A Tale of How Chanting Reveals the Power of Perception

by Amanda Eriksen, CYT

I was driving home after a busy day at the office. I turned the corner and landed myself behind a particularly slow driver.    The car was driving around ten UNDER the speed limit.  Now I am not one who normally suffers from road rage, but I had a stressful day at the office and was running behind schedule.  I could feel my pulse rising as a desperately searched for an opening in the oncoming traffic large enough for me to pass him – to no avail.   As a dug my fingers into the steering wheel I began thinking about all the things I needed to get done at home and fretting about being late to pick my son up from daycare once again.

Something needed to be done – and quick – my head was about to explode!  So I thought I’d call out to Ganesh to literally remove the obstacle blocking my path.  So I began to chant Om Gam Ganapataye, Ganapataye, Namaha – Over and over.  Suddenly, I was at my son’s daycare.  I had forgotten to watch for a break to pass and had driven ten under the whole way there!  And I felt great!  Calm, happy and relaxed!

As I sat in my parked car I realized this slow driver was not the obstacle, the obstacle was in my perception.  I was so focused on the future that I didn’t realize I had now just gotten 10 extra minutes of “me” time to help transition from “working me” to “mommy me”.

This slow driver was not an obstacle but a pace setter.  I had been caught red handed rushing from one thing to the next my mind going from past to future without even a glance at the present.   This kindly driver was there to remind me to slow down and take a few minutes to myself, to clear my mind and enjoy just being.     I climbed from my car feeling so grateful to that driver – sending him my blessings as he went on his way – spreading his message to all that are open to receive it.

Amanda graduated from the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training hosted by Tone Studio and DevaTree. 

She has been practicing her own yoga for nearly 10 years and hopes to bring a playful energy to her classes.  She welcomes all levels of yogis to come play and be curious with her.

You can chant with Amanda and other Kirtan Yogis on the third Friday of every month at the Tone Kirtan.

Perspective Country Road image courtesy of nuttakit/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net