The Magnificent World of Mantra and Your Mala
The subject of Mantras and their power is so immense that it cannot be covered in a quick blog post and warrants much more personal research. It is an energy that must be experienced to be realized, and even then, we probably don’t comprehend the immensity of our practice. It infuses our life quietly, without ceremony and we tend to be directed by our dharma and true purpose allowing our intuition and greater wisdom to govern our actions. Below is Webster’s definition of Mantra:
Mantra
Simple Definition:
: a sound, word, or phrase that is repeated by someone who is praying or meditating
: a word or phrase that is repeated often or that expresses someone's basic beliefs
Full Definition:
: a mystical formula of invocation or incantation (as in Hinduism);
A mantra is a phrase or word you focus on during meditation. Mantra is from the Sanskrit root "man"- to think or mind, and "tra"-tool or instrument. I must admit, there are many definitions of the word, but there is a commonality…they all point to a tool used to assist you in stopping the mental chatter that we are so overwhelmed by when we stop ‘doing things’ and allowing our mind to govern our activity! With a quieted mind can we truly listen to our inner Self. Mantras have two primary components for our examination - Meaning and Sound: the actual meaning of the word or words chosen for the mantra and the second is the effective sound (vibration) of the chanted word. It is a sacred sound sung verbally or mentally that speaks to the very essence of who you truly are, in this lifetime and from previous incarnations.
There is an ancient science to universally available mantras: most were composed by ancient yogis who studied the influence of sound. It is the energy in these phrases, the way the word interacts with our very being that makes mantras so powerful and desirable. It is to our great benefit they were written down, and utilized through the generations by many religions. One crucial point I would like to make here, and one you will have to ponder, is by utilizing a foreign language, such as Sanskrit, it makes it easier for you to practice phrases such as “I am Divine”. The negative mental chatter doesn’t set in allowing you to acknowledge your inherent ‘goodness’ and compassion that gets lost in our demanding world. The vibration of the sound does its work: Your divinity is your birthright, as it is for everyone else, so it will bring you closer to those around you. That sense of peace you will embrace will not come from gaining more self-confidence, it will come from knowing that everything you do, when you do it and how you do it, was destined, and it is all as it was supposed to be. Working with your mala and your mantra will allow you to keep on that path with a big old smile on your face while handling challenging life events. You will be watching now instead of getting caught up in the melodrama!
Here are a few mantra practices for you to try. The energy in the following mantras will speak to your soul…and resonate helping you achieve your intention.
Mantras for gentle healing and enlightenment
Mantra: So Hum
As you inhale you would say ‘So’ and on the exhale, you would say ‘Hum’ silently in your head. This mantra mimics the sound the breath makes on the inhale and exhale but most importantly the translation is beautifully simple. “I am that”. For me the intention of this mantra is to remind me that I am an integral part of a whole; not defined by my actions or experience but by that crucial role I play in being part of a greater entity. In short, we leave our ‘all about me’ mentality behind! How great is that? Here is a link in the event you would like a little more help.
Yoga Journal: So Hum Meditation
Seed sounds which are used to cleanse the Chakras:
In traditional Hatha Yoga, the 7 cleansing bija mantras associated with the chakras (spiritual healing power centres along the spine) are
• “LAM”- chakra 1 (root)
• “VAM”- chakra 2 (sacral/navel)
• “RAM”- chakra 3 (solar plexus)
• “YAM”- chakra 4 (heart)
• “HAM”- chakra 5 (throat)
• “OM”- chakra 6 (third eye/brow)
• “OM”- chakra 7 (crown)
(Excerpt from AR-Yoga.com)
Hoʻoponopono Polynesian Prayer:
This is a very simple, yet very powerful prayer/meditation that I encountered during a training session. It does not matter if you speak the worlds aloud or silently to yourself. They will reverberate in your very core bringing about humility, kindness, love, reconciliation and healing. There are only 4 lines:
I am sorry
Please forgive me
I love you
Thank you
Ganesha Mantra
Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha
Practice this mantra to entreat Ganesha to help you overcome any obstacles which may stand in your way as you live your true dharma.