Sacredness

This weekend I attended the recitation of a Sanskrit chant which I used to do with a group before the pandemic. It felt so nourishing to be able to do this again. This chant is special because it evokes the feeling of sacredness in me. I practice this chant daily but it has a special power when performed in a group. At the end of the chant I was immersed in the experience of the sacred. I felt so tender and just wanted to stay in that experience.

I was contemplating how I felt as I was going home and realized that this is what many traditions celebrate at the end of the year. The sacred sometimes gets overlooked in the busyness of the year-end celebrations but ultimately it is at the core of them.

So how does one experience sacredness? Take this chant for instance. This is a Sanskrit chant that talks about Divine Consciousness. Its words are very powerful, expansive, uplifting, and beautiful. So directing our focus towards that which we consider highest is very important. In doing so we are immersing ourselves into that which we direct our awareness to.

On the other hand, the Sanskrit language takes a lot of focus to pronounce  in a non-repetitive chant for almost an hour. This willingness to stay focus on the words not only engages your mind but their meaning engages your heart. At the end, one experiences a level of merging with that which the chant talks about. In this space there is only the Divine and you. In this aloneness sacredness blooms. 

As you move through this holiday season, may you find the time and space to direct your awareness towards that which you hold highest in the most powerful, expansive, uplifting, and beautiful way.

Look forward to seeing you in class.

Blessings

Jorge Nihal