Vedic chanting, as the name suggests, is chanting Sanskrit sholkas [verses] from the four Vedas—rig, yajur, sama and atharva. The school and lineage I am affiliated with— Krishnamacharya yoga mandiram—chants from the yajur veda tradition.

What makes the chanting and its origin [the exact dates are amorphous] so interesting is that these verses were actually ‘heard‘ or what is known as sruti, by the sages when they were in deep meditation who then passed on this vidya [knowledge] to their disciples, who further passed on the chants to their disciples in the guru-shishya parampara [student-teacher tradition]. Sruti is what forms the Vedas.

Vedic chanting is governed by strict rules of pronunciation, length of notes, continuity of the sound, the pitch, where to pause and the force of syllables, so that we can stick very closely to the meaning of the chant and thereby have the correct effect in terms of vibrations within the body and in the surroundings as well.

The benefits of chanting are innumerable

On the gross level, we work on the breath when we chant. A chant is done on an exhalation and therefore it becomes a pranayama. On the mental level it requires dharana [focus] on the rules, and correct and effective pronunciation of the words and sometimes complex sentences. On the subtler and energetic level, the mantras create vibrations, which in turn affect us in our vital energies or what we call the ‘pranic level’. Some mantras, for example, are heat producing, some cooling, and some meditative. Some are in praise of certain energies like Laxmi, the Goddess principle of abundance, some for Narayan to invoke peace or then the more intense Shiva energies. Some Mantras deal with the purusa [source] or the energy of creation, making the mantras more esoteric or abstract, requiring introspection and reflection; some mantras are chanted for health and some for protection.

One would ask how are these mantras relevant to us today?

My mentor Radha Sudarajan, a yoga and Vedic chanting teacher-trainer and direct disciple of TKV Desikachar says, “The relevance of the practice today is because of its multi-layered benefits. Mantras work on many levels. On the physical level, they are an act of exhalation purifying many impurities; as one lengthens ones’ exhalation one also lengthens inhalation thereby energising oneself and making oneself lighter. On the mental level, it’s absorbing and concentrating, and the vibration of the effect of the mantra is calming; hence it reduces stress and agitation. On the level of the heart, it alleviates tightness in the heart space and releases negative emotions. Finally, on the spiritual level, which is the final objective of the Vedas, it is to link with the paramatma, our higher selves.”

In my experience, the beauty of the practice lies in its universality; anyone can do Vedic chanting—men, women, children, people suffering from mental physical ailments and yes, even those who don’t understand Sanskrit, as the vibrations of these mantras are all pervading and powerful, inducing us into a state of yoga through abhyasa [practice], vairagya [dispassion], shraddha [faith] and ishwara pranidhana [self surrender].

This was first published in the May 2015 issue of Complete Wellbeing.

The post Gain from the power of Vedic chanting appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

You can make up your own mantra if you want to; the words in a mantra have no significance at all. Words and meanings are not what mantras are about. So, any ordinary phrase, any meaningless word, can serve as a mantra.

Whatever mantra you chant, it makes no difference, because the whole purpose of the mantra is to concentrate your mind.

Let us understand how mantra japa (chanting) works.

What is Mantra Japa (Chanting) and How It Works

When you chant a mantra, all the energy used in your thoughts is released to flow into the mantra. Only the mantra remains in your mind; all other avenues of thought are closed, all other outlets for your mental energy are shut off; there is nowhere else for it to flow.

Normally, when you are thinking, your energy flows in countless different currents; one thought travels North, another South, another East, another West. When you think, you travel in many different directions. You are not one, you are not a unity; you are divided. But, when you chant a mantra, all the energy begins to flow in one direction.

If we use a lens to converge the rays of the sun, fire can be created. The fire is hidden in the sun rays, but when they are separate, at the most some heat can be created, not fire. It is when they are concentrated together that the fire appears. In just the same way there is a great fire hidden in your mind, but as long as the rays of the mind are separate, only a little heat is there. Mantra is a method to concentrate the rays of your mind together. The moment this happens great heat and tremendous amount of energy is created.

Beware of Siddhis

If you consistently practice a mantra, many phenomena relating to energy and power will begin to happen in your life, and they will provide great nourishment to your ego. Whatever you predict will come true, whatever you describe will happen exactly as you have said; if you curse it will come to pass; if you grant a wish it will come true, because so much energy and power is concentrated in you that your statements begin to materialise. The only reason for their materialisation is that when a person can invest great power in the things s/he says, his/her words enter directly into the unconscious of the listener—the arrow flies straight to the other’s heart. And, when anything reaches the heart it starts taking effect.

Once your words begin to come true, your confidence will grow and you will feel ever more powerful. The more your words come true, the more you will feel yourself to be full of some divine power, some siddhi—the power to do miracles. This confidence will strengthen your mantra, and the mantra will increase your confidence; slowly you will come to experience many powers. Yoga has named these experiences of power as siddhis.

These siddhis are the greatest obstacle on the way to realisation. Patanjali has mentioned them in the Yoga Sutras, so that one can keep clear of them. Never move in that direction; if you have, then come back—the sooner the better, because all the time spent in their company is time wasted, and every time you travel further in that direction, your return becomes more and more difficult.

Godliness is a Different Search

My own point is that the world means the search for power, the search for siddhis; godliness means the search for peace, the search for emptiness—and, in this search you slowly disappear and dissolve. But, in pursuit of siddhis you will still be there in the end, and there will be no trace of godliness. In pursuit of peace, in the end, you will not remain; only godliness will remain. It is out of necessity that one of the two has to disappear, the two cannot exist simultaneously.

