posted December 05, 2007 05:28 PM         

When she was young, the rishi Durvasa told her a mantra with which Kunti could summon any deva and have a child by him without a pregnancy. When Kunti asked why he gave her this mantra, he told her that it would be useful to her later in life.

Kunti could not believe the mantra, so she tried to use it. The god Surya, appeared. She asked him to go back, but Surya said he was compelled to fulfill the mantra before returning. Kunti then abandoned the child in a basket in a river. This child was later found and adopted by a chariot driver and his wife, and was named Karna. He went on to become an important character in the Mahabharata. The ambiguous emotions Karna felt about his birth mother play an important role in the Mahabharata.

from wikipedia

posted December 05, 2007 06:42 PM         

venusdeindia- im so glad to know u also have some jain heritage. I thought I will let you know.

OK. i have to share this as I feel I got an omen. We are all hooking up almost daily here at LL isn't it? It proves we are all alive and not dead. Any one will get any vision or feel compelled to say something. It may appear disconnected and illogical. So assume this is one of those moments. Logical people will always argue. They can simply skip this post and stay away.

To ease your karma: imagine a ball of blue light in the center of ur throat and ask for inner guidance to burn all ur bad karmas. There is a mantra in sanskrit also but repeating it without understanding will distract hence its not required to chant that mantra while u do this technique.

posted December 06, 2007 01:01 AM         

mannu
thanx too, f ur insights.
the mahabharata is full of stories like that that raise the bar constantly.
also thanx for that exercise.

everyone else

posted December 15, 2007 10:09 PM         

Take a deep inhalation. The air you breathe contains a secret force. Properly managed and applied, it brings you all the riches of life. The ancients had many names for this force: Holy Spirit, prana, shakti, chi, ki and Kahuna mana. This secret force is a divine healing energy. Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, named this energy the vis medicatrix naturae, the healing force of nature.

Your understanding of this force will help you heal your body, mind and spirit; it is also the key to abundance and the manifestation of all good in your life. The secret of all success in any endeavor is based upon an understanding of personal energy -- how to increase it, apply it and maintain it.

We will use the term prana when referring to this energy. We have chosen this Sanskrit term for several reasons. Sanskrit is a spiritual alphabet. Each letter of every word was designed through the ancient Hindu science of sound to lead the seeker -- through the right repetition -- to the actual spiritual experience each word represented. Each word is far more than just a collection of letters within a language. The letters are the symbols of ideas with tremendous power. The Bible tells us that Creation started with the power of a word. The Hindus teach that within the power of sounds and words, the creation of the world unfolds. This means that through the proper understanding, usage and application of divine words, we can design and greatly enhance the lives we are creating for ourselves.

Most of the sacred Sanskrit words contain a presiding deity or blessed vibration that rewards the devout with grace when the word is reverently approached. Such words are called mantras, and the deity is called the mantra deity. For example, for the mantra, OM Namah Shivaya, which is used throughout India, the deity is Lord Shiva -- the first Guru. For the Hindus, Shiva represents the omnipotence of God that removes from us all that keeps us from knowing our true selves. Thus, it is believed that the repetition of this mantra leads to an unveiling of one's true self. To experience the grace of the deity for any mantra, the yogis recommend the frequent, reverent repetition of the word. The Hindus teach that the mantra deity will reveal itself with sufficient devotion. When you discover the deity, you are then blessed with its power, as long as you hold the mantra sacred and repeat it.

Notice that the mantra prana contains the "RA" letter combination. Ra was the Egyptian Sun God, symbolic of the light and heat of the divine. Prana, as a mantra, contains within itself an honoring of the Great Source -- the Source of all life, of light, heat and energy. The image of the Sun God serves as a symbol to remind us of the one power behind all power. This one power suggests wholeness or unity, and it reminds us that health and well-being come from whole or holy thinking, feeling and doing.

Health also comes from energy. In fact, energy is the essence of health. The more energy you have, the healthier you are. This is why we call prana -- this sacred energy -- the First Medicine. If your prana is low, you will be sick and frail. As a mantra, then, this word deserves some respectful contemplation and consideration.

A technique to build your health
Breathe deeply and hold the breath comfortably; as you exhale, say the word pra-a-a-a-na with reverence one time. Hold the image of a sun -- a radiant, golden orb -- within the center of your chest. See and feel it grow brighter, as you breathe deeply and repeat the word again. Feel the prana.

Next, bring your awareness to the energy field that surrounds you. That energy is prana -- the spiritual substance of your life force. Inhale with the intention that you are absorbing prana. Intention is a mighty catalyst that allows you to begin to absorb this mystical prana.

Repeat the exercise of saying pra-a-a-a-na in conjunction with a deep breath. However, this time breathe with the intention and conviction that you are pulling prana from the air. With each repetition, feel the radiant energy inside your body increase. Feel the energetic brightness that surrounds you intensify.

Lastly, bring the thumb and index finger of each hand together. This position of the hand, called chin mudra, is one of a series of mudras, which are specific hand or finger positions that increase or direct spiritual energy. This particular position stores and amplifies the prana.

Try all the steps you have learned up to this point. Use intention. Coordinate your breath with the power of the word, the visualization of golden light in your chest, and the mudra. Absorb more prana now!

Donald Schnell and Marilyn Diamond

posted December 29, 2007 03:57 PM         

So tell me- anyone- has anyone come up with anything extremely convincing to prove the existence of karma?

Any past life memories?

posted December 30, 2007 09:47 AM         

I named my car Carma. She's got the sweetest soul. She works so hard for me, even when I feel I'm undeserving of her efforts. I don't clean her or wash her, but if there's one thing I do is take care of her parts as best as I know how. I'm no mechanic, but I change her oil, filters, spark plugs/wires, and whatever else I feel comfortable enough doing without putting her in any danger from the lack of my expertise. She's adorable and I will love her to the moment of her evolution and beyond the reaches of starlight.