| Westerners tend to associate the practice of yoga | | | | mantra and repeats it softly to him or herself, or |
| with the physical regimen of poses, stretches and | | | | sings and chants it aloud with others. Whenever the |
| breathing, commonly known as hatha or astanga | | | | mind wanders, attention is brought back to the sound |
| yoga. There is much more than this in the ancient art | | | | of the mantra. This can be done while using |
| of yoga. Meditation, specifically mantra meditation, is | | | | meditation beads (japa yoga), or in groups with |
| an integral part of the yogic tradition as it helps bring | | | | musical instruments (kirtan). In time, with practice, the |
| the practitioner closer to the true and ultimate goal | | | | practitioner is better able to focus the mind on the |
| of yoga: union with the Supreme. | | | | transcendental sound and the mind has less of a |
| The Sanskrit word "yoga" means "union" or to "link | | | | tendency to wander. |
| up with", specifically referring to linking up with God | | | | The purpose of mantra meditation involves a |
| or the Supreme Being. The practice of hatha and | | | | fascinating philosophy. First of all, it is believed that |
| astanga yoga is a preliminary process designed to | | | | the names of God have a purifying effect on the |
| assist the yogi in controlling their senses to able to | | | | consciousness. The body is seen as a temporary, |
| focus better on the Supreme. Ultimately the | | | | material container, housing the spirit soul (one's true |
| practitioner is able to control and raise their life air | | | | essence) and surrounded by a subtle material body, |
| through the chakras to attain union. | | | | or the mind. The regular hearing and chanting of |
| A mantra is a sound vibration or specific series of | | | | mantras is seen to help clear away the confusion and |
| words or sounds. The word "mantra" is derived from | | | | misery caused by identifying oneself with one's body |
| the Sanskrit word "man" which means "mind" and | | | | and mind. |
| "tra" which means "to deliver from" or "away". A | | | | This false bodily identification is seen as the root of |
| mantra is therefore a sound vibration that takes the | | | | all pain and bewilderment. Imagine the spirit soul as a |
| mind away from the material and puts it on the | | | | brilliant, shining gemstone but one cannot perceive |
| spiritual. Hence, mantra meditation is often referred | | | | this because it is covered by dirt and dust. Mantras |
| to as "transcendental sound" because the sound of | | | | serve as a sort of transcendental polishing cloth, |
| the mantra transcends the material world. | | | | slowly taking away the dust so that the yogi can |
| Mantras are always derived from names of God or | | | | begin to experience the true essence of the self - |
| descriptions of attributes of the Supreme Being. | | | | eternal, full of knowledge and bliss! |
| Thus, mantras often include Sanskrit names for God | | | | Mantra meditation is therefore an important aspect |
| such as Rama, Chandra, Krishna and Siva. Also, | | | | of the process of self-realization. This is the ultimate |
| Sanskrit terms such as 'Hare" (referring to the | | | | goal of yoga: the realization that we are spirit in |
| energy of God) and "Shanti" (peace) are quite | | | | essence, part and parcel of the Supreme Spirit. The |
| common. | | | | more we progress on the path of yoga, the more |
| The process of mantra meditation is quite simple. The | | | | peaceful, blissful and loving we become. This is |
| yogi focuses his attention on the sound of the | | | | spiritual life. |