| There are many doubts and misconception among | | | | awareness of its meaningWhen you play a mantra on |
| people about mantra. Even many knowledgeable | | | | tape, you are just a passive listener. The requirement |
| persons says that mantra is nothing but a boring | | | | of sound is there, but the awareness part is absent. |
| repetition of words that doesn't affect our | | | | Even if the recorded sound is of someone who has |
| consciousness and the only effect it produce is to | | | | recorded the mantra with faith and full awareness of |
| take the chanter ( the one who repeats the mantra | | | | its meaning, the fact remains that you, who is just a |
| ) into a state of sleep. There are many other wrong | | | | passive listener, will not be able to draw any benefits |
| notions about mantra which, I think, exist because of | | | | form this sound as it is not your faith but that of |
| the fact that people are not aware of the full | | | | someone else which is included in the recorded |
| mechanism of mantra. So before you start mantra | | | | mantra. So unless you yourself chant the mantra with |
| meditation, it is essential that you clear all your | | | | faith and full awareness of this meaning, the only |
| doubts about mantra:The doubt (1): Mantra will take | | | | thing you will get is a sound sleep.Please keep in mind |
| you into sleep:Fact: Yes but only if you use it as a | | | | that In order to obtain full fruit of mantra, we have |
| lullaby.The most important thing in mantra meditation | | | | to repeat it with full awareness of its meaning. Most |
| is that you should repeat it with the full awareness | | | | of the time, we repeat the mantra with the wrong |
| of its meaning. However, many people repeat mantra | | | | understanding, thinking that the syllables of the |
| without having full awareness of its meaning. If you | | | | mantra and the object of the mantra are different |
| repeat a mantra in such mechanical way then it will | | | | from each other and from ourselves. That is why the |
| not produce any effect and will remain an ordinary | | | | mantra does not bear immediate fruit for us. If you |
| word. The emotional feeling in which a mantra is | | | | think about this you will understand that the same |
| chanted is the most important requisite of mantra | | | | thing is true on a mundane level. Suppose that |
| meditation. In its absence a mantra is no more than a | | | | someone calls you an idiot. If you do not accept the |
| lullaby. So always keep in mind that whenever you | | | | word "idiot" as referring to you, you will not react to |
| repeat a mantra, you should know what is the | | | | it. But if you identify with it, you may become so |
| meaning of that Mantra. Otherwise you'll not be able | | | | angry that your blood heat up. If you were to |
| to draw any benefit from it.The doubt (2): Language | | | | identify yourself with the name of God as easily as |
| of most mantra is strange and difficult to | | | | you identify yourself with an abusive term, you |
| understand.Fact: To some extent it is true but there | | | | would experience its effects at once.Doubt (4): Is |
| is a reason for it.The entire concept of Mantra | | | | there a difference between repeating a mantra |
| meditation began in India. That is why most of the | | | | silently and repeating it loudly?Fact: There is a little |
| mantras are in Sanskrit Language which is the | | | | difference but not much.As I have already explained, |
| language of the Vedas (the oldest written texts of | | | | the main thing is that you should repeat a mantra |
| the world). Though the language Sanskrit may be | | | | with faith, respect and with full awareness of its |
| ancient & alien to you, what is still intact in various | | | | meaning. This can be done in both way i.e. by silently |
| mantras written in this language is their phonetic | | | | repeating the mantra or by pronouncing it loudly. The |
| significance and their ability to create powerful | | | | basic difference in repeating a mantra silently and |
| vibration of sound . All mantras were developed after | | | | repeating it loudly lies in the intensity of sound that |
| painstaking research and efforts. Therefore, they are | | | | comes out in both the method. But these vibrations |
| very well written tools for achieving a meditative | | | | may differ in their quantity but not in their quality and |
| state. You should only think about meditating- the | | | | both have the same effect on our inner |
| process of achieving a state of choiceless | | | | consciousness.Doubt (5): But no sound is produced |
| awareness- without thinking about the language of | | | | when we repeat a mantra silently?Fact: If you can't |
| the mantra that you will be repeating.[ Note: Sanskrit | | | | listen a sound, don't think it does not exist.Well it |
| is not the sole language of mantra. In almost every | | | | appears to us that no sound is produced, the reality |
| religion there are some specific words related to | | | | is that every action and every thought produces a |
| Sound. The word 'Amen' in Christianity, 'Allah Hoo' in | | | | sound. That's a different thing that our senses can |
| Islam and 'Om mani Padme Hum' in Buddhist traditions | | | | not detect it. Human being are capable of detecting |
| are some examples. Please keep in mind that of | | | | only sound between 20 to 20,000 Hertz. We can't |
| whichever language's mantra you repeat, you must | | | | listen sound below or above that level. However, this |
| repeat it with full awareness of its meaning.]The | | | | does not mean that such sounds do not exist. They |
| doubt (3): If Mantra can create a powerful sound | | | | do exists and leave their effect on us. When you |
| vibration then what is the need to repeat it. We can | | | | chant a mantra silently, it produces a sound. Though |
| record a mantra on tape and can listen to it as and | | | | we can't hear the sound, it does exist and produces |
| when we want for achieving a meditative state. easy | | | | the vibrations which affects our inner consciousness.I |
| ! Isn't it ?Fact: It seems logical but actually is not that | | | | hope the above clarifications have removed all your |
| logical.It appears logical that If mantra can produce | | | | doubts about mantra meditation.Eklavya is a simple |
| powerful sound vibration then why not use a tape | | | | student of meditation based in India. He provides |
| recorder and listen to it repeatedly. However, in | | | | knowledge of meditation through his website |
| reality it is not that easy as it appears. If you record | | | | Meditation is Easy ( This website provides knowledge |
| a mantra and listen to it passively, you will fall asleep | | | | of meditation (& various meditation techniques) to |
| as the mantra will act as a lullaby. All those- who are | | | | general public in a simple and idiot-friendly language! |
| really interested in mantra meditation- should keep in | | | | Along with a collection of 112 Meditation techniques |
| mind that there are two basic requirement for | | | | of all times (for all people of all age), you will also find |
| getting any benefit from mantra meditation-(1) the | | | | a useful collection of various tips for stress-free life |
| sound of the mantra; and | | | | including workplace tips, health tips and Soul tips! |
| (2) the repetition of mantra with faith and full | | | | Have a look today! |