What is Mantra?

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

A sacred verbal formula repeated in prayer, meditation, or incantation, such as an invocation of a god, a magic spell, or a syllable or portion of scripture containing mystical potentialities. A mantra has the ability to work on our inner consciousness and awaken us to who we really are. Practicing mantra is an integral part of the spiritual life.

[Charmed*I'msure]

Steve, thank you for including incantations of a magik spell in your mantra post. Interesting to note that in most magik spells, incantations are repeated 3 times. How is it with mantras, is there a certain number that produces the magik to " awaken us to who we really are " ?

Who would have guessed spirituality would have something in common with magik spells ? Do you think combining the two, moves one faster towards the goal ?

Charmed*I'msure

[Desiree]

A sacred verbal formula repeated in prayer, meditation, or incantation, such as an invocation of a god, a magic spell, or a syllable or portion of scripture containing mystical potentialities. A mantra has the ability to work on our inner consciousness and awaken us to who we really are. Practicing mantra is an integral part of the spiritual life.

Steve, how do you choose a mantra? Or is it something that is given to you?

love and light, always
Desiree

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

A sacred verbal formula repeated in prayer, meditation, or incantation, such as an invocation of a god, a magic spell, or a syllable or portion of scripture containing mystical potentialities. A mantra has the ability to work on our inner consciousness and awaken us to who we really are. Practicing mantra is an integral part of the spiritual life.

Steve, how do you choose a mantra? Or is it something that is given to you?

love and light, always
Desiree

Perhaps you do not have one?  Choose one that interiorizes your consciousness like using om to the inhalation and peace to the exhalation or shanti. That is shan.....ti which means peace.  The first sign of Gods presence is usually peace. 

To answer your question. i have choosen mantras that were infused with the blessings of a Master. i have one from Paramahansa Yogananda and one from Amma. i practice them faithfully as they are blessed with the holy presence of those who created them. It is blessing to even take the dust from the feet of one such as these. But to have their blessings in a mantra is truly a blessing. The mantra slows the breath till it is shallow and helps still the endless procession of thoughts. If nothing else you are blessed by the meaning of the mantra and its affects on your consciousness and attitudes. You will find that you have more of a reverance for everything around you including the people who enter your life...the animals.... the stones and the trees.

Thank you for giving me an opportunity to remind myself in this monologue. It is a strange thing that sometimes the question and where the question originated is more important then the answer. Why is this? Perhaps because the question has inspired me to practice with devotion as i chant the mantra; It is so beautiful how God works in most unexpected ways. Nothing is what it seems but rather answers turn into the questions and visa versa. It is like the story of the three saints who chanted "We are three Lord have mercy on us" When they came upon a knowledgeable minister of religion he told them that their chant was undignified. As they walked hand in hand on the water before him they turned back and said 'we have forgotten the (dignified) chant you have given us'. The minister recognizing his error said 'never mind you practice the chant that you are used to and he was blessed by their holy presence.

It is only thru sharing and recognizing those around us as part of our larger being that we break free of the limitations of the body and mind. This is the mantra of life.... the actual ability to put the mantra into practice for what it was intended.

Jitendra

[Desiree]

dearest Jitendra,

I had forgotten I asked this question, I am so sorry !!

You are right, I do not have a mantra. The one you have mentioned " shanti" sounds very peaceful, just listening to the sound of the word. Mantras with the blessings of a Master, sound like a beautiful blessing to have in your life.

And I would like to ask you, when do you use your mantras? In meditation or just anytime ?

love and light, always
Desiree

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

dearest Jitendra,

I had forgotten I asked this question, I am so sorry !!

You are right, I do not have a mantra. The one you have mentioned " shanti" sounds very peaceful, just listening to the sound of the word. Mantras with the blessings of a Master, sound like a beautiful blessing to have in your life.

And I would like to ask you, when do you use your mantras? In meditation or just anytime ?

love and light, always
Desiree

i will relate something that happened to me that illustrates a point about mantras. i was driving in heavy traffic yesterday and my thong got caught between the gas peddle and the brake. As a result when tried to brake i accelerated simultaneously. In the process i hit the back end of the car in front of me. It is my belief that had i been practicing the majic of the mantra i would have been spared the ensuing problems. However it helped me realize that we must think of the Master's and their grace constantly and this world is filled with the dualities or ups and downs. The hope we have is to keep the higher forces constantly surrounding us. The mantra's will help in this aspiration.

So to answer your question; While mantras are important during meditation, they should be used for every aspect of life to keep our consciousness high and to have the protective shield of the divine ones in our life. Most of us still experience the human side of life so it is important to bring the divine into our lives at every moment.

