Meditation

Ho’oponopono is a powerful indigenous Hawaiian meditation prayer that has risen in popularity across the world. We’ll show you how it works.

The 4-Step Practice of Ho’oponopono

You’ve probably just discovered this ancient practice and are eager to know the meaning.

To keep things simple, you can practice Ho’oponopono in just 4 easy steps:

1. Repentance. Here’s where you’ll say “I’m Sorry.”
2. Forgiveness. Here’s where you’ll say “Please Forgive Me.”
3. Gratitude. Here’s where you’ll say “Thank You.”
4. Love. Here’s where you’ll say “I Love You.”

The pratice is really that simple. There is no need for you to complicate this at all.

How it works is that if you think the right thoughts, then life unfolds as intended. Yes – this is very similar to the Law of Attraction. As you say the words internally, you certainly feel the power in alignment towards the natural order of the world and indeed your own self too. The universe was designed this way.

How to use Ho’oponopono

There are multiple ways to use Ho’oponopono in your day-to-day practice.

You can use this divine prayer to manifest more abundance into your life, heal yourself from past negative experiences and flow love out into the universe. Healing from the troubles of past relationships is the most common reason why people, and in particular, women, use Ho’oponopono. If you have ever felt unloved, then this is for you.

In fact, you don’t ever need to wait for a relationship to end. Use the prayer during the most challenging times of your relationship and feel that healing energy rise up through your 7 chakras. As you heal your soul through internal chanting, you may too heal your relationship.

Using Ho’oponopono to manifest money is rare. This isn’t a prayer specifically for manifesting riches into your life and the Law of Attraction money quotes are better suited. Ho’oponopono is a healing and forgiveness prayer designed to bring you back into divine harmony.

When to use Ho’oponopono

You can use Ho’oponopono at anytime. When you’re feeling lost, confused, unloved, uncherished or simply at times when you’re in a moody state of mind. Find your safe space and practice this chant constantly.

It’s best to use Ho’oponopono when:

• You’re stuck in a bad situation where someone has toxic energy
• You are thinking negative thoughts which aren’t enrinching your life
• You’ve been a witness to a tragic event like the death of a human or animal
• Others have said bad things about your character to knock your confidence
• During bad interactions at your workplace. This can bring you back into alignment.

There isn’t a set time when you should or shouldn’t use this prayer. While it’s most common to use it before bedtime, many people chant Ho’oponopono when shopping, walking down the street, driving to and from work or attending a yoga class.

Don’t wait for the perfect time to start chanting. After all, it’s a silent chant that happens internally and is designed to enrich your soul and cause an awakening.

Why Do We Chant It?

So now that we know how and when to use this divine prayer, let’s examine why this is useful.

The purpose behind Ho’oponopono is to forgive others which are connected to us. We rid ourselves of their toxic energy and are able to move again freely in this world in a place of love, connection and positive light. Often it feels like a renewed connection where harmony is restored between both parties.

In some ways, Ho’oponopono is the perfect way to forgive someone without ever talking to them. We know that such confrontations can be awkward, so yes, you can certainly forgive someone without needing to talk to them.

Ho’oponopono is quite effective at not just forgiveness but also reducing our stress. Often we’ll have an improved mental outlook and harmony in our relationships between others, including those who have caused us no pain.

There is so much to gain and so little to lose. Ho’oponopono is a free prayer that is available to each and every single one of us with several studies showing a greater insight into this divine power.

The Science Behind Ho’oponopono

Dr. Ihaleakala Hew Len is considered by many to be the person who popularized the popular Ho’oponopono mantra. He has written several books on the topic including Zero Limits and Blue Ice.

His story is legendary in that he cured every patient in the criminally-insane ward of a hospital in Hawaii many years ago. Many compare him to Joe Vitale among others.

Psychology Today discusses further the impacts of this prayer and Dr Hew Len’s continuing work.

Going forward

We believe that life is too short to walk around with such heavy baggage. Unfortunately, many people are. Those negative thoughts often spurred on by others causes us to live a life that holds us back.

