If you have a spiritual name, try to use it in your everyday life. Names are invocations. Each time a person says your name, it is a blessing for you and for them. Together, you invoke the wisdom virtues inherent in that name.

My name is somewhat hard for people to pronounce. But I have noticed that when a person says it correctly for the first time, there is a broad smile. It feels good!

Whether your name is simple to say or more difficult, you do not want to make it even more challenging. Open the gates for everyone as much as you can.

Many initiates who live in English-speaking cultures are given names that are spelled phonetically rather than in proper Sanskrit transliteration. This makes it easier for more people to feel comfortable pronouncing a spiritual name right away.

So, for instance, if I were to more properly transliterate “Shambhavi,” it could look like:

Or, I could write “Sambhavi.” Either way, I would have to explain that the “S” is pronounced “Sh” and so forth. Why bother obstructing people in this way? A name is a gateway. The vibrational quality invokes the meaning of the name. This is what is important.

When I was given my name, it was spelled with an “Sh.” But of course, whatever way your teacher spells your name, that is how you should spell it.

For some people, the fact that we even have spiritual names is too challenging or upsetting. While it is an important part of your practice to use your spiritual name, your ninety year old grandfather from Romania who is very attached to family names is not going to benefit from your insistence.

Use your courage to bring your spiritual name into your everyday life. You will benefit from being reminded of your divine purpose and unique flavor wherever you are – at work, at play,  and while with your friends on the same path. If these happen to not be all the same thing for you, your spiritual name will unify your life.

Use your discrimination and self-reflection to decide when and how to use your name. The name should not become another source of ego gratification with you correcting people’s spelling, or even their pronunciation in some instances.

Courage? Discrimination? Compassion? Your name is already teaching you these.

In Ma’s love,

Shambhavi

Posted by Shambhavi on February 1st, 2010 | Explore More! Tags: initiation, Spiritual names