The (above) picture is of the Tibetan Buddhist Lamayuru monastery at sunrise. The monastery itself was founded by Naropa from the 11th century. Naropa is of the Kagyu ‘school’ (which means oral or whispered tradition) of Tibetan Buddhism, as is His Holiness The Dali Lama. While people all over the world have had “experiences” with off-world visitors or have seen a number of their craft… and while you don’t hear a lot about Tibetan Buddhists “having ET experiences” they are in fact VERY open to the experience, have documented some incredible cases over the centuries, and consider any interaction with other-worldly beings to be very special, almost sacred.
Taking in a deep breath… and exhaling a few times before I am ready to share another experience…… I thought I would share another favorite chant of mine with the community… this place of which that is safe and beautiful and kind and compassionate. May we all feel safe to be ourselves here.
Below the video itself…. are the words of this chant translated from Sanskrit. The brief story that prefaces the translation is the amazing true story of a child (Adi) who at the age of only 8 years old showed such spiritual depth and understanding that I wondered if he too, could be an off-world Soul incarnating on the Earth to help guide humanity…. Deva Premal sings the six stanzas so beautifully. She was a very young child herself when her parents taught her to sing Sanskrit mantras in Germany
The great Adi Shankara (first Shankaracharya) of the eighth century summarized the entirety of Advaita Vedanta (non-dualistic philosophy) in six stanzas. When a young boy of eight, while wandering in the Himalayas, seeking to find his guru, he encountered a sage who asked him, “Who are you?” The boy answered with these stanzas, which are known as “Nirvana Shatakam” or “Atma Shatakam.” “Nirvana” is complete equanimity, peace, tranquility, freedom and joy. “Atma” is the True Self. The sage the boy was talking to was Swami Govindapada Acharya, who was, indeed, the teacher he was looking for.
These few verses can be of tremendous value to progress in contemplation practices that lead to Self-Realization.
1) I am not mind, nor intellect, nor ego,
nor the reflections of inner self (chitta). [more]
I am not the five senses. [more]
I am beyond that.
I am not the ether, nor the earth,
nor the fire, nor the wind (the five elements).
I am indeed,
That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva,
love and pure consciousness.
2) Neither can I be termed as energy (prana),
nor five types of breath (vayus), [more]
nor the seven material essences, [more]
nor the five coverings (pancha-kosha). [more]
Neither am I the five instruments of elimination,
procreation, motion, grasping, or speaking. [more]
I am indeed,
That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva,
love and pure consciousness.
3) I have no hatred or dislike,
nor affiliation or liking,
nor greed,
nor delusion,
nor pride or haughtiness,
nor feelings of envy or jealousy.
I have no duty (dharma),
nor any money,
nor any desire (kama),
nor even liberation (moksha).
I am indeed,
That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva,
love and pure consciousness.
4) I have neither merit (virtue),
nor demerit (vice).
I do not commit sins or good deeds,
nor have happiness or sorrow,
pain or pleasure.
I do not need mantras, holy places,
scriptures (Vedas), rituals or sacrifices (yagnas).
I am none of the triad of
the observer or one who experiences,
the process of observing or experiencing,
or any object being observed or experienced.
I am indeed,
That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva,
love and pure consciousness.
5) I do not have fear of death,
as I do not have death.
I have no separation from my true self,
no doubt about my existence,
nor have I discrimination on the basis of birth.
I have no father or mother,
nor did I have a birth.
I am not the relative,
nor the friend,
nor the guru,
nor the disciple.
I am indeed,
That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva,
love and pure consciousness.
6) I am all pervasive.
I am without any attributes,
and without any form.
I have neither attachment to the world,
nor to liberation (mukti).
I have no wishes for anything
because I am everything,
everywhere,
every time,
always in equilibrium.
I am indeed,
That eternal knowing and bliss, Shiva,
love and pure consciousness.
http://www.swamij.com/shankara-atma-shatakam.htm
Intense beauty and longing to this chant, Nin! Thank you for sharing this with us.