Tomato, Ahh Mantras. I believe that from a western point of view the very best are used by the AA. The serenity prayer, I believe, is one of those groupings of words that has almost mystical qualities. AA'ers also often repeat the concept of 'this to shall pass' to themselves. These are mantras that rely on sparking an intellectual reaction to our emotional problems and allowing us to whether the difficulties. AA is very effective.
(Western Religious oders have all variations of the mantras discussed here. I'm aware but not familiar with them)
The concept of 'this to shall pass' is present in Vipassana as Anicca. The understanding that all things arise and pass away in this ever changing universe. Maybe Siddhartha was the founder of the first AA chapter. For us, as humans, the most important realization is that we are enveloped in suffering; suffering brought about by our realization that this physical world and the things we crave and love are only temporary. Dealing with this constant loss is essential if we are to become happy.
Vipassana uses what I feel is the essential mantra. All repetition and no words or thoughts. Awareness is maintained of the sensations in the body and the observer within us is allowed to watch and learn.
As an example, and we are each unique so no person has the same internal responses. Let us say I am sitting in meditative observation, passing the 'wand' of observation over my body and understanding what is going on at what level I can observe. I am doing this and all of a sudden I start to think about WSP and the meetings and all the rest of it. My mind goes ballistic and I am really getting upset again; but because I am observing I am just able to register what is happening in my body as I get all worked up. I feel my forehead get hot, my breath go irritate, the backs of my arms flare, my nose itch, slight pain in my calves develop. And as I become aware of these sensations the 'problem' I have faced mentally begins to transform itself....its almost as if the circle is broken. My anger begins to ebb, I see the problems in a different light..I calm down...I go back to doing what I set out to do, observing myself.
A very quick play on a very complicated process. But through a mantra, the mantra of simple observation, I have broken the cycle that before has eaten me up and caused me to loose hours in just being mad. I can deal with the matter dispassionately.....I learn ultimately that nothing, NOTHING, is worth getting upset about.
A third type of mantra is one which effects us on a primarily physical level. I call these the tonal Mantras. The well known Ommmm, or Onggg. You may remember the Sikh 'Sat Nam'. These are chants that produce tonal vibrations in the chest cavity that effect our organs, breath; and in turn calm our mind. If one chants the Guru Ram Das mantra, it is a personal matter whether one communes with the Guru. One may like Guru Ram Das, and feel his presence. Someone else may not even know what the words mean. The point is that the tonal vibrations and breath cycles, if repeated enough will have a calming, almost hypnotic effect on mind and body. Do the breath of fire for ten minutes and the Guru Ram Das chant for twenty and I guarantee the 'snakes' that come by Snap Lake will have no effect on you.
All three methods; the intellectual, the tonal, the observational are effective. I find the Vipassana the most essential or elemental. But when I'm off the wall the Chanting the Ong or Ek Ong Kar can cut through a lot of chatter and fire in the mind. It changes. What ever works. They bring peace.
Regards,
mnmuench |
