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Mantra yoga may
be simply defined as
the science of
unfolding of the
consciousness with
the help of mantras;
it attempts to
modify matter and
consciousness
through the agency
of sound. A mantra
represents a
specific combination
of sounds for
producing some
specific results.
Here it is important
to note that the
basic structure of a
mantra involves
sounds and not
words. Sound is the
fundamental element
of articulation and
is eternal; words
are part of a
language and
man-made using
alphabets as symbols
for sounds. The
sound elements used
in mantras are those
of Sanskrit
alphabet. Again the
primary element is
the sound, the
letter is merely a
symbol. Each letter,
pronounced properly,
becomes a vehicle
for conveying a
basic elemental
power. It is for
this reason that a
letter in Sanskrit
alphabet is called
akshar meaning
eternal. In the
words comprising the
mantras each letter
contributes to the
overall effect
desired by the
mantra. Since the
effectiveness of a
mantra is inherently
tied to the sound, a
proper pronunciation
becomes extremely
important. This is
why in the Vedas so
much emphasis has
been laid on correct
pronunciation.
It is not our
intention to suggest
that Sanskrit has a
special place in the
divine scheme of
things. It just
so happens that
people of this
particular culture
developed the
concept and
philosophy of
mantras. It is quite
conceivable that
similar systems
might have been
developed in some
other parts of the
world or the
universe that we are
not aware of.
Now sound is simply
a vibration or set
of vibrations
representing a form
of energy. It is a
basic premise of
Hindu philosophy
that the entire
universe is a
manifestation of the
primal energy
emanating from one
source the Supreme
Reality. It was only
in the last century
that science
discovered the
equivalence of
matter and energy.
The concept of
energy is related to
that of motion.
There are only three
basic categories of
motion rhythmic,
non-rhythmic, and
inertial.
A deeper insight
into the concept
would reveal that
the rhythmic motion
is simply a balanced
state of the other
two types and is
what we call
vibrations or waves.
Thus the phenomenal
word that we view is
nothing but
vibrations picked up
by our senses.
Although the
conversion of matter
into energy is now
well understood, the
reverse process of
matter coming out of
energy is still a
challenge to modern
physics. In general
the structure of
anything material
can be reduced to an
aggregate of
elementary particles
ranging from
electrons to quarks.
But what are the
elementary particles
built of? Or are
they particles at
all? A recent
viewpoint suggests
that these particles
are simply specific
configurations of
vibrations of
virtual strings (the
theory is known as
Superstring Theory).
Thus we get back to
the old idea of
energy transforming
into matter. The
whole phenomenal
word is simply a
vast aggregate of
vibrations of
various kinds and
degrees. The
interaction of these
vibrations produces
all the phenomena in
the physical world
existing at
different planes.
This is a startling
concept but nothing
compared to the next
philosophical
concept that all
these infinitely
complex vibrations
of innumerable kinds
are simply different
components of a
single vibration
that is also the
ultimate source of
consciousness.
This primary
vibration from
which all the
vibrations in the
manifested world are
derived, is the
primordial energy
which is the
universal
consciousness. We
thus see the
relationship between
matter and
consciousness, which
are dual expressions
of the same Reality.
Carrying it a step
further every
consciousness is a
part of that Reality
which leads us to
one of the basic
concepts of Vedanta
? every individual
(i.e. subjective)
consciousness is an
infinitesimal part
of that universal
consciousness. The
science of yoga
involves unfolding
of the individual
consciousness to
become one with the
universal.
It follows from
the primary
relationship between
vibration and
consciousness
that a vibration is
associated with
every manifestation
of consciousness
whether or not we
are able to perceive
it. Associated with
every aspect of
consciousness there
is a unique
vibration. At the
lowest level this
association
manifests itself in
visual or aural
perception. Each
vibration of light
of a given frequency
produces a
particular color
perception in the
consciousness; each
vibration of a given
frequency in the
audio range produces
the perception of a
particular note.
Similarly each
sensation of taste,
smell or touch can
be traced to a
corresponding
vibration even
though science has
yet to reach that
stage of
advancement. There
may be other yet
unknown kinds of
vibrations and
interactions that
are transmitted
through space and
are not subject to
the limitations
imposed by science.
The so-called extra
sensory perception
is an example.
Another aspect of
vibration well known
in physics is
resonance. Using the
same concept in the
context of yoga it
is not unreasonable
to assume that a
matched type of
vibration can
activate a
particular state of
consciousness. This
forms the basis of
mantra yoga. Also
the relationship
works both ways,
i.e. a particular
state of
consciousness can
activate the
corresponding kind
of vibration.
