Mantra Initiation

Mantra Yoga Practice

Practice of Mantra Yoga is considerably enhanced by initiation into a mantra.

Preferably, there needs to be a personal transmission by the guru, of the subtle energies involved. This process is called in Sanskrit: Shakti-Paat.

Then a higher plane of practice becomes attainable, allowing deeper immersion into the higher, or transcendental planes.

Traditionally mantra or mantras have been given by personal initiation.

Information on suitable mantras, and their use with the chakras, or bodily energy centres along the spine, has been given here in following writings.

In order to develop further inner intuition of ones own personal mantra needs and use, I recommend the initial use of:

Om Guru Om

This mantra will bring light, and help in life, as well as help with intuition regarding directions for ones Spiritual Practice. It will assist if a personal guide is not available, or if direct personal initiation is not available. from here you will be guided to other mantras also.

Mantras will produce results if practiced.

There is a view, that the chanting of mantras is a practice to help focus the mind.
However this is a partial perspective.
A mantra of any power, exists in a totally different dimension to the mind.
It is a syllable, word, and sound that relates to a particular state of consciousness, that, whilst related to mind, (and body), emanates from a soul or spirit source.
For instance to use the word Guru as a mantra, is to identify on a subtle plane with the role of the Guru, which is to lead from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge. In a spiritual sense.
In simple terms, Gu refers to darkness, and Ru to light.
Combined with Om, which is the spiritual word for, and sound of, the Universe, the mantra both identifies and takes the user from darkness to light, and to the a universe center.
The practitioner, (who repeats or chants the mantra), becomes immersed in a sense of being at the center of all life and light. Thus to meditate with this mantra, the best effect occurs in conjunction with visualizing a journey out of the body, beyond the city, the country, the solar system, and the galaxy. To a “soundless” etheric space which transcendental to the known Universe.
Then what happens?

Samadhi

This attainement in meditation, at or within the Center, is the deepest form of meditation, (and is called Samadhi). This is in formless or form version, the latter being in regard to  meditation on a personal Deity aspect of the Divine.
However, to think then, that the human consciousness cannot exist, is not quite correct.
For instance in deep sleep, it seems that the individual does not exist, yet on awakening all awareness comes back again.
In a further development of the Samadhi state meditation, the seeker needs then to find the Center within the human “heart”. This is not necessarily the physical one.
Within this space exist a different type of sound, or meditation experience. Other mantras illuminate this center which is not just the heart chakra, but also an external energy seated “around” the heart area.
The universe then becomes more entwined in the seekers experience of human life, or vice versa.
Awareness of Divinity, God or Higher Power, can become a stronger component of daily life experience, within ones bodily being.

The Heart mantras

Om will still remain, as it encompasses all – external, internal, and beyond.
Then add an Ishta Mantra – this is your chosen sound manifestation or representation of your Divinity, which is your Ishta (in Sanskrit).
For example, Hindu derived mantras  such as Krishna, Rama, or Hari, are used, the represent the Deities energy around the heart area. These Deity energies then lead up or down through the kundalini and connect both with bodily centers and the external Cosmic Consciousness. (Read also in other segments about the Kudalini)
Other religions also have a range of mantras.

Divine Grace in the body

A problem that seems to be common in spiritual seeking, is the issue of bodily and mental needs, desires, and the gamut of the human conditions issues.
Many aspect of religion, (and spiritual practice), have sought to somehow separate out the body and mind, either to disregard it, or to discipline it fiercely.
This seems to lead to endless struggle.
Therefore the next step in the use of mantras, is to seek incorporation of the body and mind into spiritual practices, and hence incorporation into the Divinity, that is both within and without – no separation.
Certain mantras can be used for this step.

At this point, it could be useful to do some reading on spiritual forces and healing forces within the body. Knowledge about the chakras and kundalini is one place to start.
The purpose of a spiritual practice which unites the human forces, or sublimates them, is to attain a harmonious loop of the human and the Divine – where human nature is not an obstacle, (or even “evil”)
This practice where the merger of divine and human is sought is Tantric.
Tantric practice recognizes the whole gamut of human emotion and nature, (but seeks to move to a higher level of being, without denying human activity).

(For more on mantras, kundalini, chakras & tantra there is also a vast range of information on the Internet etc, or see my other articles).