TEACHING

The etymology of the words contained within mantras is often interpreted with hagiographical references or sectarian associations. For instance, Madhava, we are told, is a name for Krishna. Well, that it is, but it also means something in itself.

One of the hallmarks of our Yogic Mystery School is the depth we go into concerning the translation of mantras that considers the etymology involved. This method of interpretation is rare and expands our understanding beyond the typical sectarian interpretations we find on the internet.

Apart from linguistic meaning that considers grammar and etymological construction, the more significant contextual meaning connects to universal sensitivities and the perennial philosophy. However, this more extensive meaning can tend toward the fantastical if unmoored to the etymology. In the long run, it diminishes our rationale for meaningfully using and applying that mantra, pun intended.

There is also symbolic meaning and how mantras are understood within their specific sub-traditions. The aggregate of these components provides us with an unparalleled sense of what a mantra means, which in turn offers us direction towards its usage and applications beyond what is typical, that is, sectarian. Each group wants to laud its particular deities as more efficacious than those outside its sphere.

Our Yogic Mystery School integrates our knowledge and application of mantras with a sense of western science, philosophy, psychology, and spirituality. But, again, this approach is not common, certainly not at the level of depth treated in our programs.