(snip)
> > I can speak only from my own experience, but shortly
> > after I learned TM, I experimented using "Jesus" as
> > my mantra, with disappointing results.
>
>
> I wonder about this too. It seems that "pretty" sounds are used. My
> mother had a very lovely unusual name with lots of long vowels. I can
> meditate using her name to the same effect as my mantra.
(snip)
The thing is: The process of Transcendental Meditation is a process of
transcending thought...
There are all kinds of ways to transcend thought: excersize, music,
whatever you 'lose' yourself in...
Specifically the mantras which Maharishi has given out, have specific
and life-supporting effects.
{I am sure you have listened to some sounds or some music, which you
must have experienced as jarring, or upsetting, confusing or even
depressing.
Some vibrations are lower vibrations of the lower world:
They have there own lower feelings, bad smells, darkness, seperation
and confusion}
And then there are the higher vibrations-
Sound is vibration.
Silence is the absence of vibration.
The mantra given in TM is used as a vehicle to transcend thought.
To bring the mind to stillness, to silence.
The whole process is to begin to experience the backround on which
thoughts are formed: consciousness. itself. the witness of the self,
beyond ego.
After one has learned to transcend thought, and can maintain some sense
of silence,
Then one can begin to witness, and introduce a sutra or vibration of
the intention.
Then one could think 'Indra' and could feel the essence of a storm.
One could think 'Shivayai' and begin to feel the vibration of the
aspect of God called Shiva.
So one begins to feel the world as energy, vibration.
And eventually one can stand apart from the spin of the whole thing...
Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu, the three gunas...
From my experience, it is necessary first, to still the mind;
To silence the mind and then introduce the vibration you wish to
attract.
In other words, about your Mom...
Stilling yourself, think her name, and you would begin to have the
sense of her, being with you.
In the same way, we can vibrate the vibration of compassion, for
example, which is more abstract;
Or, in the example that was used for using Jesus as a mantra-
>From my experience it would be better to use the name that is closest
to the actual name of Jesus.
The intention to attune yourself to him, and the closest name/form:
Yeshua...
In silence you 'call' to you, whatever you vibrate..
Gods and Goddesses, Avatars and Saviors...
The Jews use - Adonoi, Elocheem...
Some say the name of God, can't be spoken.
The transcendent cannot be spoken, very true.
Buddha said: it's not this, and it's not that...same idea.
The silence, which is your own silence, becomes the backround-
It's just a matter of clearing the noise from the system, really.
Clearing the noise.
You intend to 'vibrate' the vibration of that which you seek.
