I went
through the process and received a mantra from Amma. But, I will not
chant it or repeat it. However, I
appreciate all these nudges, because I do believe meditation is a large part of
the answer and the "message" from the saints is a worthy one for me. I am
about to be incredibly and excruciatingly redundant and will not state all this
again, after this time.
I did my
best to research it...it is a simple "seed" mantra, which could be
deemed appropriate, in hindsight. I just feel incredibly foolish chanting
it and it simply doesn't resonate. But there are other meditation methods
that do, that I have done in the past.
Part of
my story was that I was on stage waiting for her to whisper my personal mantra
in my ear and when she did, the woman to the side of her pulled a pre-printed
mantra from a recipe box and gave it to me. Then, our group was guided
off to a circle to meet with a Swami, who was going to explain it to us.
We were all in a circle, and he told us that each of our mantras had a
special secret meaning and we had to put our hands over our ears while he told
each person what theirs meant.
Because
of the loud music, he had to raise his voice and I could hear (although I had
my hands over my ears as instructed). All of the mantras, including mine,
meant one of two things as translated by him: "I bow down to the
divine Mother" was mine. All those mantras....and they all meant the same
thing, basically. And, we weren't supposed to chant it just during our
IAM meditation - it represented another 30 minutes and also was to be kept in
our minds all day, all the time...thinking of Amma constantly. I felt like I
was signing up for something far greater than I had anticipated or understood
(religious text and subtext-wise).
I
wondered why it was all so secret. Clearly I missed something.
"I am not ready", "my ego is in the way", "I
should just repeat and not question"...I was told all these things. I
don't deny that these things may all be true at this juncture in life.
Although
I say I am big picture, I am splitting hairs here. If the divine Mother
is Amma and the weekend message made it abundantly clear that she was and also
God, I cannot bow down...she is human, not God to me. It's pretty simple and
this concept is a nauseatingly redundant theme for me on this forum, so I will
stop. I realized part of the way through the exercise that I was in trouble and
out of integrity, as we were told that by accepting the mantra we agreed that
Amma would be our guide, through this lifetime and the subsequent ones. I
should have left the circle at that time, but didn't, as I felt like I was
almost out of my body and I was having trouble moving. There was someone
who had a tradition in Jesus, who did leave.
In the end, from the larger perspective..I
choose not to demonize Amma...she has helped many and her message on the face
of it is about connection to God and compassion for all. But...for me...while I
choose to meditate, because "my way” without it is not working - I’m not going
to consult a Satguru. Maybe in my next lifetime, as I
like to say, because, honestly, I don't "know".
--- On Sat, 8/13/11, Buck <dhamiltony...@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Buck <dhamiltony...@yahoo.com>
Subject: [FairfieldLife] Re: Mantra Meditation
To: FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com
Date: Saturday, August 13, 2011, 8:17 PM
"It is always advisable to obtain a mantra from a Self-Realized Master
(Sat-Guru). Until then we may use one of the mantras of our beloved deity like
"Om Namah Shivaya", "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya", "Om Namo Narayanaya", "Hare
Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna
Hare Hare", "Hari Om", "Om Parashaktyai Namaha", "Om Shivashaktyaikya Rupinyai
Namaha" or even the names of Christ, Allah or Buddha." -Ammachi
>
>
> "Amma stresses that you need to have the conviction that there is nothing
> greater than remembering God. Then you will find the time even in the midst
> of all your work to do meditation. As soon as you get up, meditate for ten
> minutes. After your bath, meditate again for half an hour. In the beginning,
> it is enough to meditate for a short time. After that, you can do your
> chores. Any work you do with japa and constant remembrance of God is also
> meditation." -Ammachi
>
> >
>
> > "Amma says that "the purpose of mantra japa(chanting) is to lead us to the
> > ultimate silence of the Self, from where all sounds and forms arise.
> > Further, in the present age of materialism, chanting the mantra (japa), is
> > the easiest way for us to obtain inner purification and concentration."
> > -Ammachi
>
> >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Each syllable of a divine name - such as Krishna or Jesus - has
> > > > > vibrations which change the atmosphere. Any object that we think
> > > > > about repeatedly generates its own vibration. Even though mantras are
> > > > > strong and powerful, we may not feel the effects immediately but
> > > > > results will come. One can feel the differences in the vibrations of
> > > > > words. Using the word, one can make things change. -Mother Meera
>
> > > > >
>
> > > > > >
>
> > > > > > "Close your eyes and sit in silence and do japa on any divine name."
>
> > > > > > -Mother Meera
>
> > > > > >
>
> > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > "Find a position to sit, on the floor or in a chair, that you
> > > > > > > will be comfortable in for an entire session. Use a position
> > > > > > > that will allow you to keep your backbone straight, with your
> > > > > > > head and neck aligned with your spine. When we sit upright with
> > > > > > > a straight spine, the energy generated by meditation can
> > > > > > > circulate freely throughout our body without being blocked."
> > > > > > > -Karunamayi
>
> > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > "As you start your meditation, Amma recommends that you can use
> > > > > > > > a mantra to help silence and focus your mind. If you are
> > > > > > > > accustomed to using only a particular mantra during meditation
> > > > > > > > and would like to continue with that, please feel free to do
> > > > > > > > so." -Karunamayi
>
> > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > "If you wish to continue with your mantra, it is not
> > > > > > > > > necessary to ask Amma if you should use it or Saraswati or
> > > > > > > > > Gayatri Mantra or not. Divine Mother has blessed you with
> > > > > > > > > abundant powers of intellect and spiritual discrimination.
