Welcome to The Daily Insight.
My name is Carrie Grossman and I'm so happy to be here to share another mantra practice with you.
If you're unfamiliar with mantras,
Essentially they're sacred sound formulas that can help to awaken the love within us.
Today I'd like to share a beautiful Gurmukhi mantra with you,
Known as Angsang Waheguru.
Gurmukhi is the sacred language of the Sikhs and it is the language of mantra in the Kundalini yoga tradition.
This mantra is one of my most favorites and it always helps me come back to myself when I feel fragmented or out of sync.
Since the meaning of most mantras is beyond conceptual understanding,
It can be tricky to give an exact translation of the words.
But basically,
This chant means,
The loving energy of the infinite vibrates in every cell of my being.
The word Ang means part and Sang means in every.
So Angsang means in every part.
Waheguru is a kind of exclamation.
It's a bit like,
Wow,
Or how wondrous.
When we say Wahe,
We express a sense of awe for the mystery of existence.
After all,
Life is a huge mystery.
It's easy to forget this sometimes when we're lost in the ups and downs of life.
We think we're the general manager of the universe,
We think we're in control,
But in truth there's so much we don't understand.
It's a mystery that our wounds heal and our hearts beat without our conscious effort.
It's a mystery that we can plant a seed in the soil and watch it emerge out of the earth as a rose or an apple or a tree.
It's a mystery that the sun rises and sets every day,
That the seasons turn,
That the moon swells and shrinks.
How do these things happen?
We don't know.
So all we can say is Wahe.
How amazing.
This creation is a wonder.
The final word of the mantra is Guru.
The word Guru is often misunderstood,
And there's a good reason for this.
Many of us have heard stories about so-called Gurus abusing their power and taking advantage of people.
Of course this is a travesty.
But it's not the whole story.
Not all Gurus behave this way,
And it's important not to discard the teaching completely.
Guru actually means remover of darkness.
The Guru may be a teacher,
Someone who helps us awaken.
But the Guru is also a principle.
It's the light that shines through our eyes and the intelligence hidden within creation.
It's the essence of wisdom,
Compassion,
And truth.
While the Guru may take the form of a person,
The true Guru exists within every experience we have.
When we approach life this way,
There's always something to learn.
So Ang Sang Wahe Guru is a way of acknowledging the amazing grace of the infinite,
Which exists in every part of our being.
When we sing the words,
It synchronizes our limited self to the universal self.
In today's age of busyness and speed,
Our energy and attention are often fragmented.
Whether we're scanning our new speed or doing a hundred things at once,
We easily lose our center and forget who we are.
That's why this mantra is important.
It helps us rejoin the separated parts of ourselves and brings us back into wholeness.
It reminds us that no matter what our mind may say,
Love pulses in our every cell.
It's so easy to feel like an isolated island in today's world.
Our virtual connections don't really satisfy us deeply.
So many people feel lonely.
It's become such an epidemic.
We can start to feel like we don't matter,
Like we're not important,
That we're just one of so many people in this universe.
But the truth is,
Each one of us matters and has a purpose on this planet.
That's why my teacher Amma says that even if a tiny screw is missing from an airplane,
It can't fly.
Our existence matters.
Your existence matters.
And you belong here.
Angsang Waheguru reminds us of this truth and helps us remember that we're never alone.
So let's begin the practice.
To begin,
Find a comfortable position and allow yourself to become fully present.
You don't have to strain or struggle to arrive in this moment.
Just be here.
Relax your body.
Soften your face and your shoulders.
And turn your attention within.
As the mantra begins,
You can sing along or just listen to the sounds.
If you like,
You can imagine all of the fragmented parts of yourself coming back and re-centering you in your soul.
Feel the presence of love and joy in every cell.
Use the power of your imagination and know that you're intimately connected to all that is.
At the end of the session,
I recommend sitting in silence for a few minutes and allowing the practice to sink deep into your being.
If possible,
Try to move slowly afterwards and maintain a subtle thread of awareness of Angsang Waheguru.
Remember that no matter how lonely or scattered you may feel,
Beneath the surface waves of the mind,
You are one with the mystery of existence.
The light of awareness,
The Guru,
Is always guiding you from deep within your heart.
Angsang Waheguru,
Angsang Waheguru,
Angsang Waheguru,
Waheguru.
Angsang Waheguru,
Angsang Waheguru,
Angsang Waheguru,
Waheguru.
Angsang Waheguru,
Angsang Waheguru,
Angsang Waheguru,
Waheguru.
Angsang Waheguru,
Angsang Waheguru,
Angsang Waheguru,
Angsang Waheguru,
Guitar playing very slowly and softly.
Angsang Waheguru,
Angsang deleting all torture gently,
Move back,
Moving slowly,
Very very slowly.
Aṃ saṃ vāhe guru,
Aṃ saṃ vāhe guru.
Guru,
Aṃ vāhe guru,
Aṃ vāhe guru.
Guru,
Aṃ vāhe guru,
Aṃ vāhe guru.
Guru,
Aṃ vāhe guru,
Aṃ vāhe guru.
Guru,
Aṃ vāhe guru,
Aṃ vāhe guru.