If there’s one tool available to us that can literally heal such challenges, it’s simply Ho’oponopono. In our experience, the perfect meditation which you can do at anytime…not just in a yoga studio.

Ever wondered what the Baba Nam Kevalam mantra actually means in the world of yoga wisdom? Well, we’ve got the answer right here.

The Sanskrit Mantra “Baba Nam Kevalam” means to chant the name of the beloved. As an alternative meaning, it says that the essence of love is everywhere and is of everything that we see before us, as well as what is internally surrounding us and our conscious lives.

This is a chant which is very popular in kirtan and meditation evenings across the world. You may have heard this being chanted at a yoga studio, a festival or retreat that you attended.

Origins of Baba Nam Kevalam

The Ananda Marga spiritual organization fo India who teach Tantra yoga and meditation believe that it’s effective because there is no reference to any diety. That is to say there are no gods or goddesses referenced.

By chanting the Baba Nam Kevalam mantra, we’re simply able to focus upon the essence of love. The unity of different spiritual traditions has been noted through the simple chanting of this mantra alone.

By chanting this mantra, you’re able to bring forward positive thoughts and energy and most importantly – inner peace. You don’t need to be in a yoga studio with a group of students to experience this and several meditation apps actually include this mantra.

You might even start slowly dancing and singing this mantra, and don’t be embarrassed. This is just such a beautiful mantra to experience and the tempo and volume is completely your choice.

The Sanskrit Meaning of Baba Nam Kevalam

We’re here to give a deeper meaning to the Baba Nam Kevalam mantra.

Sanskrit Name	English Translation	Meaning
Baba	Beloved	Referenced to the beloved by disciples
Name	Name	The names of those referenced
Kevalam	Only	Kevalam means sole in English

Yogis around the world hold the firm belief that the Divine is pure consciousness and love. It’s everything surrounding us and all that ever will be. Through repetition of this beautiful mantra, we’re able to remember where we originated from, focus on the present moment while knowing where we are going.

Essentially – love is surrounding us constantly. Sadly, many people in our world constantly forget this as fear has gripped the souls of many individuals who have contrastingly different human experiences.

In most cases, this is merely the ego. One that lives in fear. Through chanting the Baba Nam Kevalam mantra, we can move towards being more enlightened.

4 benefits of Baba Nam Kevalam

So then, can we really feel the effects of this mantra? Well, certainly we can! It all comes down to consistent practice and may experience bliss during your very first meditation.

You’re likely to feel:

• The purity of the mind. Our constant distractions and notifications can inhibit our mind and distract us from our experiences before our eyes. By drawing our energy inwards and chanting this mantra peacefully, we can refresh ourselves.
• Bathing in love. Being surrounded in the light of this beautiful ancient mantra is something that many yogis enjoy experiencing. This self-love connection is most commonly reported.
• Purification of mind. Those negative thoughts and bad self-talk can damage our sensitive mind. By chanting this mantra regularly, we’re able to get behind the conscious filter.
• Universal connections. Instead of focusing on one god or goddess, we’re able to send love through the whole planet and to all religions and belief systems.

This is often best done with Japa mantra practice or in a group setting.

Getting started

You don’t need to get fancy to recite and chant this mantra, and certainly you don’t need to visit a spiritual retreat centre. You can get started right at home or chant this internally on your way to or from work.

This is one of the many beautiful Sanskrit mantras that are just waiting for you to experience.

Seva is a Sanskrit word often found within yoga verses and you’ll hear it during meditation. Now you’re probably curious towards the definition.

Seva Meaning

You’ve probably seen this mantra chanted or heard it within a spiritual prayer or story.

Seva means selfless service and to be devotional. There are 2 root words behind Seva which are Saha (meaning to be with) and Eva (meaning too) and they, when put together, mean to be connected.

Within the religion of Sikhism, being of selfless service is an important concept. In fact, this is the case with many other Indian religions and the entire yoga community. They are all closely related.

By being in the conscious act of Seva, we can have a collective benefit of gains while having no regard for the outcomes. To say it another way – there is no expectation of reward, whether physical or otherwise, for individuals who practice Seva. It’s simply 100% unconditional giving.

