Sat Nam: The Seed of Truth

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MANTRAS

 

Mantras are sounds that connect us with different levels of

intelligence. SAT NAM is the most basic mantra used in Kundalini

yoga. (pronounced like " but mom " ) SAT means the truth. NAM means

name, identity, to identify with or to call upon. SAT NAM can be

translated as " Truth is God's Name. Truth is my (your, our)

identity. " It is used as a greeting to acknowledge the Truth in each

one of us and as a personal mantra to express or tune into one's

infinite identity.

 

SAT NAM is an invocation of our divine consciousness. Its vibration

links us up to our true identity, which is our divine soul. SAT NAM

is called the seed or " bij " mantra. By chanting this mantra we plant

the seed of universal truth in our consciousness.

 

We all know the axiom " The truth shall set you free. " The question

is how do we link up with the Truth. SAT NAM is one mantra that

links us up with the Truth. SAT NAM has the power to set us free by

waking us up to our infinite identity.

 

SAT NAM has the power to clear the subconscious mind so that old

wounds and programs no longer get in the way of Self-realization. It

does so by changing the projection of our minds. Mantra means the

projection of the mind. " Bij " or seed mantras use universal sound

currents to rearrange the habit patterns of the mind. They do so by

accessing the part of the mind that regulates habits.

 

The sounds erase patterns that vibrate at lower frequencies or do not

resonate with the Truth or our true essence. They establish new

habits by replacing the old frequency with the higher frequency of

the Truth. SAT resonates with universal Truth. NAM " is the

vibration which creates what it names. " *(1)

 

BREATHING -- PRANAYAMA

 

The science of breathing is called pranayama. Pranayama is an

integral part of Kundalini yoga and meditation. In this lesson we

will offer a few basics that will help you begin to be aware of your

breath and to integrate conscious breathing into your daily life and

yogic practice.

 

The breath and the state of the mind are intricately linked. We can

control our minds by controlling our breath. Most of us breathe very

shallow breaths and take from 15 or more breaths per minute.

Breathing more that ten breaths per minute creates a state of stress.

People who suffer from panic attacks not only breathe quickly and

shallowly. They also often breathe through their mouths.

 

To create a state of peace and relaxation we must breathe less than

10 breaths per minute. Breathing four or less breaths per minute

induces a state of meditation. We must also inhale and exhale

through the nose.

 

Whenever you want to calm down, paying attention to your breath is

the first step. Notice if you are inhaling and exhaling through your

mouth or nose. Notice where you are breathing in your body. How far

down do you breathe? Do you breathe in the belly, chest or neck? How

many times do you breathe per minute? Time yourself.

 

Kundalini yoga links the breath with a mantra. The most basic mantra

is SAT NAM. Our goal is to mentally link SAT to every inhale and NAM

to every exhale. In this way the breath and the mantra work together

to calm us down, energize us, purify us and link us up to our true

identity. After practicing the following meditation, you will notice

that it will be easier to automatically link SAT to your inhale and

NAM to your exhale.

 

THE CALL OF THE SOUL -- LONG SAT NAM'S TO NEUTRALIZE TENSION

 

The simplest and most basic meditation in Kundalini yoga is chanting

long SAT NAM's.

 

Sit with a straight spine, either in easy cross-legged easy pose, in

your preferred meditation posture or in a chair with the feet on the

floor, sit bones carrying the weight of the body.

 

Bring the hands to the heart, palms facing the chest, left hand on

top of right. Place the left thumb in the center of the right palm.

The fingers of both hands are together and straight. The hands

gently rest against the chest, arms are relaxed on the body.

 

Eyes are 9/10 closed to begin with. As the meditation progresses,

they may close completely.

 

Inhale with a long deep breath. On the exhale chant out loud

 

SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT

 

At the end of the breath say NAM. Notice that your breath gets

longer and deeper. You may slow your breath down to 2 per minute.

 

SAT is the liberator and the cleanser. Let yourself relax and

release with the AAAAAAA. NAM is like the anchor. Feel the sound

anchor you in your body.

 

Then inhale deeply again and continue.

 

Feel the sound of the AAAAAA come from the heart. Experience your

throat as the mouthpiece of your heart. This practice will help you

locate, consolidate and open up the fourth (heart) and the fifth

(throat) chakras. SAT NAM is the call of the soul. As you chant call

out to your soul, sing to your soul. Singing to your soul creates a

very peaceful feeling. It takes us out of duality for a moment as

our personality and soul merge as one in the sound current of our

infinite being. Feel free to express any emotions that come up. This

is a good way to release and balance the emotions. The emotional

energy will gently merge into soul energy.

 

At the end of the meditation, inhale deeply, hold the breath as long

as you wish. Listen inside and be one with the experience. Do this

3 times. Then sit quietly or lie down and completely relax.

 

Begin with 3 to 5 minutes and build to 11, 15, 22 or 31 minutes.

 

BENEFITS

 

This is a very relaxing meditation. It completely neutralizes

tension and brings you to a very peaceful state. It is good to do if

you feel overwhelmed with your daily activities or have too much

intense energy in your body. Do it for 40 days and you can

revitalize your glandular system and re-establish your glandular

equilibrium. This is a good meditation to do at the end of a busy

day. Do it when you get home after work before dinner and you will

be able to enjoy your evening. Do it before you go to bed and you

will sleep like a baby.

 

SOURCE: Relax and Renew, with the Kundalini Yoga and Meditations of

Yogi Bhajan, by Gururattan Kaur Khalsa and Ann Marie Maxwell, Yoga

Technology Press, page 98. relax.html

 

*(1) Kundalini Yoga: The Flow of Eternal Power, by Shakti Parwha Kaur

Khalsa, Berkeley Publishing Group, p. 105 (available via the

Kundalini Yoga Web site - kundalini yogabooks.html)

 

(Source: kundalini yogaclasses.html )