A mantra is a
special combination
of vibrations set up
through the sound of
the component words,
which are meant to
produce a desired
state of
consciousness. A
mantra can be long
or short; it can be
addressed to a
particular deity or
may relate to the
abstract concept of
God. It can be
chanted only once or
repetitively. The
shortest but the
most often chanted
and also the most
potent mantra is Om.
Om is an appellation
of the Supreme
Reality (called
Brahman in Vedanta)
and, hence, its
potency. In fact,
the chanting of
every other mantra
is preceded and
followed by Om. In
taking up the
practice of yoga
there are initial
hurdles that must be
cleared. Some are
physical; others are
mental at different
planes. The physical
ones are managed
with exercises that
most of us are
familiar with; two
different techniques
are used for
clearing the mental
ones. One is the
constant repetition
of a mantra and the
other is meditation
which involves
fixing attention on
something without
any thought. A
mantra can be
chanted aloud or
repeated silently.
The particular way
of chanting depends
on the stage at
which the yoga
practitioner is.
Yoga deals with
the inner side of
life. A person
not familiar with it
may think it absurd
that a mere
monosyllable, as Om
can be such a potent
instrument for the
uplifting of a
person. But a proper
understanding of the
relationship between
vibration and
consciousness will
show that there is
no inherent
impossibility in a
word having the
power to unfold
one's consciousness
to any desired
degree.
Author Dharmbir Rai
Sharma is a retired
professor with
electrical
engineering and
physics background.
He obtained a
Master's degree in
physics in India and
Ph.D. in electrical
engineering at
Cornell University.
He maintains a
website
http://www.cosmosebooks.com
devoted
mainly to the
interaction of
philosophy and
science.
The whole universe
is Consciousness
vibrating at
different
frequencies.
All the varying
techniques of yoga
(union) and
meditation are based
on the underlying
principles of
resonance and
sympathetic
vibration.
Through atunement
with a particular
state of
consciousness we
become it. Atunement
means aligning our
variables so that
they correspond with
the state we are
trying to attain.
What are the
variables which we
have to work with?
They are such things
as posture, colour,
our actions and the
words that we
intone.
Sacred alphabets
such as Sanskrit
are said to embody
the complete
spectrum of
universal forces. By
utilizing the
science of mantra we
may harness this
awesome power- this
power of vibration
which is the basis
for the whole of
Creation.It has
often gone
unrecognized however
that the power of
mantra yoga affects
us all whether we
are aware of it or
not. When ever we
speak silently to
ourselves or out
loud we are
influenced by the
quality of the
vibrations which we
are giving out.
Imagine that you
heard two people
arguing in a foreign
language which you
could not
understand. You
would be able to get
a feel for what was
been said by the
actual quality of
the sound being
produced.
It is not then
necessary to know
the ins and outs of
the exact nature of
sacred alphabets nor
to be empowered by a
Guru in order to
benefit from the
science of mantra.
By being mindful
of the quality of
our speech we
will be making an
important
contribution to our
well being.
If you ever catch
yourself talking
harshly, with
unkindness or
moaning in a victim
like way know that
you are actually
intoning a negative
although weak
mantra.
With this
awareness, relax and
uplift the quality
of your speech.
Imagine the ideal:
rich, confident and
compassionate tones
and aim for that. An
understanding of the
virtues is useful in
imagining the ideal.
Be sure then to
study "Inner
Medicine" for a
deeper appreciation
of the virtues.
One of the
reasons for the
differences in
national character
is because of the
particular language
habitually used.
Even same language
regional differences
in character and
accent have a mutual
effect on each
other.
It can be useful to
see your own
character and speech
in the context of
regional influences
so as not to be
restrained by them.
Whilst it is true
that general speech
is important,
there can be no
doubt that more
advanced mantra
practices are far
more powerful. Why
is this?
Well as stated
earlier atunement is
connected with
optimizing
variables. By
sitting in the
correct posture, by
wearing natural
loose fitting
clothing of a
particular colour,
by gazing at a
sacred image at the
same time as
reciting the mantra
with conscious
intent and
understanding its
meaning then we are
harnessing far more
of the variables
available to us:
thus having a
correspondingly
greater effect.
Where as the
letters vocalized in
everyday speech have
a more or less
random (or
certainly
unintentional)
effect a true Mantra
is constructed
specifically with a
goal in mind. This
means that the
intention energy is
much more focused.
It also means that
the letters are
chosen for their
innate and
non-arbitrary
vibrational effect.
It is also said
that by using a
mantra given to
us by a genuine
realized soul the
blessings are
greater still.
Firstly such a
realized soul, being
aware of our
imbalances etc, can
prescribe us with a
mantra/medicine
ideally suited to
our temperament.
Secondly it is said
that such a mantra
is empowered by the
blessings of the
teacher. These
blessings are partly
due to morphic
resonance and partly
intelligent
spiritual
intervention at
subtle levels.
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