create based on who you want to be
  2. Stay the course no matter how many naysayers there are, their opinion has nothing to do with you
  3. You must want this to the extent that you are willing to forget everything that shows you the opposite.
  4. Reinforce the state of your future self in the NOW, this is the appointed hour
  5. Become this desired you today, buy the pearl.

You don’t ever need to ask anyone if you “can” manifest this or that, ONLY ask your own head and your own heart and make sure the two are in agreement.

close up shot of a woman with big smile

There is no mountain to climb

There is no opposition that is stronger than the divine in you

Show indifference to everything except your future self

Commit wholeheartedly to the you that you want to be

There is NO WAY that THAT what you desire, does not exist, simply because, if you desire it it is because it exists for you. It is universal law, it exists, and it is waiting for you.

So how do you become one with this?

According to the transformation that you make to become the “New Man

That thing that you desire, you desire it because it exists. Because it exists, it is causing you to desire it.

It exists in a state of potential.

This applies to everything that you desire.

Now you have to remove the space between you and that thing.

You have to buy the pearl, and buy into your dream of who you want to be, and NOT buy into the obstacles that suddenly appeared in your path. Those obstacles are not meant for you to cave into, you now must transform into the new you, by being indifferent to circumstances.

Are you manifesting your love? You can’t just show up to the party with a long list of demands, you also have TO BECOME that which you want to be.

Does this person or this SP awaken your fears and your insecurities? Overcome them, and overcome every challenge, transform that negativity, and you will become your long list of demands. We manifest what we are, not what we want.

If you have it to give, that means that you are now what you wanted to become. Give freely.

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