Thought of the Day: Fly.

Meditation Mantra

Photo Credit: Greg Moore

In Thailand, I would listen to this song every morning at 5:00am before my teacher training day began. I was drawn to the song, for whatever reason. It'd calm me, and quiet my thoughts. The beginning line was "Om sri Ganeshaya namah", and without knowning what it meant, I'd repeat it in my head during my morning meditation class to help keep other thoughts at bay.  

Later I found out that Ganesh is the Hindu Lord of Success. He stands for power and victory. He is the remover of obstacles and destroyer of vanity, selfishness and pride. 

Yoga is not part of any religious system, but it hails from India, where Hinduism is the predominant religion, so it's only natural that many mantras or chants would include deities. If this makes you uncomfortable, then obviously don't say it during your meditation. But I think there's something really beautiful about repeating a mantra in your head that asks for success and the removal of obstacles in your life.

You can listen to the song by clicking the link above, or if you'd like to practice now, the pronunciation is: 

aum  shri  guh-nay-sha nah-mah-ha

(Om) (sri) (Ganeshaya)  (namah)

Where Have You Found Complete Peace?

This picture was taken in Chedi Luong in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is a Buddhist temple, and I stumbled upon it after getting lost exploring the town. There were about 20 monks up front, with one monk speaking. The giant room felt warm, safe, and smelled of incense. I sat on the floor, toward the back, snapped this picture, and then soaked it all in. I felt complete stillness and peace. Tell me, have you experienced this profound sense of peace? Where?