One-Heart

Before I had even heard about the tragic events in Las Vegas this past week, I had planned to talk about the mantra - Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu as a theme for the upcoming weeks' classes. This Sanskrit mantra is often translated as "May all beings be happy and free" and further to that, "may the merits of my own life and practice contribute to this happiness". So when we step into our own practice and begin to awaken to the energy of our truest selves, it not only benefits us individually but collectively. Just as a stone dropped into a still pond sends out ripples, we have the capacity to raise a collective intention based around happiness and freedom.

Andye Murphy wrote in an article for Gaia, "Recognizing we are all one, we can move into sincerer compassion for ourselves and those around us. According to Insight State, "we cannot achieve true happiness if we cause unhappiness to other living beings, nor can we be free if we deprive others of their freedom." The mantra moves us into the one-heart.

Ironically, this past week on 60-Minutes they were reporting on the refurbishment of the Hubble Telescope and how its aim is to now look so deep into space that they are looking for the origins of the universe and hence, when it began.  The NASA scientist being interviewed was talking about the formation of stars and planets and basically said that our existence is based on the connection that we are all stardust. Yep...top NASA scientist stating that we have all come from the same source. So when we create suffering by focusing on what divides us, this humble reminder begs to differ. We are all connected. The one-heart.

When tragedy strikes, and it seems to be doing so ever more frequently, how do we manage those feelings of grief, anger, and helplessness? Now, more than ever, we need to step fully into the light of our own inner strength and affirm that the direction we want is one of love, hope, tolerance, and compassion. The practice of beginning with our own suffering, offering ourselves loving kindness is vital. When we sense our knees buckling under the heaviness of our times, instead of pointing fingers and looking outside ourselves, we offer ourselves kindness. As we dig into that intention with an authentic dedication, affirming repeatedly that what we wish for ourselves, we wish for all beings everywhere. To be safe. To be free. To be happy. To live with peace and ease.

Sanskrit mantras are old, especially if you recognize that Sanskrit was one of the originating languages on earth and is now "dead". The words of the mantra, Lokah Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu, have been repeated for millennia, billions of times by billions of people. Each and every time those words are spoken, it's as though the intention for happiness and freedom are once again thrown into a universal prayer.  We have been gifted these mantras and they come fully loaded with energy, having been passed through the generations. In my own personal practice, if I repeat the phrase 108 times for 21-days, do the math-that's a strong setting of intention. And if I share that with others in my community and they do the same thing, the energy exponentially expands with the intention of raising the collective affirmation of wanting happiness and freedom for all beings.

Some say there's a tipping point, that if the collective energy grows stronger, we will begin to exit these dark ages (the Kali Yuga). I know that when I feel the deep despair of such tragedy in our world, I trust what I have been taught---to offer myself compassion. To continually build that well and fill it up so it spills out of me as naturally as an exhaling breath. I am reminded to stay focused on building a conscious and compassionate community. And I am reminded that we are all in this life together, coming together in the one-heart.