Tattoo ideas. Need opinions!

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Hi everyone.
I’m thinking of getting a tattoo in the next month or so. I want a small written word. I have three words in mind: “Surrender,” “Illusion,” or “Sanskara.” Each have deeply spiritual meanings. Surrender is a little more personal to me, Sanskara is very personal to me and Illusion (Maya) is an important concept for one to understand who wants to progress spiritually. I really like the idea of getting illusion but it does have a negative connotation because it is what we aspire to progress out of, or leave behind in our meditation. Surrender on the other hand has a very positive and uplifting message, surrender one’s self to god. Sanskara is the unconscious images or memories from past lives. My dad always says that I’m a Sanskara of his spirtual path because i’ve always held such a deep interest and belief in it.

Anyways, I think each would be cool but I’m just not sure which one to go with. It’s going to be a very modest tattoo either on my wrist of the nape of my neck.

Any opinions?

Thank you!

#2

Why would you want to write anything on your body? Keep your skin pure
and your spiritual words in your mind, where they belong.

#3

Your skin filters bad stuff out of the body, it is not pure. People have used symbols and images and objects and even tattoos for a long time to use as focus and reminders in spiritual practices. Its nothing new. Its not for everyone but thats okay too.

I think you should not get the tat until you can determine that on your own. Or maybe realize you already know which one you wanted you just want people to agree with it to verify what you think (I do that a lot not so maybe you are not, but it seems like it sorry if I am wrong).

#4

upcycledbliss, I think you are very right. I do know which one is best, I just wanted that nudge and reassurance. Thank you.

zafu, I understand what you are saying. I love my body and my skin and this is why I am putting so much thought into this before going through with it. Tattooing is definitely not for everyone and that is what makes our world so unique and beautiful, all types of people expressing themselves in different ways.

#5

[QUOTE=fairyinboots;73876]upcycledbliss, I think you are very right. I do know which one is best, I just wanted that nudge and reassurance. Thank you.
[/QUOTE]

Today you need a nudge and reassurance on whether to write Surrender,
Illusion or Sanskara on your body. What if in 10 years’ time you come to
like “Conquest”, “Reality” and not-Sanskara ? Don’t insult your future,
where you could be a different person. A tatoo will make you a prisoner
of your past.

#6

I think you’d have to learn the meanings behind these words in the context of spiritual practice before assuming what they mean and that those words are their opposites, which they are not. I appreciate your advice, I know that you are looking out for a fellow human being, but you seem to be doing it in a rather insensitive, pushy and presumptuous manner.

#7

Try ‘Mother’. Hardly used anymore. Would be re-unique.

#8

Just for reassurance. I do not know anyone who has tats who regrets them. Some are in their 50s and 60s. Some have tats all over and their tats read like a book of their past. Our past present and future all coexist together with memory and time. But, we only live in the present. Having memories of the past does not mean she is not living in the present.

Glad to know you know the answer. Good luck with the tat. Make sure to check the hygiene of the artist and learn how to take care of it (if it is your first). I do not have any because I change a lot and I am afraid to make the wrong decisions and. I have to realize sometimes that is okay. You can always get another tat later. I hear they are addictive. Good luck!

#9

Fairy,

It is not my policy to advocate Tattooing to students. Some do it and that is up to them, of course. And there’s no judgement, just as there’s no judgement about holding a cellphone next to the skull, or ingesting non-organic foods.

As yoga teachers our job is to provide the tools and to do so without Ego. A tough enough job without having to consult on which design to adopt for the new Tat:-)

#10

Thanks Gordon. I definitely understand! :slight_smile:

#11

[QUOTE=upcycledbliss;73874]Your skin filters bad stuff out of the body, it is not pure. People have used symbols and images and objects and even tattoos for a long time to use as focus and reminders in spiritual practices. Its nothing new. Its not for everyone but thats okay too.

I think you should not get the tat until you can determine that on your own. Or maybe realize you already know which one you wanted you just want people to agree with it to verify what you think (I do that a lot not so maybe you are not, but it seems like it sorry if I am wrong).[/QUOTE]

We can use reminders at the frigde and entrance door.

fairyinboots.
Sometimes a though can grow so strong so the only way to put it behind you is to do it. Otherwise the thought or idea will grow stronger.

Nirvana is no chitta-no mindthoughts. So to reach there eventually you cant supress your mind. Some will say dont do it cause god will not accept that you did it. Others will say you wont advance in spirituality. But these are ordninary people that uses their ego and they dont really know anything. And in spirituality there are many branches and the truth does not exist in all the truth has been deluded so noone really knows what is truth and not anymore.
The ego will always to feel superior to others. We are better my footballteam is better than yours and it goes on. So listen but use your own heart to feel what is best for you.

Dont care what people tells you do what you think is best. IF you regret it later dont. Understand you had to take this path towards nirvana. Otherwise you make more mindthoughts.