Yes, the power-trip into siddhis will strengthen you, and this is why those who practice the use of mantras seem to be so full of ego. The ego of the rich man does not even compare, nor that of the politician who prides himself on his position. And, there is a good reason for this. Money can be snatched away, money can be stolen; what is the value of money? And, one cannot rely too much on a political post. It is here today, tomorrow it may not be. But, the power of a mantra is more reliable. No thief can steal it, no public opinion can change its status. The power of the mantra depends solely on your own mind, not on anyone else. So, you can feel more powerful, more self-reliant, standing on your own two feet.

A seeker after siddhis has already gone astray, though there is going to be much in it to interest him/her—the ego is always ready to be fascinated by such matters. An ant was coming towards you, and through willpower you altered its course; the ego is highly impressed by such feats, even though the act in itself is of no importance at all.

Why I Don’t Give You a Mantra

Mantras are a source of power, and it is true that all the religions have devised mantras, because all religions fall from the search for peace to search for power. So, I don’t give you any mantra—nor do I have any to give you, because a mantra is given when the search is for siddhis, for power and prosperity. I am not going to strengthen your mind; I am going to dissolve it. I will cut into it, and then wait for the layers to peel off one by one. Just as the layers of an onion are peeled off, so the layers of your mind will gradually drop away until finally the whole onion has disappeared. Nothing of the mind will remain, and you will have attained the emptiness.

How to dissolve you—this is the great mantra. Concentration will make you more solid, meditation will dissolve you.

The post Osho on Mantra Japa (Chanting) appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.

The word, yoga, originates from the Sanskrit word “yug,” which means to yoke or bind. In yoga, balance is achieved through the union of mind and body, and by practicing yoga we are able to keep ourselves centered and have harmony and peace in our lives.

The concept of poise

Nature comprises of appositional forces, the interplay of which releases the energy that animates all living things. Through the practice of yoga, we bring under control the appositional forces within us so that we are serene, and relaxed.

Asana

Asanas are not mere exercises. They do not take our breath away or make us hyper-ventilate. Yoga has 84 classical asanas [poses] with a variety of combinations. All asanas are performed in a systematic manner where our breath is co-ordinated with slow and rhythmic movements. During the asanas, we use the body as a guide to tell us how deeply we can go into a posture, when we experience fatigue, and how to move from one pose to the next without tension.

Each asana provides different benefits. For example, the sarvangasana or Shoulder Stand invigorates and rejuvenates the whole body, making the spine supple and the legs free from varicose veins. Also, each asana has certain contra-indications. For example, the Shoulder Stand should not be done by those who have high blood pressure, or by pregnant women.

Pranayama

Yoga makes us conscious of our breath. One important difference which is taught in yogic breathing is not to suck our tummy in as we inhale. As we inhale, we fill our lungs and breathe deeply to push our abdomen out. As we exhale, we throw our breath out, emptying our lungs and pulling our tummy in.

Our need to focus on breathing relates itself to prana or life force. It is a barometer reflecting our state of mind. Upper chest or shallow breathing occurs when we are stressed, anxious or frightened. If we continue to breathe this way for long periods of time, we become lethargic and depressed. To counter this, yoga recommends deep diaphragmatic breathing. Long, deep breaths relieve stress and tension. Ujjayi, kapalabhati, sitali, nadi shodhana, and bhastrika, are all examples of breathing techniques in yoga. Since breath is the bridge that connects both mind and body, we can control our breathing to bring about balance.

Meditation

We close our eyes, sit calmly and focus on the point between our eyebrows. This is the ajna or intellectual centre or the 3rd eye space. Keeping our breathing normal, we allow all thoughts to come and go without disturbing us. We observe them without judging.

Meditation is the process through which we learn to concentrate on the present with what is termed as “mindfulness.” By concentrating on the ajna, breathing in and out, and sitting in a calm posture, we allow ourselves to relax. At the same time, our concentration increases, making our mind less fragmented. With practice, we can attain calm and mental clarity.

As Swami Satchidananda said, “You can’t control the waves, but you can learn to surf!” Research has shown that meditation increases the feel-good hormone, endorphins, and decreases the stress hormone, cortisol, leading to better health.

Chanting

The word Om, made up of three Sanskrit letters A, U, and M, combined together makes the sound Aum or Om. During yoga, we chant this word for it is the primal sound which helps us connect with the deepness within. As we continue with this chanting, we reach a state of self-realisation and bliss. If we close our eyes and continue to repeat this word while breathing consciously, we also reach an altered state where mundane things cease to exist and, therefore, lose their power to throw us off-balance.

Ritual

The yogic way of life requires a disciplined approach. Yoga is to be done preferably in the early morning hours, after waking up. It needs to be done on an empty stomach [no meal should have been taken for four hours before exercise]. Loose and comfortable clothing should be worn. A non-slip mat should be used for exercising. Certain exercises should not be done by people with specific ailments. Most important—you ought to solicit the guidance of a yoga teacher. Done everyday, with conscious awareness of all the good it brings to our body and mind, yoga becomes a way of life.

Take a moment

Breathe in, open your hands and as you breathe out, close your hands to form a loose fist. Do this for a minute, focusing on what you are experiencing. Feel the difference as this simple co-ordination of your breath and body movements help your mind and body come into balance.

Yoga’s weight bearing postures, for example, create strong bones, the spine becomes supple, metabolism is balanced and stress is reduced.

Yoga helps us learn to accept, and let go. In the din of everyday life, it leads us to hear the music of our self. Most of all, it helps us feel balanced, harnessing our energies with calmed focus.

The post Yoga: A Fine Balance appeared first on Complete Wellbeing.