Sowing the seed

Sowing the seed

November 2022

Sowing the seed

Navni Chawla explains how harnessing the power of a mantra can  nurture our spiritual practice to flower into higher consciousness 

The word ‘mantra’ is derived from  the Greek word ‘menos’ which  means ‘mind’ and the Sanskrit verb  root ‘man’ which means ‘to meditate.’ A  mantra is a sound or syllable that links our  lower consciousness to higher consciousness,  aka divine consciousness. It may just be a  series of words but it is as transformational  and powerful as a prayer. A mantra has two  components: One, the sound which has an  energetic implication and a strong impact on  the mind. The second one is the meaning of  the word (or series of words) in the mantra  which also manifests in the deeper layers of  consciousness. 

Japa, or the chanting of a mantra, has many  positive effects on one’s overall being. Even  when it is chanted very superficially, it still  benefits the one who is chanting. It also impacts their immediate environment by infus ing positive vibrations around them. A person  who merges the chanting of mantra with the  breath into one meditation practice, after a  point, transcends it and becomes one with it.  Upon delving deeper, the mantra is dropped  completely. It may also happen that one just  becomes a watcher and the mantra arises from  the inner depths; one simply listens to it internally. 

How does a mantra cleanse you? 
We usually have a non-linear thinking mind; our thoughts are helter-skelter and haphaz ard. A mantra gives you a consistent thought  to dwell on, thus replacing all other random,  negative, positive, and unnecessary thoughts.  It brings you to a completely neutral and col ourless state. Here, you are equanimous. You  become free of the push and pull of the mind.  You are also free of all polarities that constant ly fragment you and keep you in conflict. 

In some traditions like AHYMSIN (Associa tion of Himalayan Yoga Meditation) in Rishi kesh, a seeker is initiated by a guru and given  a bija mantra. It is called so because the mantra is sown like a seed (bija) into the beds of  the subconscious. As you keep remembering it  more often or practising it, the energy of the  mantra starts enveloping the mind field more  and more. And just like how a foetus cushioned  in the amniotic sac is protected in a mother’s  womb, in the same way, the mantra carries you  and keeps you safe. Its effect permeates all the  gross and subtle layers of your being.

The transformational power of a mantra 
On the path of self-conquest and self-exploration, people undertake many different practic es to actualise their spiritual progress. Mantra  chanting is one of the most powerful meth ods to fasten one’s spiritual evolution. In the  AHYMSIN tradition, during the mantra  diksha (initiation), a personal mantra is  given to the initiate. It is like drawing  a drop from the universal mind and  planting it into the initiate’s mind. 
How is the mantra chosen? 
There are different mantras  for different personalities and  purposes. For example, a student may be told “All you  lack is the coolness and flow  of water. So,  you shall be given a wa ter mantra. You could  
also meditate on  your mantra  while sitting  beside flowing  rivers or waters.” Thus, overtime, as an initiate keeps practising the mantra given to him, the visual of flowing wate rs  keeps impressing upon the subtler layers of his  personality. And as a result, the groove of the  mantra keeps becoming deeper and deeper.  Gradually, it also starts changing the personality. All the impurities of the personality are  slowly shed. 
And the pure and real Self starts to shine  through. So many times, the mantra also be comes a true personal friend. You can remem ber it wherever you are. In a turbulent situa tion too, the mantra comes to your rescue. It  soothes and calms your nerves, and brings a  stable force to your life. It grounds you.  
The mantra centres you. It is a word or  phrase that remains with you all the  time. Your mantra also becomes a door  to meditation. When you learn to use  your mantra and keep in touch with  
it, it becomes your internal quiet power. Whenever something from the out side comes to excite, aggravate, or  disturb you or make you afraid, then your mantra becomes your  guiding light. It stops you from being overpowered by any external disturbance or being sucked into the drama. Rather, it gives you the strength  and willpower to remain  centred and focussed  amidst the chaos.  
And, therefore,  once that state of consciousness is established for you,  all the reactions that  arise from it are also centred and still. Hence, the nature of  the outcome of the actions andreactions  changes too, and positivity and love start to  flow from you into your external environment. Someone once said that you have no control  over any situations arising outside of you.  The only thing you can control and focus on is  your internal state. And practising the mantra  gives you the reins of your mind and emotions.  It gives you access to control and modify your  internal states. It makes you a creator of your  destiny. 
“A mantra is a sound, a syllable, or a set of  sounds. It is known not by its meaning but by  its vibrations. It provides a focus for the mind  and helps one become aware of his or her internal states. It is a way to understand one’s  self and coordinate one’s external and internal  words. “The mantra is a friend that helps the mind  become one-pointed and slowly leads the stu dent to a deep state of silence, to the Centre  of Consciousness within. It is a spiritual seed  sown in the soil of the self. It is a therapeutic  guide that leads one through various levels of  being and, finally, to the unity between indi vidual and Cosmic Consciousness. The man tra is an important means on the path of Self  Enlightenment. You are encouraged to practise  meditation regularly, remember your mantra,  and make it part of your life. When meditat ing, use the mantra silently and consciously. At other times, you can use it consciously  or unconsciously. In time, you will find your  mantra guiding you in daily life.” 
~ Swami Rama of the Himalayas 
The process of initiation 
In the Himalayan tradition, the ceremony of  initiation involves certain processes. Because  it is a major turning point in a student’s life,  they are asked to purify themself for at least a  day prior to the initiation.  
A mantra provides focus to the mind. This is done by consuming a sattvic (pure),  vegetarian diet, not indulging in emotional ly disturbing activities, and keeping a serene  mind. At the time of initiation itself, the stu dent brings a gift of fruits and flowers.These  offerings are symbolic of our five senses: rupa  (sight), gandha (smell), rasa (taste), shabda  (sound), and sparsha (touch). They hint to wards a student’s sincere intention to not re nounce sensual enjoyments but rather to inte grate them for the higher benefits of spiritual  unravelling.  

At the place where the initiation takes place,  the student sits meditatively awhile. The student and teacher briefly meditate together.  Then, the mantra is whispered into the student’s right ear, after which the meditation is  continued for a few more minutes. The ceremony ends with the blessings showered on  the student. This is the process of giving and  sharing the highest level of knowledge. The  student gives their willingness and trust to  seek the Truth and to embark on the journey to  Self-discovery. The teacher, or guru, through  the grace of the lineage of gurus, gives the  mantra, guidance, and commitment to help  the student blossom on his spiritual path. 
Keeping the sanctity of your mantra 
When a mantra is passed down to you, it contains the blessings of the lineage of the masters of that tradition. Getting initiated with a  mantra is as sacred as a marriage, for a mantra  becomes your constant companion through all  the happy times as well as upheavals of life. It  is often suggested to keep your mantra a secret  and practise it continually. A sincere and consistent mental practice of mantra repetition  purifies one’s emotional states and refines the  personality. 
“The mantra is a friend  that helps the mind  become one-pointed and  slowly leads the  student to a deep state of  silence, to the Centre of Consciousness within. 
One could even keep a daily fixed  time to chant one’s mantra. This establishes a  deep, intangible, and subtle connection with  the Divine. It is also suggested to not utter the  words of your mantra from the mouth. The secrecy that you keep around your mantra makes  it even more powerful. The more one practises the mantra in mauna (silence), the deeper  one goes into meditation. It is also said that a  mantra is for inward absorption only. A word  spoken is power lost. The mantra becomes like  that seed from which your tree of spirituality  grows. 

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