Many elders regret alot mostly that they worked to much and didnt spend time with their family for example. They realise that money wasnt the most important life goes fast and then we are old and regret many things. Talk with elders listen to what they have to say, we can learn alot from that. Experience is the best teacher.

IF you feel uncertain about something dont do it.

#12

If ‘you’ want a tattoo or piercing, you should do it yourself with your own hand, as an act of mind over matter. Don’t use an electric machine or anesthesia on your body, just a sterilized needle and natural ink like doing acupuncture over and over again than you may open blocked energy meridians at the same time. Try not to draw blood, elevate your heart-rate, alter your breathing pattern or feel any pain. Cause no harm to yourself.

Remember, it is probably not your paramatma that wants a tattoo on your physical body…

#13

I find that it’s ultimately up to you just make the decision just give it a lot more thought. I have 5 tattoos and i love all of them if i listened to others i may have not gotten them or something different but i love each and every one.

#14

[QUOTE=zafu;73878]Today you need a nudge and reassurance on whether to write Surrender,
Illusion or Sanskara on your body. What if in 10 years’ time you come to
like “Conquest”, “Reality” and not-Sanskara ? Don’t insult your future,
where you could be a different person. A tatoo will make you a prisoner
of your past.[/QUOTE]

" a tatto will make you a prisoner of your past."
I think a tattoo can be a reminder of how far you’ve come in your evolution. no regrets. unless your buddy bob draws permanent stick figures on your skin or something like that.

#15

[QUOTE=fairyinboots;73863]Hi everyone.
I’m thinking of getting a tattoo in the next month or so. I want a small written word. I have three words in mind: “Surrender,” “Illusion,” or “Sanskara.” Each have deeply spiritual meanings. Surrender is a little more personal to me, Sanskara is very personal to me and Illusion (Maya) is an important concept for one to understand who wants to progress spiritually. I really like the idea of getting illusion but it does have a negative connotation because it is what we aspire to progress out of, or leave behind in our meditation. Surrender on the other hand has a very positive and uplifting message, surrender one’s self to god. Sanskara is the unconscious images or memories from past lives. My dad always says that I’m a Sanskara of his spirtual path because i’ve always held such a deep interest and belief in it.

Anyways, I think each would be cool but I’m just not sure which one to go with. It’s going to be a very modest tattoo either on my wrist of the nape of my neck.

Any opinions?

Thank you![/QUOTE]

Typing out loud . . .

A Samskara being a phenomenon is an illusion. To chose it over maya seems out of order.

“surrender to escape illusion”

now then If I really liked that concept I would work on an image system to symbolically represent it.

#16

[QUOTE=zafu;73878]Today you need a nudge and reassurance on whether to write Surrender,
Illusion or Sanskara on your body. What if in 10 years’ time you come to
like “Conquest”, “Reality” and not-Sanskara ? Don’t insult your future,
where you could be a different person. A tatoo will make you a prisoner
of your past.[/QUOTE]

I don’t see tattoos as making a person a prisoner of their past, but instead honoring it. Your past makes you who you are, all of your experiences shape the person you become. As long as the tattoo isn’t meaningless and childish, and as long as it has some personal significance, I think they can be amazing.

That said, I don’t have any tattoos, but I’ve thought about them for several years. Some day I might get one, but I would only want one - and it would have to be designed by me with input and help from the people closest to me in my life. The design would represent the story of my life and it would leave room for expansion in the future, because hopefully I’ll continue to live a long time after getting it done.

Obviously after that explanation, I think you can see where I stand on the issue. You need to go with what is important to you personally. You shouldn’t take the opinions of strangers too much to heart one way or the other.

#17

If you?ve decided to get a new tattoo and don?t already have a design in mind there are a few things you should give careful consideration to. Whatever you choose will be on you for a lifetime unless you undergo expensive laser removal or another tattoo session which could result in a clumsy looking cover up.

#18

Is the word gonna be in English or some kind of eastern writing? I would choose the word truth probably and have it put in some kind of eastern writing. Of the ones you picked I would pick illusion. Im not big on surrender though, dont have the temperament of the bhakti path.

#19

[QUOTE=fairyinboots;73863]Hi everyone.
I’m thinking of getting a tattoo in the next month or so. I want a small written word. I have three words in mind: “Surrender,” “Illusion,” or “Sanskara.” Each have deeply spiritual meanings. Surrender is a little more personal to me, Sanskara is very personal to me and Illusion (Maya) is an important concept for one to understand who wants to progress spiritually. I really like the idea of getting illusion but it does have a negative connotation because it is what we aspire to progress out of, or leave behind in our meditation. Surrender on the other hand has a very positive and uplifting message, surrender one’s self to god. Sanskara is the unconscious images or memories from past lives. My dad always says that I’m a Sanskara of his spirtual path because i’ve always held such a deep interest and belief in it.

Anyways, I think each would be cool but I’m just not sure which one to go with. It’s going to be a very modest tattoo either on my wrist of the nape of my neck.

Any opinions?

Thank you![/QUOTE]

It is not good for your skin