Comment below: --- In [email protected], "jim_flanegin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
**SNIP** (I wrote:) > > Peter (and anyone else), > > > > What's your take on the spectrum of possible positive/negative > effects > > of using for japa the big, public, > > everyone-has-heard-this-innumberable-times type mantras without > formal > > initiation? Mantras like the Gayatri or the Mahamrytunjaya, etc.? > > Understanding, of course, that one *could* receive initiation in > their > > use but that these are mantras that one might listen to already in > any > > number of different recordings. Already part of the chit. > > > > Thanks. > > > > Marek > > > > What a delicious question! Whatever the lineage of the mantra, it > appears that the most important determinant of a mantra's effect on > us is from which teacher it comes, specifically those consciously > integrated most comprehensively with the most powerful Beings in our > universe (e.g. Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma). > > Such mantra transmission from a teacher, who is integrated most > comprehensively with the most powerful Beings in our universe, will > be instilled with two qualities: First, the mantra selection itself > will be comprehensively supportive for the recipient. > > What I mean is that as the practice [of meditation on that mantra] > matures, the result of the experience will continue to be life > supporting and bountiful for the adherent. There is no danger of the > adherent finding their nervous system out-of-tune, or the mantra > losing its 'juice' over time. > > In addition, by finding our mantra through a teacher who is closely > and deeply aligned with a powerful universal being, we can be > assured that there are no limits placed on our spiritual evolution, > through use of that mantra. > > How do we know whether we have such a mantra? A simple test-- Time > will tell; if we are not pleased with some aspect of our mantra > meditation, we will stop. If, on the other hand, we find the mantra > meditation naturally complements our life, we'll continue... > > Thanks. > **SNIP TO END** Jim, no disaqreement with above, however the focus of my question concerned the use of mantras obtained "without" a teacher (but not mantras read out of a book). Mantras that are (more or less) part and parcel of one's everyday auditory experience; mantras that are available on CD recordings, cassette tape recordings, MP3 files on the internet, etc. You could make the case that the person who made the recording who is most aligned with the big folk of the universe would be the best, etc., but the point is that there is no "formal" transmission. There's just transmission. And again, I'm not talking about initiation or even deep meditation; I'm just talking about doing japa with a common, well-known mantra. It was suggested recently to me by an acquaintance that I might want to do some japa with the Mahamrytunjaya mantra. Known it for years through several different audio sources and CD recordings. No one "taught" it to me, I've just known it for a long while. It comes from the Rig Veda and has been considered one of the universal mantras and is obviously associated with one of the big folk. What's your (or anyone else's) take on the pluses or minuses of doing japa with same? Thanks. Marek ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Does he tell you he loves you when he hits you? Abuse. Narrated by Halle Berry. http://us.click.yahoo.com/hemMeA/rbOLAA/d1hLAA/0NYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
