Tuesday, February 18, 2025
Via REDDIT // Engaged Buddhism is just Buddhism. - TNH
“Engaged Buddhism is just Buddhism. When bombs begin to fall on people, you cannot stay in the meditation hall all of the time. Meditation is about the awareness of what is going on— not only in your body and in your feelings, but all around you.” -Thich Nhat Hahn
A Reddit commentator said:
This quote reminds me of Jack Kornfield talking about his experiences practicing with Ajahn Chah. Here's a story (from my memory) he shares in his podcast Heart of Wisdom:
During the Vietnam war, a group of peacekeeping missionaries (Christian iirc) were passing through Chah's monastery. They had been actively engaged in trying to resolve the conflict so they had seen their share of human suffering and were more than a little burnt out. Chah invited them to stay at the monastery and rest for a while. During their stay, they couldn't help but notice all the people going about their practice as if nothing were going on in the outside world. Bombers would be flying overhead while groups sat on their butts meditating. So, the peacekeepers approached Chah and said, "how can you all sit here and do nothing? There's a war out there, we have to do something!" Chah said, "I can't answer this right now. Stay a few more days and I'll reply."
So a few days passed, and Kornfield tells how they saw that it was
the sort of place where people lived in harmony with each other. If you
needed help with a task, people would offer their assistance. If you
lost a wedding ring, someone would place it by the well in hopes you
would spot it and no one would snatch it for their own gain. So time
came when Chah replied to the peacekeepers something like, "See how the
human heart's at war with itself and the country falls to chaos. This
place is a living library of what's possible." And Kornfield commented
how the peacekeepers realized that in war, everything's at risk of being
lost, including the human heart. So the practice kept alive this truth
that there's a better way.
Via Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation //
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Via Dhamma Wheel | Right Intention: Cultivating Lovingkindness
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Via Daily Dharma: Precepts for Protection
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Monday, February 17, 2025
Via Quora // Om Namo Narayanaya
The mantra ‘Om Namo Narayanaya’ invokes Narayana, the supreme Lord of protection, and bows to him with all reverence. While it simply means ‘I bow to Lord Narayana
- This Lord Vishnu mantra for wealth also brings in the peace, happiness & good health to the members of the family.
- It helps you to experience eternal peace, divinity, and consciousness.
- Chanting the above mantra with the help of rosary beads is much effective in eliminating negative emotions, anger, ego & ignorance.
- Creates harmony, love, tranquility and clears obstacles.
- This ‘mantra of peace’ helps attain self-realization & burns Karma.
- Removes evil spirits and creates powerful positive vibrations.
- Strengthens the inner core & builds self-confidence showing the right path to success.
- The ultimate benefit of chanting this mantra is the attainment of liberation manifesting Shravan Bhakti.
What is the meaning of the “Om Namo Narayana” mantra? What are the benefits of chanting it?
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“Om Namo Narayana” is a Vedic mantra of Shriman Narayana. It is a Taraka Mantra. It has the power to liberate you from the cycle of birth and death. If chanted with diligence and if your Karma is right, it has the power to give you supreme Moksha in Vaikunth Dhama itself. It is a highly Active Mantra which creates an instant connection between yourself and your Antaryami, the soul of all souls Narayana himself.
Narayana Upanishad
Om ithyagre vyaahareth nama ithi paschath. Narayanasa ethyuparishath. Om ithyekaksharam. Nama ithi dhwe akshare. Narayanayethi Panchaksharani. Ethadwai Narayanasyashtaksharam padam. Yoha vai Narayanasya ashtaksharam pada madhyethi. AAnapabroova sarva mayurethi. Vindathe Prajapathyam rayasposham gowpathyam thatho amruthathwamasruthe thatho amrutha masnutha ithi. Ethath Sama Veda siro adithe. 3
Tell “Om “ first and then tell “Nama” After this tell “Narayana”. There is one letter in “Om”. There are two letters in “Nama”. There are five letters in “Narayana.” Together is formed the eight lettered “Om Namo Narayana”. He, who tells these eight letters, attains full life without any blemish. He would attain salvation after becoming the lord of the people and be blessed with lots of wealth, lots of cows and all other forms of wealth. Thus is read the Upanishads of Sama Veda.
Tarasara Upanishad
- Then Bharadvaja asked Yajnavalkya: “What is Taraka ? What is that which causes one to cross (this mundane existence)”. To which Yajnavalkya replied: “Om Namo Narayanaya is the Taraka. It should be worshipped as Chidatma. Om is a single syllable and of the nature of Atman. Namah is of two syllables and is of the nature of Prakriti (matter). Narayanaya is of five syllables and is of the nature of Parabrahman. He who knows this becomes immortal. Through ‘Om’, is Brahma produced; through ‘Na’ is Vishnu produced; through ‘Ma’ is Rudra produced; through ‘Na’ is Ishvara produced; through ‘Ra’ is the Anda-Virat (or Virat of the universe) produced; through ‘Ya’ is Purusha produced; through ‘Na’ is Bhagavan (Lord) produced; and through ‘Ya’ is Paramatman produced. This Ashtakshara (eight syllables) of Narayana is the supreme and the highest Purusha. Thus is the Rig-Veda with the first foot (or half).
Now it is a Vedic Mantra and a Taraka Mantra, which makes it extremely potent. If one just wants to worships Narayana in a Nishkama way then uttering it without Upadesha is fine. However if one wants extreme amount of spiritual growth then Guru Upadesha is important. Vedanta Desika clearly says this about the Taraka Mantra of Narayana.
tāram pūrvaṃ tadanuhṛdayaṃ tacca nārāyaṇāyeti
āmnāyoktam padamavayatāṃ sārtham-ācārya-dattam
Om Namo Narayana🙏🏼🦚🕉️
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