Prayers for Re-Awakening Minds
V :: Gregg Braden :: The Wisdom Codes
As we continued with the books that explored the genre of Science-meets-Spirituality, the natural progression was to arrive at Gregg Braden’s writings. My uncle has been following his works for at least a decade prior to falling ill, but I enjoyed reading The Wisdom Codes: Ancient Words to Rewire Our Brains and Heal Our Hearts to him because he had yet to read this, and also it was more Spiritual than Science, which was more my cuppa tea. This book is a collection of prayers, mantras, chants, and hymns that span a wide range of cultures, all designed to bring reassurance, protection, and healing. The premise here is that conscious choices of words and word patterns help us to think and feel differently, eventually affecting the way we perceive reality."
"Through consciously applying the word codes of the past to the challenges we face in the moment, we benefit from the wisdom of ancient sages, healers, mystics, and prophets. In doing so, we’re no longer victims. We are no longer defined by our circumstances but become masters of our destiny.
And this is the power of the wisdom codes. In their presence, we are changed. When we speak the words, either out loud or silently to ourselves, something shifts within us. And that "something" is where the power of words, chemistry, and neurons converge in a beautiful way. We associate the words of the codes with the meaning we give to the words. This association directs our brain cells (neurons) to connect in a precise way that harmonises our biology with the energy of our emotions. Chemically, we are no longer the same person we were only moments or hours before. And it is that difference that opens the door to new ways of thinking, feeling, and acting when it comes to our losses, fears and betrayals."
The collection spanned excerpts from both Eastern and Western traditions, from the Gospel of the Essenes and Thomas, to Navajo and Egyptian prayers, to the words of the Upanishad and Buddha. I found this easier to read than books like Tibetan Book of the Dead. It was a straightforward read that explained the ‘magic" of each source, and it was a quick mantra or supplication that I could quickly put into practice with repetitive reading or chanting. It gave me something to focus on, true to its promise of helping us self-regulate during these difficult times. The odd thing was, that instead of bringing more hope of recovery, I found most of these prayers more useful in helping me, the caregiver, come to terms with the impermanence of life and begin to start releasing my expectations, and to begin to soften into a surrender to the Unfolding.
Eventually this led me back to mantra chanting, and I remembered doing 108 rounds of chanting before bedtime over a rosemary tincture that I would make and reiki and infuse with the frequencies of the chanting, and bringing the tincture to the hospital to spray around my uncle to help him wake up from the coma and "return" to us. Again, while we did not experience what might look like a "miracle" healing, my uncle is alive today, after 3 massive surgeries, so maybe miracles just don’t look like the way we expect them to.
The book contains 15 mantras, 2 invocations, and 2 parables, across 5 chapters, namely Protection, Loss, Love, Fear, and Strength. I thought I’d share my favourite 3:
WISDOM CODE 2
Namo Buddhaya; Namo Dharmaya; Namo Sanghaya.
In the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, I take refuge until I attain enlightenment.
USE: Protection. This code addresses the need for personal protection at a spiritual level for a specific period.
SOURCE: Abbreviated form of the traditional Tibetan Buddhist Prayer of Refuge.
The simplicity of this code brought immense comfort. It was easy to memorise and put into 108 rounds of rhythmic chanting. I envisioned the patient and his close circle of family in white light and chanted the prayer like mala beads cast as a sacred circle, surrounding everyone in it, gently cradling all with a light of protection.
WISDOM CODE 4
Aum Bhur Bhuvah Swaha; Tat Savitur Varenyam;
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi; Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat!
Brahma, the manifestation of spiritual energy, destroyer of sufferings, embodiment of happiness, bright like sun, destroyer of sins, divine, intellect who may inspire!
USE: This mantra, which is known as the Gayatri Mantra, addresses personal protection as well as the need to clear personal obstacles.
SOURCE: The Rig Veda, mandala (book) 3, hymn 62, verse 10
If you enjoy chanting mantras, Deva Premal and Miten have two beautiful renditions of this that I’ve been using since before the Pandemic. The longer arrangement for the Seven Chakras is wonderful to accompany body scans and energetic healings like Reiki and Jin Shin Jyutsu.
WISDOM CODE 8
One day your body will return to the Earthly Mother; even also your ears and your eyes. But the Holy Stream of Life, the Holy Stream of Sound, and the Holy Stream of Light, these were never born, and can never die.
USE: This code addresses the primal fear of nonexistence and our relationship to a greater presence.
SOURCE TEXT: The Essene Gospel of Peace
Gregg Branden has spoken of the teachings of the Essenes in his early works, and I was happy to find a piece of this in the book. The Essenes were said to be where Jesus went to receive training, and I found their teaching easy to understand, deeper, and more esoteric.
I offered this prayer whenever I took the night shift at the hospital, when I tucked my uncle into bed, and never knew if he would survive the night. For months, I feared the night, and I dreaded the mornings. It was then that I learnt that no news is good news.
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i so appreciate your presence, thank you for being here.