Chinese Sanskrit Tamil Tibetan Universal SYMBOLS AND TRANSLATIONS "Words are the voice of the heart, calligraphy is the painting of the heart" Master Yang The written Chinese language is essentially a picture language, which in time became stylized. Characters are used as a metaphor. Through a combination of images any number of ideas can be evoked. The ancients penned characters as a means of spiritual elevation, for it was considered possible to express the essential. Dragon The dragon is a symbol of power, strength, and creativity. It takes careful nurturing to awaken it and bring it to full flowering. Eventually, however, its power wanes. For nothing is forever, and all things run their cycle, only to begin anew. A group of Dragons is seen without heads. Good omen The Dragon is flying in the sky. Auspicious to see the great personage. The Dragon is sometimes leaping in the pool. Safe and sound. Benevolence Pronounced 'JEN,' this combines the picture for 'human being' with the pair of horizontal strokes that denotes 'two.' The essential kindness that one person shows to another. Clarity Pronounced 'CH'ING,' means 'clear, lucid and pure.' The character is composed of two elements, 'water' and the 'color of nature.' When water has clarity, you see in it the color that nature gave it. Courage Pronounced 'YING,' is a 'person' with arms spread wide to signify 'an adult' standing alone in a 'wide open space' thick with 'grass'--a wilderness signifies 'courage,' for he does not fear this place where wild animals roam. Destiny Pronounced 'MING.' In Chinese thought "destiny" refers not so much to a predetermined path in life, as to the fact of death, which is the destiny of all life and the law of nature. It starts with a character meaning, "to agree" then "to close" and also "time" or "duration." Several ideas here are at play. Our destiny, or allotted time is sealed; and when the door closes on life it is by mandate of heaven. Eternity Pronounced 'YUNG,' is formed around the image of running water with two strokes denoting 'foam' and 'ripples.' Path of the Heart Virtue. Follow the path of the true heart. Essential virtue-an inborn quality, and the true, original nature of humankind. The infant still retains this virtuous inner self, as does the person who has never left its path. Peace Pronounced 'P'ING,' is a picture of a 'bamboo stem' balanced on each side by a single tongue of 'fire.' The principle of balance between opposing forces. Revelation Pronounced 'SHIH,' is a stylized form of an ancient pictogram that showed three vertical lines of power, or a light, emanating from the two horizontal strokes that represent 'heaven.' Reverence Pronounced 'CH'UNG,' the character for 'ancestor' is placed below three peaks of a 'mountain,' reminding us to revere those who came before. Spirit Pronounced 'SHEN,' means 'to divine' and 'sign.' Symbolizing the part of our soul which enters at birth and ascends at death. Love In the center is the heart pictogram. Above and below 'heart' are the characters for 'breath' and 'graceful movement.' Love, therefore, can be seen as a kind of inspiration. It breathes life into the heart, and brings grace to the body. 'In the Midst,' is a picture of an arrow piercing a target through its center. 'Faith ties the heart' 'Beloved' 'Bone & Spirit' body & soul. 'Balance' 'Good fortune. No troubles.' 'Good Omen' 'Perseverance' 'Everlasting well- being' 'In the Midst', is a picture of an arrow piercing a target through its center. Bells In the Chinese tradition bells were tied around the wrists and ankles of infants to protect them from evil spirits. Red Thread was also propitious and said to insure long life. Sanskrit is a highly organized language, with a complex grammar. It has been spoken longer than any other known language. It was handed down by word of mouth until 300 B.C. when it became a written language. The word Sanskrit itself means 'perfect,' 'perfected,' 'literary,' and 'polished.' Mantra Mystic Formula Virtually all religions-including Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity- practice their own forms of mantra repetition. A mantra is a sound, syllable, word or phrase endowed with special power, usually drawn from scripture. 