| The word mantra is related to manas (the mind).
A mantra is a sound or word. It is generally used to help focus the mind on a single
thought until thoughtless Beingness is established. As a tool to achieve Stillness, the
mantra is to be discarded at the moment Stillness is achieved. Yoga
means to unite with our Origin. Mantra Yoga would then mean to unite using the tool of
mantra. This process is called Concentration and Meditation.
Mantras are sometimes also applied to change circumstances, to regain a healthy
condition for example. Those mantras are specially formulated to carry a certain
vibrational power. For such purposes it is important that the proper pronunciation is also
imparted.
OM - AUM - AMIN - AMEN - COSMIC VIBRATION -
THE WORD OF GOD
OM
Readers of the Bible are familiar with Amen and the word of God. They
probably have heard of OM too. What might be new is that all these words have, in fact,
the same meaning and also the same origins. Physicists know that all of matter, our whole
Universe, is made of vibrational energy. Atoms are no longer pictured as solid balls
orbiting a solid center or proton. Electrons and protons are now explained as energy
concentrations with a certain vibrational pattern. This is the vibration which is called
by readers of the Bible Amen or the word of God. Hindus call it OM or AUM. Moslems call it
Amin. Since OM is the original vibration, all other mantras are derived from this one
Master Mantra. Usually when we hear OM reproduced on TV or at a spiritual gathering it is
pronounced like dome without the 'd'. However, OM can indeed be perceived during
meditation but sounds more like the o-sound in ball without the 'b'. It is a deep roaring
sound and much closer to the Tibetan mountain trumpets which are used to reproduce the
sound and remind people that it might be time to return Home.
Japa
Repetition of a name of God may be used as a mantra and is then called japa. A
mala is usually used for automatic counting but, when used in connection with japa, it is
more for anchoring the mind and make it more rhythmic. Japa and mala are for a similar
purpose as the stick given to an elephant in India when lead through narrow streets
where merchants display their goods on tables. Without carrying the stick in his trunk,
the elephant will move its trunk to the left and right knocking off the display, but, when
given the stick the elephant will carry the stick straight ahead. In order to keep our
trunk - the mind - still, we are practicing meditation, japa, or any other spiritual
technique. One traditional name for the practice of japa is Rama. However, Christ or any
other name of God is fine as long as the association is there. If the association is not
there, any other mantra may produce the same result. Japa should be repeated constantly,
this technique, more than any other, is the exact equivalent to the first commandment of
the Bible: "You shall love God with all your heart, mind and soul." What else
would it be if we were to concentrate fully on God - with all our heart, mind and soul?
A thorough explanation of Japa and Ajapa may be found in a book by
Ma
Yoga Shakti called "Techniques of Meditation - To Enhance Mind-Power".
Bija
There are also bija-mantras which may be seen as keys with which one might address a
certain chakra (energy center in the spine and brain) for example. The main keys to the
seven chakras are Lam, Vam, Ram, Yam, Ham, Ksam, Bam (or OM). Each chakra addressed by one of the major mantras also
includes other bijas.
For more information on chakras, see: Chakras Software
Mantra So-Ham
See So-Ham
for a meditation technique. |
