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