Have you ever felt this way? Many people in the world are feeling this right now. They are, right now, feeling the need to heal the trauma on this planet and this is one very effective means.

We can see young children as the very essence of this term. They come into the world with no filters or baggage. Fortunately, yoga and meditation is becoming very popular in schools to help preserve their very essence.

Persons who perform Seva

The act of being in full unconditional care and compassion towards others and above the needs of self is challenging. Many individuals don’t realize the personal difficulties that are experienced by those who devote their lives to this practice.

We today live in a material world with demands that challenge us. However, the core practice of Seva is more important than ever before, even if the work cannot be conducted in Ashrams which is often the case. You can begin simply at home.

By learning the basics of Seva, we’re able to have with us a powerful tool for the evolution of human conscious connection and devotional servitude. Most importantly – we can rid ourselves of the selfish behaviours that are no longer serving our lives.

Ultimately

By serving others, you are ultimately serving God. That god can be any god. The beautiful thing about Seva is that, while it has its roots in India, it can serve any god of any religion and country.

Going forward, you may heard this in a yoga class or studio and realize that this the word to describe those who are most unconditionally devotional to the greater good of humanity.

Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation is often chanted after yoga classes, but why exactly? This has puzzled many new yogis and we’ll shed some light here.

Sa Ta Na Ma means that we identify the truth of our essence. This mantra which is thousands of years old started in India which was then brought to the western world through Yogi Bhajans.

The Benefits of Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation

You’ve probably heard the sounds and have felt quite uplifted. Here’s why:

We chant Sa Ta Na Ma meditation because its shown based on several university studies that chanting this mantra reduces stress and improves short term memory. This style of meditation is enhanced by sitting with the eyes closed, the thumb and index finger touching the tips (like a mudra) and both hands resting on their respective knees.

Sa Ta Na Ma Meditation is one of the many Kriyas of Kundalini Kirtan. Kirtan Kriyas are Sanskrit and the original language of India. Kirtan essentially translates to “song”, “chant” or praise while Kriya is an action word.

The Kriya Sa Ta Na Ma sounds very similar to Sat Nam, and yes – they are related! Sat Nam is one of the oldest Sanskrit mantras which is akin to returning to our true essence or identity.

These benefits aren’t just baseless either. For instance, the effect of meditation on Cognitive Functions report suggests that this mantra actually leads to a positive bio-chemical transformation in the brain. That report also suggests other types of Kirtan Kriya and transcendental meditation mantras can be very beneficial for users.

The Sa Ta Na Ma chant

Chanting this mantra is often regarded as both romantic and soft, but most importantly – feminine. When you do chant this during yoga kirtan, just remember the tonality and volume of voice. You should have a singing voice, a whispering voice as well as your inner voice.

We’ll expand on each individual word within this Kriya:

Name	Meaning
SA	This means the birth of self and totality
TA	From infinity, we find life and creativity
NA	Here is where consciousness is transformed
MA	Finally, with ‘Ma’ we are able to regenerate and experience the inifinite joys consciously

Often yoga studios do provide workshops to better understand this and many other Sanskrit mantras. There are also no pre-requisites necessary and you don’t need to wear any special clothing or jewellery to experience this beautiful mantra. Covering your head both as a male or female with a white headband, otherwise known as a turban, isn’t required though recommended at established yoga centres, retreats and spiritual events.

Children are also welcome to get involved with this chant as it can reduce their stress from school and challenges they may face socially.

How to Chant Sa Ta Na Ma

Chanting the hugely popular Sa Ta Na Ma mantra is quite simple:

1. Find a cushion and sit comfortably on the floor with no shoes. You may use a chair or bench if sitting on the floor is challenging, especially as this repetitive mantra lasts for between 10 and 15 minutes.
2. Take 3 deep breathes into the nose and out through the mouth. By doing this, you’ll rid your body of the stresses of the day and are able to better focus on this beautiful meditation.
3. Close your eyes with your hands gently resting with the arms facing up. Your index and thumb on each hand should touch at the tips.
4. When you’re ready, you can begin chanting the mantra once on each out-breathe. The in-breathe during Sa Ta Na Ma is for silent chanting or merely reflecting.
5. Focus mentally on the energy coming through the crown chakra and leaving through the brow. Of the 7 chakras in the body, these are the main 2.
6. Transition to a conversational-loud mantra to a whisper or complete audible silence by chanting in the mind. This is typically after 10 minutes though you always have the option of going longer.
7. Finally, release the mantra and rest your hands while stretching and relaxing. From here avoid the temptation to reach for ‘vices’ such as a phone or book and simply relax in the awe where this feeling of floating washes over you.

