What is Mantra Yoga?
Like all kinds of yoga, mantra yoga aims to bring about healing, peace and harmony in our body, mind and soul.
Mantra yoga is based on the notion that everything inside and around us is vibration, everything is sound.
The most recent discoveries of quantum physics support this ancient theory. Our thoughts, emotions and voices vibrate and, in so doing, create our reality, our experiences. If we vibrate happiness, we create more happiness; if we vibrate prosperity, we create more prosperity. The contrary is also true and, unfortunately, many of us are usually unaware of the myriads of negative thoughts, feelings and words we vibrate each day. This happens because we aren’t trained to observe ourselves.
Yoga teaches us self-awareness and mantras help us clean all kinds of negative vibrations. When we get rid of those, we automatically stop attracting negative people, situations and experiences.
Mantra yoga is based on the notion that everything inside and around us is vibration, everything is sound.
The most recent discoveries of quantum physics support this ancient theory. Our thoughts, emotions and voices vibrate and, in so doing, create our reality, our experiences. If we vibrate happiness, we create more happiness; if we vibrate prosperity, we create more prosperity. The contrary is also true and, unfortunately, many of us are usually unaware of the myriads of negative thoughts, feelings and words we vibrate each day. This happens because we aren’t trained to observe ourselves.
Yoga teaches us self-awareness and mantras help us clean all kinds of negative vibrations. When we get rid of those, we automatically stop attracting negative people, situations and experiences.
What is a Mantra?
A mantra is a sacred formula that is able to bypass the everyday mind and reach the unconscious, where all our traumas, deep-seated fears and misconceptions wait to be healed. It can be just one syllable long, like Om,
a salutation to a deity, like Om Namah Shivaya, or a more complex composition, like the Gayatri mantra.
a salutation to a deity, like Om Namah Shivaya, or a more complex composition, like the Gayatri mantra.
Why Are Mantras Chanted In Ancient Languages?
Firstly, the practice of yoga is ancient, and so is that of mantra. Secondly, the language of mantras, Sanskrit, was created to have an effect on the unconscious mind, the energy basin of our being, rather than on the rational mind.
Later on, Sanskrit was adopted by Tibetans and Sikhs as the base language for their mantras.
Nowadays, the most recited mantras come from the Vedic, Buddhist and Sikh traditions.
Later on, Sanskrit was adopted by Tibetans and Sikhs as the base language for their mantras.
Nowadays, the most recited mantras come from the Vedic, Buddhist and Sikh traditions.
Can Mantras Be Translated Into Modern Languages?
Some of them can be translated, but they can’t be recited in the modern language they have been translated into.
It’s the combination of vowels and consonants of the original mantra that brings about the healing, not its translation. For example, chanting Om Namah Shivaya helps us in many ways, regardless of the fact we may or may not believe in Lord Shiva, whilst “Salutations to Lord Shiva” does not.
It’s the combination of vowels and consonants of the original mantra that brings about the healing, not its translation. For example, chanting Om Namah Shivaya helps us in many ways, regardless of the fact we may or may not believe in Lord Shiva, whilst “Salutations to Lord Shiva” does not.
Who Can Practice Mantra Yoga?
Anyone can, regardless of their faith or spiritual path. Although many mantras invoke the names of deities, there is no need to believe in them for the mantra to be effective. Again, it’s the combination of the vowels and consonants of the mantra that has a cleansing effect on our unconscious mind.
What Can Mantras Do For Us?
Mantras are tremendously helpful with a variety of problems, such as finding the right doctor when we have a health issue, get rid of negative energies, finding the right mate or job, excel in our studies, make more money, etc.
The list of possible applications is endless.
The list of possible applications is endless.
How Does Mantra Yoga Work?
The unconscious mind is where all the traumas, phobias and sorrows from our present and past incarnation are stored. Those affect our behavior and emotions and, if we don’t address them, may lead to addictions, depression, physico-somatic illnesses, lack, etc.
By vibrating mantras, we start the healing process as the cause (or causes) of our present undesired state come back to the surface, to the rational mind. Then, we can choose the appropriate professional or method to complete the healing process. Mantras are aids to healing, not cures.
Here is an example: Mrs. Smith is a cheerful lady, born and bred in a rural area, who now lives in a large town.
She misses the countryside, but prefers to live in a place with efficient public transportation because she is afraid of driving. She gets a promotion in her job. However, her new workplace is far from the public transportation routes.
She needs to drive.
Being a yoga practitioner, Mrs. Smith knows about mantra yoga and seeks my advice after class. I suggest she recites Om Gam Gana Patayei Namaha, a mantra that removes inner and outer obstacles. After a few days, she tells me she is now aware of the cause of her panic and has provided her therapist the key to her recovery.
This is what she suddenly remembered after a few days of mantra practice:
When Mrs. Smith was a child, there was in her village a huge, scary man who drove dangerously around the village. He was rich and influential. One day, after seeing him driving by, her mother told her he had killed a boy who was playing in the street and yet had not learned to slow down. There and then, little Mrs. Smith told herself she would never take such a risk. Her phobia was born.
As of today, Mrs. Smith lives out of town and is the proud owner of a car. She drives carefully to work and back, no longer afraid of killing innocent children.
By vibrating mantras, we start the healing process as the cause (or causes) of our present undesired state come back to the surface, to the rational mind. Then, we can choose the appropriate professional or method to complete the healing process. Mantras are aids to healing, not cures.
Here is an example: Mrs. Smith is a cheerful lady, born and bred in a rural area, who now lives in a large town.
She misses the countryside, but prefers to live in a place with efficient public transportation because she is afraid of driving. She gets a promotion in her job. However, her new workplace is far from the public transportation routes.
She needs to drive.
Being a yoga practitioner, Mrs. Smith knows about mantra yoga and seeks my advice after class. I suggest she recites Om Gam Gana Patayei Namaha, a mantra that removes inner and outer obstacles. After a few days, she tells me she is now aware of the cause of her panic and has provided her therapist the key to her recovery.
This is what she suddenly remembered after a few days of mantra practice:
When Mrs. Smith was a child, there was in her village a huge, scary man who drove dangerously around the village. He was rich and influential. One day, after seeing him driving by, her mother told her he had killed a boy who was playing in the street and yet had not learned to slow down. There and then, little Mrs. Smith told herself she would never take such a risk. Her phobia was born.
As of today, Mrs. Smith lives out of town and is the proud owner of a car. She drives carefully to work and back, no longer afraid of killing innocent children.
How Is Mantra Yoga Practiced?
Mantra yoga can be practiced in a variety of ways. Once we have found the appropriate mantra, we can recite it constantly, either mentally, aloud or whispering it until the desired effect is achieved. We can also use a mala or rosary to keep track of how many times we have recited our mantra, and finally, we can listen to a recorded version of the mantra and chant along.
How Do We Choose A Mantra?
Mantras are powerful tools, and should be approached with care. The easiest way to find the right mantra is to make an appointment with an expert. The other way is to read about the subject and trust our own intuition when selecting one.
Agnidevi Agnese Mandetta, 18th December 2011.
Agnidevi Agnese Mandetta, 18th December 2011.