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