On Feb 11, 2008, at 5:15 PM, boyboy_8 wrote:
I too am no expert in the vagueries of mantra meanings. The point is that they are phrases...meaningless sounds whose meaning is known?
Sometimes, yes. For example, a typical TM mantra is the bija of Lakshmi, is an epiphet of Lakshmi: "Shree" + the "terminator" letters, the chandra and the bindu, -- the sound "ing" -- which is the part that pulls the mind into no-thought, the calm state, the transcendent. Basic mantra-shastra teaches these meanings, but also layers of meanings and eventually, ineffability.
All the TM mantras have many meanings in similar ways.
