Adi Mantra: The Password to Humility
Welcome back, fellow seekers! I thought to give y’all the low-down on a phrase we’ll be using in my April classes called Adi Mantra– Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo. Ok, one more time, but more phonetically: Ohng- Nahmoh-Gudu-Dayv-Nahmoh. You got it! BUT, before we use this tool, let's unravel the enigmatic meaning behind these syllables.
First things first, what's the deal with the Adi Mantra? Well, in Sanskrit it looks like this: ॐ नमो गुरु देव् नमो Beautiful, right? And it’s used at the start of Kundalini Yoga classes as a way to open our minds to wisdom. You might almost think of it as a cosmic password—a sacred mantra that opens the door to the divine wisdom within us and invokes the guidance of the Guru, or teacher(s)...a whole line of teachers, in fact, flowing from the past into the present into the future, known as the “Golden Chain.”
But what does it actually mean? Allow me to decode the Sanskrit for you:
- Ong Namo: This phrase means “I bow before the great Consciousness/Creator”, and basically acknowledges the divine creative energy that permeates the universe. It's like saying, "Hey, cosmic energy, I see you, I honor you and I'm ready to vibe with you."
- Guru Dev Namo: Here's where the cosmic superhero, aka the Guru, comes into play. It means “I bow to the Divine Teacher within and all around me.” This phrase pays homage to the divine teacher within and those without—the guiding light(s) on our journey to self-realization.
Now, if you’re anything like me (and the billions of other people on this planet), you might be going “Oh hayle naw, it’s all meeee. All my actions & achievements are miiine”. Fair enough. We all think this at times, and sometimes even say it out loud. [Insert face palm here] But these thoughts come from a funny lil’ part of ourselves that modern psychology calls the Ego, and ancient Yoga calls the Ahamkara- or sense of “I-ness”.
Now you might be wondering, “But what's the Ego got to do with Adi Mantra”? Well, in Yoga, we see the Ego- this “I-ness”- like the annoying roommate in our mind, constantly trying to steal the spotlight and overshadow our divine essence. But fear not, dear seekers, for the Adi Mantra serves as a potent antidote to Ego's shenanigans. By chanting “Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo”, we’re sort of acknowledging that anything we do or achieve is not ours, but comes from the gifts of the Golden Chain of teachers that has come before us…all the way back to the Creator. By using it, we humbly surrender to the wisdom of the universe and invite the Guru(s) to guide us on our path—Ego be darned!
So, the next time that annoying roommate in your head gets too dang loud and you feel the urge to shut.it.down, remember the cosmic power of the Adi Mantra. Channel the wisdom of the ancient sages, the wisdom of the Teachers in your life, and bow to the wisdom within yourself. Let the mantra be like a tool to help guide you on your journey to humble enlightenment.
And join us in class this month to experience it IRL! Class Schedule
Peace, friends! May all your adventures in this life be filled with love, laughter, and a healthy dose of humility.
With a Humble Bow 🙇♀️
Trish