Going through this rhythm at least once per day is highly recommended. You may feel a little ‘zoned out’ for the first 10 to 15 minutes or as others like to say, feeling bliss!

A cautionary tale

The intention of this mantra is to help clean the subconscious mind. Essentially many of us over the years have collected lots of “rubbish” held deeply in our subconscious mind over the many years of our physical existence.

One challenge or risk for beginners is the negative experiences that can arise from unresolved traumas. For beginners, this can be difficult to handle but we recommend to not avoid the surfacing of these emotions and simply understand that this mantra is designed to heal.

If what you are experiencing does become intense, then consider enrolling into a guided class meditation or a Vipassana weekend away.

Chanting mantras during meditation or yoga savasana is often recommended by yoga practitioners, but why? Let us answer that question for you.

Chanting Mantras During Meditation

We chant mantras during meditation as there is a transformative power that individuals feel physically, mentally and emotionally. It’s something that is felt internally by individuals at varying degrees of intensity. Mantras enhance meditation to provide mental, physical and spiritual healing through repetitive chanting.

While meditating, whether that’s after a yoga session or just generally, many individuals feel the sense of ‘returning home’. That is – back to their core. This meditative state is often hard to remain fixated upon without a mantra with outside distractions such as sounds and light, as well as inner distractions like our mind chatter.

Types of mantras

There are many different mantras that we can chant during meditation. If you’re new, simply opening YouTube and searching for a great mantra is a wise choice.

While there are so many mantras, there are only two core types:

• Spiritual mantras. This is where you’re part of a religious or spiritual movement where mantras have been passed through lineages from teachers, masters and ‘gurus’ upon generations. This is where mantras, commonly Sanskrit, will be learned from others including tonality.
• Secular mantras. We prefer this approach especially for beginners so you’re able to find healing and calmness through mantra meditation WITHOUT being limited through a single belief, idea or status. This is where you can create your own mantras or learn from others freely and without judgement.

Experimenting with both types of mantras will better help you find which type is best suited for you. If you’re heading to Indonesia anytime soon, then consider going to one of the numerous Bali Kirtan bands which frequent the mountains and serve the transient yoga community.

Mantras at the core

Essentially, chanting mantras during meditation is positive energy. By experiencing this positive and inspiring energy, we can better positively influence our conscious mind with thoughts that will help us navigate the challenges of the world. As noted by many in the self-help industry, our thoughts affect our words, our actions and our beliefs.

There are certain benefits that one can experience through reciting and repeating mantras. Research conducted from the EOC Institute highlights reduced stress and releasing endorphins. Indeed, it’s clear why we choose to do savasana at the end of every yoga practice.

Who to learn mantras from

So then, who can you learn mantras from? It really depends on how zen-like you wish to go, as well as your gender and your motivation. Some people want empowering (warrior-like) mantras that can help build energy and momentum. Others simply want to decompress their mind, body and emotional baggage.

Our recommendations are to simply skim through YouTube catalogues and attend local kirtan events. Find others who are in the space of chanting mantras publicly where you can find some great recommendations.

Next steps

Mantras clearly have strength during meditation. They help you not only stay focused but provide positive and uplifting energy that nourishes the soul.

The challenge is finding a mantra that resonates the most with you. The next challenge is reciting the mantra, and as is commonly the case with Sanskrit mantras, often takes a few days, but once you do, you’ll have that mantra for life.

At the end of the day, we’re all looking for more personal power and positivity. Meditation brings that to our life. Add in mantra meditation and you’ve got a winning combination.