by Judith Dreyer, MS, BSN
I met Swami Sivananda Radha through her book, Radha, Diary of a Woman’s Search. Her deep love and devotion, discipline for her practices seemed to reach out to me through the words printed on pages within a humble book. Yet, I cannot deny the experience. She taught me the true value of guru to the student, the purity of that profound connection untethered to the illusions of the Hollywood, media world. Curious, I bought more of her books, delved more deeply into the meaning and energy behind yoga, meditations, and mantra practices.
Here at Medi Mind, we seek to bring mindfulness practices into all aspects of life. Our sincere intention is to be of service, to contribute solutions to and for our current world mired in profound challenges. Mantras offer a form of mindful practice when understood in its complexity, practiced and experienced, can dissolve tensions or illusions as our ancient teachers would say. They answer our prayers and heartfelt longings and offer a sense of peace connected to the Divine or something more.
The word Mantra often used in yoga classes, meditation, or mindfulness practices begs the question: do we understand its roots? I find looking at sources, brings me to a depth of understanding that enriches the experience of the practice.
Mantra
It is said that the world formed out of the ether. When a sound was uttered in this void, the Universe was created, Ancient seers or rishis perceived these mantras from Creative Source and brought them into audible form with a precise pattern of syllables, melody, rhythm.
Mantra is part of Nada Yoga, the yoga of sound.
“The root man in the word mantra means in Sanskrit to” to think.; tra comes from trai, meaning to protect or free from the bondage of samsara or the phenomenal world.” But, she cautions, there are many levels of meaning in a Mantra which must be experienced to be truly understood. An intellectual explanation encompasses only a very small part of its meaning.” (Swami Sivananda Radha, Mantras, Words of Power).
A Mantra has six aspects:
1. rishi, or seer
2. Raga or melody
3. Devata, the presiding deity
4. Bija, or seed sound
5. Sadti or power
6. Kilaka or pillar
A Mantra, understood within the context of these aspects, contains the seer who is the messenger, the deity, a seed sound carried within the melody that connects us to this higher generating power. Also, a pillar, which contains the will-power a disciple needs to pursue the Mantra and so much more.
The ancient ones tell us too that Mantras hold all the repetitions that generate a power that activates a spiritual force. And, more than that, they contain all the answers. I don’t know about you, but I find this depth of meaning adds something profound to my understanding. This something cannot easily translate into words. Something that reminds me that what is worthwhile takes time and practice to know, to carry that knowing deep within my cells.
We know that working with sound creates a vibration. Different sound vibrations can bring in a wave that touches us emotionally. Think about the sound of water streaming across stones, or horns honking in traffic, or a story we read, formed of words that take us into our imaginations. Do you sing in the shower, hum in the car? We all resonate with some form of sound, and that’s where the magic and the mystery lies.
We invite you here at Medi Mind, to listen to a Mantra. How did it resonate with you? Where in your body did you feel the sound vibrate? We encourage you to share your experiences with us.
