We'd like to think of ourselves as compassionate, but the reality is that there are times when other emotions take over. Anger, outrage, fear, and other negativities arise in our day-to-day experiences. When that happens, we can create a safe space for ourselves by taking refuge. That means we carve out a mental and spiritual shelter where we can let the storms of our emotions safely pass.
Shri Krishna Sharanam Mama is a mantra that means "I take refuge in Krishna, and Krishna is the perfect representation of love and compassion". When we chant this mantra, we allow ourselves to pause, so that we do not react from a place of negativity. We let the negativities arise and pass, arise and pass, arise and pass, however long the process is, however cyclical the patterns are, until we arrive at that place where we are safe from our anger and we are at peace in our deepest and most innate compassion. In yoga asana, there is a pose called kurmasana or tortoise pose. We can draw inspiration from this animal. A tortoise is someone who carries his or her home within him or her. And that is what we practice too-- to find that home, to create shelter, to be safe within ourselves. While it is valuable to have the support of other people, the sanctuary within ourselves through love and compassion is the greatest tool that we have. And if we find that chanting is not the path to our shelter, we can try other practices like breathing exercises or yoga asana or meditation. We take refuge in love and compassion. No matter how chaotic the world becomes or seemingly out-of-control our emotions feel, we can find shelter, a safe space, a place to come home to again and again.
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