Body and Soul

Spirituality

Years ago, when I lived in Maui, I met a Buddhist. He taught me about meditation, and a 100 syllable mantra. He used to live next door to a monastery. Many evenings we would meet for tea and just sit, listen to, and feel the vibrations from the repetitive chanting that would that would echo  from the building next door. It was an energy that I had not experienced until then. It inspired me to learn the mantra by heart and go visit the big Buddha Statue at The Lahaina Jodo Mission, regularly.

Since then, and still today, I recite this mantra to give me energy, calm my nerves, help me sleep, or just to quiet my mind and keep me focused. 

As a practicing Christian, you may prefer the Lords Prayer and you may not be open to this, but if you are open to it, learning this or any mantra, can help keep you focused and centered. If you’re feeling tired, sit and repeat this for 10 min straight out loud. You’ll feel more awake than a triple-non-fat-no-whip-Starshmuks-cafe latte. If you get nervous before a test or having to speak in public, reciting this over in you head will calm your nerves too.  Here you go…

The One Hundred Syllable Mantra of Vajrasattva

The meaning of the hundred syllable mantra of vajrasattva a prayer which invokes the mindstreams of the Buddhas translated into the Tibetan language.

OM is the supreme praise.

VAJRA SATTVA SA MA YA= The Vajrasattva samayas

MA NU PA LA YA VAJRA SATTVA = Grant your protection Vajrasattva.

TE NO PA TISITTHA DRI DHO ME BHA WA = Remain firm in me.

SU TO KA YO ME BHA WA = Make me totally satisfied.

SU PO KA YO ME BHA WA = Increase the positive within me.

ANU RAKTO ME BHA WA = Be loving towards me.

SARVA SIDDHIM ME PRA YATSA = bestow all the Accomplishments.

SARVA KARMA SU TSA ME = As well as all the Activities.

TSITTAM SHRE YAM KU RU = Make my mind rirtuous!

HUM = Is the heart essence seed syllable.

HA HA HA HA = symbolizes the four Boundless, four Empowerments, four Joys, and the four kayas.

HO = Is the sound of joyous laughter in them.

BHA GA WAN SARVA TA THA GA TA = Bhagawan, All the tathagatas.

VAJRA MA ME MUNTSA = Vajrasttva don’t abandon me.

VAJRI BHA WA = I pray that I may become a Vajra holder.

MA HA SA MA YA SATTVA = Great Samaya Sattva.

AH Signifies uniting in non-duality.

Networking

Your body can stand most anything. It’s your mind you have to convince.

After getting my black belt in Tae Kwon Do, I never thought I would find anything that I could be so passionate about until Capoeira. It’s great because I love martial arts and I love dance, and it fulfills both areas for me. I’m not going to lie, it’s difficult. Sometimes I’m sore for 4 or 5 days, and have bruises from getting kicked by my classmates, but overall it’s worth it because the fun outweighs all of that. I use my mind to overcome being tired before, during and after class as well as the shaking that comes from doing 500 kick for a warmup. I figure I have to work up to a point of not being sore or tired. Will that day ever come?

Most people don’t know that this “dance” – is more a martial art, and was “invented” by the slaves brought to Brazil by the Portuguese. It’s quite impressive to see once you get to a certain level.

I’ve only been at it for a little over a year, and I’m just now starting to get the hang of it. I felt like an uncoordinated monkey at first. I’d never done a cartwheel or handstand before taking this on. Now I can do 10 cartwheels in a row on one side, then turn to the other side and do the same, repeat 8 times, with no problem! Okay, maybe I’m a little dizzy afterward, but the point is, that at 35, I feel incredibly strong to be able to do this. 

Capoeira was a type of African fight brought to Brazil by the slaves. This clip has a sound along with it because the “Berimbau”, a musical instrument that is played while the movements are performed and actually gives it its rhythm, has a fantastic swing that makes us want to move along. This practice was forbidden for many years for it was considered ” subversive”.


Maybe Capoeira isn’t for you. If not; I encourage you to find some activity you’re passionate about. If you love dance or martial arts however, give it a try! You may love it as much as I do.