Week Seven - Mantra and Sound Meditation

Mantra and Meditation

This week we will focus on sound meditation. This will include an introduction to sanskrit, the use of mantra, and also silent meditation on subtle sound.

• Sanskrit = Language designed and used for kirtan, and vedic and mantric chanting.
• Bija = a seed syllable, the root of a mantra, the root of sound
• Mantra = literally, ‘mind protection’
• Nada Yoga = meditation on subtle sound
• Kirtan = chanting practice to awaken devotion, love, and a sense of unity

Class begins with chanting of the vowels of the sanskrit alphabet.

Important Sanskrit Facts:

• Sanskrit is possibly the oldest language on the earth, and certainly the oldest consistently used language
• Sanskrit was created (heard)by master meditators, called rishis
• Sanskrit is considered to be an expression of Great Divine Cosmic Vibration
• Many common modern english words have sanskrit roots.
• Sanskrit has largest collection of literature of any language
• Sanskrit has precise pronunciation, with five basic sounds ( gutteral, palatal, labial, cerebral, and dental) derived from five basic vowel sounds ( a, i, u, r, l)

We continue with chanting 108 repitions of a mantra

Important Mantra Facts:

• The most important function of a mantra is to clear, cleanse, energize and organize the mind.
• the effect of the mantra is more important than the meaning.
• Devotional types can chant mantra to develop a relationship with a particular diety, and less devotional types can hant the same mantra to develop particular qualities inherent in the mantra
• Mantra is said to collect Shakti (Power) the more that it is repeated.

Om = The supreme, primordial essence of all mantras. The sound of the infinite, and the universal. It encompasses all things. Pronounced A-U-M.

Other Mantras and their effects: (Please do your own research for mythological associations)

• Om Gum Ganapataye Namaha - for removal of obstacles
• Om Namah Shivaya - for expansion of consciousness
• Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya - for peace and prosperity
• Jai Kali Ma - for heavy karma busting
• Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare - for love and devotion
• Om Shring Hring Kleem MahaLakshmi Namaha - For wealth and abundance
• Om Dum Durgaye Namaha - For Protection
• Shri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Rama - For Strength in completing tasks
  

We will be working with the mantra ‘So Ham’. It is associated with the natural sound of the breath. We chant ‘So’ as we inhale, and Ham’ as we exhale. This creates a very balanced, calm, and alert mind state. It also relates to the unification of the individual soul (So) with the universal soul (ham).


Much of this information is taken from the book “From the River of Heaven” by David Frawley.