"Om Namah Shivaya", the name of the Self
"Oh Sad Guru who resides in us in the form of Knowledge and illuminate every step of our life, how crazy we have been to seek you out of us, knocking door to door and gathering only dust ... You are Consciousness, eternal, beyond space and time ..." (Sadguru Ki Arati)
The Sad Guru, the true master, is the manifestation of Existence-Consciousness, present in each of us. His name is Shiva, which means "auspicious". To recognize in ourselves the constant presence of Shiva, absolute awareness, there is no need to perform rituals or perform formal actions, the self-investigation of our true nature will suffice.
A form of self-inquiry, recognized as valid by all the great masters, is the evocation of one's own primordial nature, the existence-consciousness, through the repetition of the mantra dedicated to Shiva. Om Namah Shivaya is such a mantra, whose meaning is "I honor Shiva who is in me".
The repetition of the mantra is the best way I know to keep the mind at bay, even if it seems that the mind is overwhelmed by thoughts, the repetition of the mantra, even if in the background, is a positive antidote. The repetition of the mantra received by the Master is trust, prayer and adherence to the Self. Concentrating on the mantra, even with effort, is like taking a thorn off using another thorn, the pain of the operation remains but the attempt helps the mind to remain stable in the intended purpose.
It is necessary to know that there are so many propensities accumulated in the mind that they cannot be driven out with a single act of empire ... Indeed the will itself is sometimes an impediment to peace, for this it is necessary to "cling" to the mantra as we would do with a life preserver a stormy sea, with no other reason than to stay afloat. Once you reach the shore the lifebuoy will no longer be necessary ...
Remembering one's true identity, before identifying with the form-name with which we are known and known ouselves, is something that cannot be remembered through deliberate efforts. It is necessary to empty the mind of all conceptualization. As is the case in Zen with the repetition of a koan received from the master, in the same way the repetition of the mantra Om Namah Shivaya helps to bring the mind back to that state of "emptiness" through which awakening to the Self is reached. The Zen's invitation to know one's face before having a face is the same thing as knowing our name before having a name. This is why the mantra has such great strength, when OM NAMAH SHIVAYA is repeated, the most intimate name is evoked, the name of the Self.
Paolo D'Arpini
The Sad Guru, the true master, is the manifestation of Existence-Consciousness, present in each of us. His name is Shiva, which means "auspicious". To recognize in ourselves the constant presence of Shiva, absolute awareness, there is no need to perform rituals or perform formal actions, the self-investigation of our true nature will suffice.
A form of self-inquiry, recognized as valid by all the great masters, is the evocation of one's own primordial nature, the existence-consciousness, through the repetition of the mantra dedicated to Shiva. Om Namah Shivaya is such a mantra, whose meaning is "I honor Shiva who is in me".
The repetition of the mantra is the best way I know to keep the mind at bay, even if it seems that the mind is overwhelmed by thoughts, the repetition of the mantra, even if in the background, is a positive antidote. The repetition of the mantra received by the Master is trust, prayer and adherence to the Self. Concentrating on the mantra, even with effort, is like taking a thorn off using another thorn, the pain of the operation remains but the attempt helps the mind to remain stable in the intended purpose.
It is necessary to know that there are so many propensities accumulated in the mind that they cannot be driven out with a single act of empire ... Indeed the will itself is sometimes an impediment to peace, for this it is necessary to "cling" to the mantra as we would do with a life preserver a stormy sea, with no other reason than to stay afloat. Once you reach the shore the lifebuoy will no longer be necessary ...
Remembering one's true identity, before identifying with the form-name with which we are known and known ouselves, is something that cannot be remembered through deliberate efforts. It is necessary to empty the mind of all conceptualization. As is the case in Zen with the repetition of a koan received from the master, in the same way the repetition of the mantra Om Namah Shivaya helps to bring the mind back to that state of "emptiness" through which awakening to the Self is reached. The Zen's invitation to know one's face before having a face is the same thing as knowing our name before having a name. This is why the mantra has such great strength, when OM NAMAH SHIVAYA is repeated, the most intimate name is evoked, the name of the Self.
Paolo D'Arpini