Day 23: So Hum Mantra Meditation

 


So Hum. I am That...all of Creation, the One breathing us all.

Before the pandemic we went to Garrison Institute in New York for a Path of Devotion chanting retreat with Krishna Das. Ah, the good old days when we could hug, chant and eat together.

For those unfamiliar with KD, he was, and I suppose will always be, a follower of legendary guru Neem Karoli Baba, known to most as Maharaj-ji. There is a really wonderful book called Love Everyone: The Transcendent Wisdom of Neem Karoli Baba Told Through The Stories of Westerners Whose Lives He Transformed. KD gets mentioned along with a slew of other teachers you might recognize. It was fascinating and a great read.

He promised his beloved guru that he would “sing for you in the west”. It took almost 20 years for KD to sing with groups of people around the USA. In Chants of a Life Time, KD writes about his journey over the years. The movie, One Track Heart, will offer you a taste of chanting with Krishna Das. I know we have a lot on our plates with Covid, working from home, and kids being home schooled, but since we aren't going out to do our usual recreational activities, it can be a good time to enrich ourselves by watching or reading something inspirational.

Today's Meditation: So Hum

Yoga Journal describes So Hum this way:

"The yogic mantra "so hum" is not only a reflection of the sound of the breath but also carries a contemplative meaning: "I am that" (so= "I am" and hum= "that"). Here, "that" refers to all of creation, the one breathing us all. This meditation is an opportunity to focus "thinking mind" on the mystery of being."

Close your eyes and for a few minutes observe the inflow and outflow of your breath.

  1. Now take a slow, deep breath through your nose, while thinking or silently repeating the word So.
  2. Then slowly exhale through your nose while silently repeating the word Hum. Continue to allow your breath to flow easily, silently repeating So . . . Hum . . . with each inflow and outflow of the breath.
  3. Whenever your attention drifts to thoughts in your mind, sounds in your environment, or sensations in your body, gently return to your breath, silently repeating So . . . Hum.
  • Continue for as long as you like, complete your 20 minute meditation by sitting in silence.

May we be safe. May we be healthy. May we be loved. Keep going!

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