> > > > > > > > > You are welcome to use your discrimination to decide which
> > > > > > > > > mantra you feel is best." -Karunamayi
>
> > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > "What ever you decide, it is important to come to
> > > > > > > > > > meditation without any doubts or questions." -Karunamayi
>
> > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > "If you have been using a particular meditation mantra
> > > > > > > > > > > and you have obtained good results from it, you are
> > > > > > > > > > > welcome to continue with your technique. Amma teaches
> > > > > > > > > > > certain mantras for meditation because She has personally
> > > > > > > > > > > experienced the tremendous benefits that they bring."
>
> > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > My sweet child, meditate. Experience your true self.
> > > > > > > > > > > > Silence is elegance. My baby, be silent and hear the
> > > > > > > > > > > > voice of the soul within you. Silence is the
> > > > > > > > > > > > foundation for self-realization. It does not matter
> > > > > > > > > > > > what you believe if you are only in silence. Silence
> > > > > > > > > > > > is honesty in heart. -Karunamayi
>
> > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > My sweet children seek the light through truth.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > Truth is known only by your wise heart. The supreme
> > > > > > > > > > > > > truth is in the heart of everyone. Only a few can
> > > > > > > > > > > > > practice meditation continuously, but I am expecting
> > > > > > > > > > > > > everyone to practice meditation sincerely.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > -Karunamayi
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > Time ill spent, is life wasted away. Burst with
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > divine grace at every step. Be still in
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > meditation; realize the truth. Keep out of worldly
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > temptations, and control negative thoughts one by
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > one. Truth leads and purifies your heart. Your
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > meditation power transforms your life into truth
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > and divinity. -Karunamayi
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Meditate every day. Be humble. Humility
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > embraces all of the other qualities. In the
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > great battle of life, the difficulties broaden.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Have full trust; trust your meditation power.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Truth is all for life.
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Meditation leads life from ignorance to wisdom,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > from weakness to strength, from disharmony to
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > harmony, from hatred to love, from want to
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > fullness, from limitations to boundlessness,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > from diversity to unity and from imperfection
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > to perfection.
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > As a way of life meditation deepens your
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > understanding and enables you to know your
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > true Self. -Karunamayi
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Meditation gives discipline, poise and
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > tranquility; it miraculously rebuilds one's
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > life. -karunamayi
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "Control of the mind and senses is
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > meditation. Meditation is a simple path
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > for all faiths."
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -Karunamayi
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "The meditation is in the silence that
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > follows the mantra."
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -Karunamayi
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > merudanda <no_reply@> wrote:
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "I'd rather learn from one bird how
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > to sing than teach ten thousand
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > stars how not to dance."
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Now then, what is the mantra? The
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > mantra is the Word in reverse. As the
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Word impels silence outward into
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > creation, so the mantra draws creation
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > back to its silent source, settling
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > vibrations in primordial stillness.
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Through mantra, wave returns to sea,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > mind returns to God.
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > When the mantra has done its work in
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > you, you won't be repeating
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > anything. Your awareness will rest in
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > God, floating in eternal silence,
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > the silence before creation. Original
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > innocence will irradiate your
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > heart with the light of joy. This is
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > real meditation.
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Therefor, let us not do meditation.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Let us not-do meditation.
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "Buck" <dhamiltony2k5@> wrote:
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The Power of Mantra
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "Some people say that our thoughts
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > are powerful. It is not thoughts
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > that
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > are powerful, but the silence
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > between them.
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > There is no need to repeat an
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > affirmation or a mantra. Just brush
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > it
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > once
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > with awareness, then drop it like a
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > sprouted seed in the rich dark
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > loam of
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > silence. In that silence, attention
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > effortlessly slips from the head
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > into
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > the heart. Rest there.
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Real meditation has nothing to do
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > with "repeating a mantra."
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Repetition is
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > fruitless: it makes the mind dull,
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > mechanical and small. Contrary to
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > public misinformation, techniques
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > like Transcendental Meditation or
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sahaj Samadhi are not based on
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > repetition. They utilize a much
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > subtler
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > science.
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The fruitfulness of mantra consists
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > not in its repetition but in its
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > power to dissolve the mind. If the
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > mantra does not dissolve the mind
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > into silence, it is not a real
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > mantra: it is just another thought
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > rattling around in the skull.
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Mantra fulfills the definition of
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Yoga as given in Patanjali's Yoga
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sutras: Yogas chitta-vritti
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > nirodahah. "Yoga silences the
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > vritti, the
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > vibrations of consciousness."
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Mantra carries the mind to the
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > silence
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > that
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > was there before God said, "Let
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > there be light."
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > In Sanskrit, mantra means vehicle
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > for the mind: manas - mind, tra -
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > vehicle. Tra is the root of our
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > English suffix, tron. Electrons
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > carry
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > electricity. Positrons carry
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > positivity. Mantras carry mind to
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > its
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > source."
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > > >
>
> > > > > > >
>
> > > > > >
>
> > > > >
>
> > > >
>
> > >
>
> >
>
