Inspired by this mantra:  Om Mani Padme Hum, our host, Chèvrefeuille at Carpe Diem Haiku Kai asks us to write a haiku.

Oh! budding flower

with patience and diligence

graced with beauty

©Tournesol`17/06/05

 

The story Chèvrefeuille shares with us about the hermit reminds me of a personal story:

Years ago I learned this mantra reading Awakening the Buddha Within by Lama Surya Das, I practiced repeating this mantra for several months carrying with me the meaning of each word in a little notebook.  This book allowed me to understand what is meant by “embracing your suffering” and it allowed me to accept and see a purpose to the pain was experiencing at the time…the lessons I was to learn.

I think we all learn differently and in stages unique to our own personal pace and styles. Three years ago I started again on my spiritual journey, first with writing which brought me closer to the Great Spirit and then meeting Amma who has simply opened my heart even more to God. 

I wanted to share a story a friend of mine shared with me.  I had told her that I felt uncomfortable chanting the lovely songs at my first retreat but loved to hum along and she said, she had shared her own concerns about  this years ago with Amma.  Amma told her, that a young child may sing and certainly does not always pronounce the works correctly but his heart is in the chanting and that is what counts.  That encouraged me to continue singing with my heart (the Lord knows I do not have a singing voice) but I continue to chant my personal mantra as well as others that move me.

To read more on this mantra click here at Dharma Haven.