In our difficult experiences or when we are being disciplined we often look for answers to why this is happening to us. The truth is that i had been for warned the day before by a large crow that swooped down beside me before taking the same road but i could not interpret it's full meaning. It is helped by having this question asked of me. God works thru our friends and acquaintances to give us answers.

Jitendra

[Desiree]

Interesting I have never worked with a crow before  I do believe in messengers from the Spirit World, there is always something to learn if you take the time to listen. Sometimes it takes direct intervention to get the message to us.

"While mantras are important during meditation, they should be used for every aspect of life to keep our consciousness high and to have the protective shield of the divine ones in our life. "
This answers my question, thank you dearest Jitendra.

In your first paragraph, about the accident and " It is my belief that had i been practicing the majic of the mantra i would have been spared the ensuing problems.". Perhaps the accident might have happened anyways, as you would have been focusing on the mantra and the mind perhaps off in the clouds and not paying attention to your surroundings ?

From what I have read of your posts and your connection to Yogananda, I would say that I believe you are surrounded by Master's grace and blessings, and it is due to His blessings that the accident was perhaps minor ? You did not say, but it doesn't sound like you were physically injured ?

let us give thanks for the smallest of blessings in our lives,

Desiree

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

Interesting I have never worked with a crow before  I do believe in messengers from the Spirit World, there is always something to learn if you take the time to listen. Sometimes it takes direct intervention to get the message to us.

"While mantras are important during meditation, they should be used for every aspect of life to keep our consciousness high and to have the protective shield of the divine ones in our life. "
This answers my question, thank you dearest Jitendra.

In your first paragraph, about the accident and " It is my belief that had i been practicing the majic of the mantra i would have been spared the ensuing problems.". Perhaps the accident might have happened anyways, as you would have been focusing on the mantra and the mind perhaps off in the clouds and not paying attention to your surroundings ?

From what I have read of your posts and your connection to Yogananda, I would say that I believe you are surrounded by Master's grace and blessings, and it is due to His blessings that the accident was perhaps minor ? You did not say, but it doesn't sound like you were physically injured ?

let us give thanks for the smallest of blessings in our lives,

Desiree

Yes you are right blessings were forthcoming. However it is not difficult to practice a mantra while driving. We must find a way to put God in all our activities. Comme ci comme ça... still working on it! By the way how did you here of this forum?

Jitendra

[Desiree]

You are working on the French language ? or finding a way to put God in all our activities ?

Do you think they have mantras en francés ? I would like one.

you have exceeded your 2 limit questions for today 

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

You are working on the French language ? or finding a way to put God in all our activities ?

Do you think they have mantras en francés ? I would like one.

you have exceeded your 2 limit questions for today 

Postings have no limitations at soulsearching dear one. The only thing i have exceeded is your ability to expose yourself! Should i limit the questions you have asked?  What's good for the goose is good for the gander!

i like you any how!

Steve Hydonus   

[Desiree]

I have not asked an unusual amount of questions. I am fully dressed. It is my choice to answer a certain number of personal questions, or not to answer at all. Yes, you may limit my questions if you wish. And do not count your bottles of wine, before the grapes are harvested.

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

I have not asked an unusual amount of questions. I am fully dressed. It is my choice to answer a certain number of personal questions, or not to answer at all. Yes, you may limit my questions if you wish. And do not count your bottles of wine, before the grapes are harvested.

Keep your clothes on they might fall off if you laugh too much! Don't let the grapes whither because the harvest is plenty but the harvesters are few...

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

Recently I have taken much more interest in the breath and mantra. The two are inseparable in the simplest forms of meditation.  Yet it very challenging to keep the minds eye on the breath and a mantra that is paired with the breath. It seems that most all other forms of meditation are contingent upon the very simple yet eternally challenging ability to keep the mind from wandering and keep it anchored on the breath and mantra.

[Jitendra Hy-do-u-no-us?]

So fortunate to have a mantra given to me by a Master. I use it daily to practice the presence and keep my mind on God. It keeps the Masters near; “To those who think me near I will be near”

Paramahansa assured disciples that his teachings and spiritual influence would continue to benefit seekers of truth for centuries.  To those who asked about their future relationship with him, he said, “If you think me near, I will be near.”

[guest587]

I am also fortunate to have Swami Vidyadhishananda bless me with two mantras. He also blessed me with insights to bee propolis during COVID and Ahi flower during my hospitalization last year.

I am also blessed by Gurunath to have been taught Surya yoga- bathing and moving in flow with the SUN.



Mantras sometimes bring great chills up and down my spine... It's a lovely sensation.