'Aum' or 'Om' Literally means "yes, verily." Aum, often spelled Om, is the "breath of life". The most sacred mantra of Hinduism is placed at the beginnings of most sacred writings. Aum represents the Divine and is explained in the Upanishads as standing for the whole world and its parts, including past, present and future. It is from this primal vibration that all manifestation issues forth. Aum's three letters represent the three worlds and the powers of creation, preservation and destruction. Namah Sivaya 'Adoration (homage) to Siva' The supreme mantra of Saivism, the oldest of the 4 sects of Hinduism. Namah Sivaya is also known as the 'Panchakshara' or "five syllables.' Na - Lord's veiling grace (destruction or dissolution) Ma - the world (His concealing grace) Si - Siva (creation) Va - His revealing grace (revealing grace) Ya - the soul (preservation and protection) Siva The supreme mantra of Saivism, the oldest 'Auspicious,' 'Gracious' or 'Kindly One.' God Siva is 'All and in all,' simultaneously creator and creation, both immanent and transcendent. As personal Deity, He is creator, preserver and destroyer. In his hands He holds a crescent moon symbolizing birth, a skull and a small beating drum to keep out the knowledge of eternity (time). In another hand, a flame that burns away the veil of time and opens our mind to eternity. He is the very personification of cosmic consciousness. The three eyes of Siva represent the sun, the moon, and the fire, the three sources of light, life and heat. The third eye can also indicate the eye of knowledge and wisdom and hence his omniscience. Ahimsa 'Noninjury' or 'nonviolence' Refraining from causing harm to others, physically, mentally or emotionally. Ahimsa is the first and most important of the yamas (restraints). It is the cardinal virtue upon which all others depend. The Mind is Mantra - Cittam Mantrah 'Commentary on the Siva Sutra 2.1 by Swami Muktananda' In this aphorism Parasiva gives us the secret of mantra: the mind of the aspirant who practices mantra is itself the mantra. By means of the mind we become aware of the supreme truth. It is with this mind that we repeat mantras, we contemplate their meaning, we come to know their essence and their goal. As Here, So Elsewhere - Yatha Tatra Tatha'Nayatra 'Commentary on the Siva Sutra 3.14 by Swami Muktananda' A Siddha, having attained supreme freedom, lives wholly in the Self. He beholds the same light within and without, permeating his gross and subtle bodies: the light of his soul spreads through the whole universe. He discovers that all countries, all external worlds, all realms, and if fact the entire cosmos possess the same reality that is within him. HERE is the body, PRANA, senses, and mind. ELSEWHERE is the outer universe. All things and all beings embody the same impalpable essence. To regard everything as one's own Self - this is perfect self-control and perfect freedom from desire. The Lotus Flower - Padma The Lotus Flower is the symbol of spiritual development. It is the symbol of the manifestation of beauty and mental purity (the ability to rise above) - for although it has its roots in the mud of ponds and lakes, it raises its flower in immaculate beauty above the surface of the water. Sarva Brahma God is All in all Fearlessness 'Abhaya' Peace 'Santi' or 'shanti' Patience 'Kshama' Faith 'Astikya' Wisdom 'Veda' Merciful Compassion 'Krapalu' Showing or giving mercy. Devotion 'Bhakti' Auspicious 'Shub' Success, prosperous, favorable. Mandala The Sanskrit word for 'circle'-a circle that is symbolically designed so that it contains the meaning of a cosmic order Wisdom; Knowledge 'Jnana' Jnana is the awakened, superconscious state working within the ordinary experience of the world. The Chakras The Chakras are invisible energy centers of the body interfacing between the physical and the subtle worlds. Chakras are centers of consciousness. They are positioned along the spinal cord from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Muladhara Chakra (Base) Center of survival and groundedness, the densets form of primal energy and the foundation of all human knowledge, located below the genitals. Color: red. Swadhisthana Chakra (Sacral) Center of communication and sensitivity, it is the source of all emotional needs and the ability to respond to them, located above the genitals. Color: orange.