Mantras and Prayers are used to induce different states of consciousness. The worldly everyday consciousness is that of people screaming at us, media trying to capture our attention, friends and family telling us what direction to move in, cell phone notifications and ring tones, and our own stories of what we think reality is or ought to be. It is noisy, scrambled and highly judgmental and subliminal.

Here are some examples of modern day mantras that we say or hear everyday:

• That sucks

• Oh, that makes me sick

• That is so sad

• I can’t do that

• Karma is going to get you

 

What if we could move inward and upward to a state of consciousness that is of balance, that has no judgment, that is of peace and contentment, that unites us to loving awareness, that lifts the vibration of the entire planet? A student said to me recently: "I just want to keep my zen!" Well, you can! Mantras and prayers do just this. They move us upward into a more loving vibrational consciousness. This movement upward can last as long as the mantra or the meditation and then again until another lower thought form comes into replace it. So the more we practice: 1. The easier it is to get there, 2. The longer we can sustain this balance until some day it is not the practice anymore, it is a way of contented living. The way of Santosha.

Points to convey in this teaching:

1. Literal translations of the word mantra.

2. Important elements of mantra and prayer.

3. How we can come into a state of equanimity with mantra/prayer?

4. Specific mantras/prayers and their character.

5. How to start a mantra practice. 

 

Literal translation of mantra is a thought form that creates some sort of consciousness. We can say the same about the word prayer. Mantra/prayer is a thought form that creates some kind of attitude within consciousness. Consciousness can be defined as the awareness of the mind of itself and of the world around it. These thought forms bring things into manifestation and are the way in which we create our world. We learned in the Karma teaching that we create our world by our attitude and thus by our thought forms; aham brahmasmi, we are the creator of our lives. Thus we can create a life in which we live in a highly loving, content and balanced state of consciousness by use of mantra/prayer.

 

Japa is the repetition of a mantra. The practice of Japa is trying to stop the inertia of ‘that is so sad’ or ‘that makes me sick’ and change it to a more positive and harmonious thought form and attitude. We hear all the time in research and psychological journals how the mind more easily goes towards the negative. Why is that so? Because we have not given the mind positive thoughts to manifest into our consciousness. It is simple really. So when we are performing mantra we not only manifesting harmonious vibrations into our consciousness, and sending these positive vibrations into the universal consciousness or the astral world, we are also changing the inertia of the negative thought forms that are so widely used to maneuver life.

 

Following are some high vibrational thoughts forms or mantras that we can say everyday:

• Good Morning, I hope your day is all you need it to be!!

• You got this, you got this!!

• Om Shanti, shanti, shantih!

• Love your smile!!

• It is good to see you!!

• Thank you, that means so much!!

 

There are two important elements of mantra: 1. The kriya (action) and 2. The feeling state. The kriya is the action of saying or thinking the mantra. The feeling state is feeling the vibration of the mantra. So if you are chanting Om Shanti, the peace mantra, there is the actually kriya “Om Shanti” and then there is the feeling state of peace, calm and equanimity. In the SR teaching of Om Shanti we talk about if you can chant the mantra of peace without really meaning it when we are sending peace to those we struggle with, sort of like; ‘Fake it until you make it’? The teaching says that you can. That eventually the feeling state will come. And when the feeling state is there, the mantra becomes even more powerful. There is an equation in yoga; I x D = Force. The intensity times duration equals force. So if you don’t have the positive peaceful feeling state when you repeat “Om Shanti”, then it will take a lot of repetitions, to have any effect. But when you begin to put a feeling state of peace into your being when you chant then you can change your reality by just a few “shanti, shanti, shantih”’s. It is said with prayer, that when you pray, your prayers will be answered when you have the feeling state that your prayers will be answered. So if you are praying that the world finds peace but cussing about how this or that group of people are so hurtful, then the power behind the pray is very small. Instead if you pray that the world will find peace and are thinking that this is something that we can accomplish in this lifetime, then the power behind the prayer is very powerful. It would be very helpful to have the idea that just by chanting Om shanti, you are already bring more peace and blessings into the universe just by the power of your mind, intentions and actions.

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With mantra we are able to come to a state of equanimity. Equanimity as defined in the Oxford Dictionary: Equanimity is a state of psychological stability and composure which is undisturbed by the experience of or exposure to emotions, pain, or other phenomena that may cause others to lose the balance of their mind. The more you practice mantra/prayer the more the inharmonious mantras leave your consciousness and are replaced by harmonious and high vibrational mantras. Thus, you are moving through life in a more loving, peaceful, aware, and balanced state of consciousness that will be there for you when our experiences and everyday living are bombarded with drama, emotions, and negativity from those around us. This is important. Just as with our daily practices of kriya, mindfulness and meditation, when we are coming from a place of peace and balanced awareness we are better able to see imbalance, negativity and emotionality and are able to respond from a balanced and peaceful state of consciousness, or as the definition above says ‘from a state of psychological stability and composure’.

 

There are several types of mantras:

1. Saguna Mantras. These are mantras that send salutations towards a particular deity. Examples of this are:

• Om Namah Shivaya; salutations to Shiva.

• Our Father; salutations to God the Father.

