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"The mantra is the sound that harmonizes the vibration of the individual with the universal vibration and energy..." —Adesha, Founder, DASA Meditation
Written by Lorraine Alexander, August 2016
For many years we've seen rave reviews in the news, praising the benefits of silent-mantra meditation. But more recently, there have been articles that attempt to dilute the importance of the mantra, by encouraging the reader to "just pick any word or any sound." This suggests that anything will do. I call this "the fast-food approach to inner peace." But alas, any sound does not qualify as a mantra, and not all mantras are created equal. I can only assume that the author is sincere in their delivery, but they lack firsthand experience.
There is more importance to a mantra than one might assume. After all, silent mantra meditation has been taught teacher-to-student in the oral tradition for over 5,000 years. Given the mantra's rich history with meditation, shouldn't we consider that there might be something to be learned from this deeply rich tradition?
Why your mantra matters
For many years we've seen rave reviews in the news, praising the benefits of silent-mantra meditation. But more recently, there have been articles that attempt to dilute the importance of the mantra, by encouraging the reader to "just pick any word or any sound." This suggests that anything will do. I call this "the fast-food approach to inner peace." But alas, any sound does not qualify as a mantra, and not all mantras are created equal. I can only assume that the author is sincere in their delivery, but they lack firsthand experience.
There is more importance to a mantra than one might assume. After all, silent mantra meditation has been taught teacher-to-student in the oral tradition for over 5,000 years. Given the mantra's rich history with meditation, shouldn't we consider that there might be something to be learned from this deeply rich tradition?
Why your mantra matters
There is something beautiful and special about a traditional mantra; each crafted for effectiveness in the ancient Sanskrit (pronounced sæn-skrɪt) language. Within this age-old wisdom, the mantra was considered to be sacred; even the word itself 'mantra' is derived from Sanskrit. Its literal meaning is 'sacred utterance.'
The origin of the term mantra is derived from the root manas meaning 'the linear thinking mind', and tra meaning 'to cross over.' Another contemporary interpretation is man meaning 'mind' and tra meaning 'vehicle,' or in combination 'vehicle of the mind.' A mantra is a source of connection selected for its vibrational quality. Although it is used silently, the effects are profound.
The mantra is a highly effective tool that effortlessly guides us to deeper and deeper states of awareness.
Selecting your own mantra and practicing meditation might be better than doing nothing at all, but there are risks. So what's the harm in picking your own mantra? The most obvious danger is that a random mantra will be far less effective—or not effective at all. When this happens, the individual's interest will wan, and they will simply drift away from the practice of meditation. The worst part of this scenario is that they'll miss out on the wealth of benefits. Wasn't that the point to begin with? I've heard the same story over and over, "Yeah, I tried meditation years ago, the funny thing is—I'm not even sure why I stopped." They most likely didn't see or "feel" any improvement. These individuals usually won't give it another go—and who could blame them?
To illustrate my point further, you would never want to spend an entire year on an exercise program, only to discover you haven't made much progress. Maybe the poor results were caused by a lack of learning the correct method in the first place. It's possible you might have improved—if only you had a few pointers on technique from one-on-one coaching with an expert. Get the idea?
Tuning in to the symphony of the perfect mantra
As an example, a mantra works much like the tuner on a radio. If you are not tuned in, you hear static, or nothing at all. As you move the dial to refine your selection, you could catch part of the signal and hear a few words of a song as it fades in and out. Finally, you position the dial to the perfect frequency, you are tuned in, on the mark and BAM—you hear a full symphony of music, perfect and clear, as though you were listening to a live orchestra in concert. Tuning into the perfect mantra will deliver a symphony of benefits for a lifetime.
Raising your experience
You can raise your meditation experience by having a qualified meditation teacher select your mantra. Professional instruction will help you rise to new levels of awareness, as the practice supports and sustains the body, mind, and spirit. To add more icing on the cake, you'll have a meditation coach to help you along the way.
To illustrate my point further, you would never want to spend an entire year on an exercise program, only to discover you haven't made much progress. Maybe the poor results were caused by a lack of learning the correct method in the first place. It's possible you might have improved—if only you had a few pointers on technique from one-on-one coaching with an expert. Get the idea?
Tuning in to the symphony of the perfect mantra
As an example, a mantra works much like the tuner on a radio. If you are not tuned in, you hear static, or nothing at all. As you move the dial to refine your selection, you could catch part of the signal and hear a few words of a song as it fades in and out. Finally, you position the dial to the perfect frequency, you are tuned in, on the mark and BAM—you hear a full symphony of music, perfect and clear, as though you were listening to a live orchestra in concert. Tuning into the perfect mantra will deliver a symphony of benefits for a lifetime.
Raising your experience
You can raise your meditation experience by having a qualified meditation teacher select your mantra. Professional instruction will help you rise to new levels of awareness, as the practice supports and sustains the body, mind, and spirit. To add more icing on the cake, you'll have a meditation coach to help you along the way.
DASA Meditation supports many fine meditation practices in the world. We encourage you to find the meditation practice that is the perfect fit for you.
DASA Meditation
Developing Awareness through Self-Actualization
Founded in 1975
Personal instruction / Custom wellness programs
www.DASAmeditation.org
Developing Awareness through Self-Actualization
Founded in 1975
Personal instruction / Custom wellness programs
www.DASAmeditation.org
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