In Asian spiritual practices, prayers are accompanied by mantras. Mantra in Sanskrit comes from man which means to think. These are words and sounds that are repeated for a certain time and at a certain pace. The resonance this provides in the body and brain allows the mind to focus on achieving enlightenment.
Mantras, healers of the soul
Mantras are connoted with a specific intention. Each of the syllables resonates with a part of your being. Generally, it is a chakra which is an energy center that swirls with more or less intensity. There are thousands of them spread throughout our physical body but also around us as the Ayurvedic tradition emphasizes. The seven main and best known are located along your spine, at the perineum and fontanel and are:
muladhara : root
svadhisthana : sacred
manipura : solar plexus
anahata : heart
vishuddha : throat
ajna : 3rd eye
sahasrara: crown
Each of these energetic centers is in correspondence with organic functions and in particular endocrine functions. In addition, there is a correspondence with a color, an emotion, a state of being, a symbol, mudras (hand and finger positions) and, in our case today, a note and a sound.
The vibratory repercussion of mantras in the body
Here are the mantras and the associated note according to the 7 main chakras:
muladhara: LAM - do
svadhisthana : VAM - re
manipura : RAM - mi
anahata : YAM - fa
vishuddha : HAM - ground
ajna: OM - la
sahasrara: OM - si
By saying these mantras, you send vibrations to the corresponding area of the body. It can be very pleasant or very uncomfortable, depending on the state of your life force in those places.
Mantras for meditation
By chanting or chanting the mantras, the subject enters a kind of trance. Long-term repetition eventually changes the brain waves. The subject remains focused on his meditation, the flow of thoughts is stopped, and the vibration generated by the recitation of the mantras invades the whole body pleasantly. The meditator is then in an amplified state of consciousness, rocked by the energy of the mantra he is reciting.
Example of a mantra:
OM MANI PADME HUM : mantra of compassion. Very popular in Tibet
NGO NAMO GURU DEV NAMO: "I bow to my highest conscience". This is a mantra that opens the kundalini yoga sessions.
Mantras to program yourself
La clé de l'apprentissage est la répétition, nous le savons bien. A force de répéter encore et encore, des automatismes se créent. Ces automatismes peuvent être comportementaux (conduire une voiture) ou psychiques (affirmation positive). Ces dernières sont particulièrement intéressantes car en modifiant votre façon de penser, cela se répercute inexorablement sur vos comportements.
Si on peut penser le pire de soi comme cela est coutume dans le cas de manque d'estime ou de confiance en soi , il est aussi possible de penser le meilleur ! La pensée a une force créatrice. Ce que nous pensons, nous le devenons. Alors, pourquoi ne pas utiliser ce principe dans votre quotidien pour atteindre la grande version de vous-même !
Mantras, whether they are in Sanskrit or in another language, have a power that is such that they can deprogram/reprogram you. However, as mentioned above, success depends on your diligence.
Take the time to settle down and take a few breaths to create a space of calm within yourself. Then repeat your mantra for 5 minutes. 5 minutes is very long! You have to hold on, after a while, your mind disconnects. This is when positive affirmation takes root in you. Practice this ritual every day. Write it down in your agenda, notebook or on a post-it note on the fridge door or bathroom mirror. The main thing is that this mantra infuses itself in you consciously and unconsciously.
To conclude with the mantras
Mantras have their place in our lives as Westerners. Whether they accompany a yogic, spiritual or religious practice, they can also help you in your own development. According to your needs of the moment, create your own!