• Om Gam Ganapataye; salutations to Ganesha.

2. Nirguna Mantras. These are mantras that are not toward a particular deity, but more to create a feeling state or vibration. Or acknowledge a feeling state or vibration. Examples of these are:

• AUM which is a cosmic sound in which all other sounds can be heard. When we chant AUM or OM we creating a feeling state of all creation or all sound. AUM of OM done as japa can dissolve the boundaries of self, bring you closer to divine oneness. 

• Aham Brahmasmi. We are the creator of our lives. When we chant Aham Brahmasmi, we are saying that the life we have created for ourselves is our destiny. We are responsible for our own happiness and evolution. 

• So Hum which means ‘I am that’. When we chant it creates a feeling state to awaken the divine and creator in me. We are not separate from divine oneness, we are that. When chanting So Hum, chant with the breath. On the inhalation, mentally chant So and on the exhalation, mentally chant Hum.

3. Then there are mantras that are used for blessing such as:

• Om Shanti, shanti, shantih, ‘I send tidings of peace; or I bless this food.

• AUM sending blessings to everyone on all levels.

• The Gayatri Mantra which is the most powerful of all Vedic mantras. It begins by an invocation of the three worlds, Physical, mental and spiritual and sends forth blessings that we may see the light of these three worlds but also awaken to the light that is within each one of us.

• Sarveshaam Mantra which sends blessings of goodness, peace, wholeness and auspiciousness to all beings.

• Peace Prayer of St. Francis is a prayer asking that you be made an instrument of God's Peace. It allows one to remove the self-centeredness of desiring and receiving to a giving place of peace, understanding and forgiveness. For it is giving that we receive, it is pardoning that we are pardoned.

 

These Mantras and others are a part of our SR meetings. The repetition of mantra in our meetings brings about comfort in chanting out loud and when done in a sangha (group of people coming together for a common purpose), they bring about a feeling state in the space that we are sharing in that moment. If you can get the feeling state and move to a deeper state of consciousness while chanting together, than it is hoped that you can begin to retain the feeling state beyond the SR meeting and through your own practice. As Ram Dass would say ‘you can then start to move to channels 3 and 4’. Of which; channels 1 and 2 are of the material world that what we can physically see, touch and judge; and channels 3 and 4 open us up into the aware states of consciousness and to the more spiritual realms. 

 

These Mantras/Prayers are shared on the SR website under the tab- Mantra. The Sanskrit and English translation of the mantra is shared with a brief feeling state of the mantra. Also included is a recording of the mantra for correct pronunciation and to chant along with. If you allow Mantra into your daily living, you can and will bring yourself to a state of equanimity, peacefulness, and contentedness. And remember the equation I x D = Force. The less intense the practice, the more times that you need to repeat. But as you get more developed and austere in your practice (the more you are really focused on the mantra and its feeling state while repeating), the less repetitions you will need to have the same results. And what are the results? A balanced state of consciousness, equanimity (the ability to remain calm and yogic no matter what circumstances you may find yourself in) and santosha. 

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How to start a mantra practice: 

1. Choose a mantra. There are many mantras named and described on this website or you may have your own mantra that you prefer. There is plenty of time to try many mantras so try not to get too caught up in which mantra. You could try one mantra for 2 weeks and then if that one does not resonate with you then choose another. But give a mantra some time to see if it is the right one for you. 

2. Sanskrit Mantra verses English Mantra: Sanskrit words are derived to produce a certain vibration or feeling state when chanted or said. English words are derived mostly for semantics. So if you are comfortable enough to chant or repeat sanskrit, the feeling state of the mantra can come even if you are not totally emotionally there. You will just need to repeat many repetitions or frequently to have a lasting effect. And if you are really feeling the mantra while chanting, then you expand your awareness and achieve balanced self awareness even more so!!

3. If you are able, choose a place to do your mantra in. So if you have a meditation space, that would be the place but if not, choose a space that you can repeat mantra daily. What will happen over time of using the same space for mantra is that when you go to your chosen space, the body and mind will automatically begin to quiet and move into the feeling state of mantra time. So this can help you!

4. Choose a number of repetitions. Yogis use a strand of 108 beads called a Mala. 108 is a sacred number in Eastern Philosophy and Yoga. If it is a short mantra such as Om, or So Hum; maybe you can do 54 or 108. If the mantra is a long mantra; maybe 9, 18, or 27 is more tolerable. Notice these are all integers of 108. If you do not have a mala, you can take a 3 pieces of yarn about 3 feet long and tie knots. You could tie 18 knots or any integer of 108. Then use that as your mala. You use the mala to count your repetitions. 

5. Set intention of practice for so many days or weeks. 40 days is a time that many yogis adhere to. But if that seems too daunting, set an intention to do the mantra practice for 2 weeks or 3 weeks. And whatever you choose, if you miss a day, don't sweat it. Sometimes we just need to give ourselves space to breath anyway we can in a given day!!

6. You can set up a time to talk to Deb about "How to start up a mantra practice" anytime. Just text me of email me at recoverysantosha@gmail.com to set up a meeting time. I would Love to offer guidance! :) 

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Sending you peace on your path - Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shantih