On Jan 28, 2007, at 6:58 AM, george_deforest wrote:
How to use a Mantra in Yoga Practice
by Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati
http://www.swamij.com/mantra-use.htm
this strikes me as a good un-biased overview,
and btw, TM manages to hit all the high points...
confirming that technique-wise, maharishi got it right!
("Swami J" is American-born, yet ordained into Swami order in India)
Hi George:
Don't be fooled. The basic technique is similar, but also in many
ways very different. First of all, in this Shankaracharya tradition
technique, it's taught properly. One starts out with learning proper
asana, then breath awareness and then purification of the subtle
channels with pranayama. After the student is observed for a period,
usually months of time, then and only does one get a mantra. And it's
not a mantra off a memorized list, it's mantra based on the student.
The student can also have their mantra changed if needed. And it
get's more advanced from there. That's why you don't see the side-
effects and causalities in that tradition like you do TM, where many
people have negative side-effects.
Here's a synopsis of that particular tradition by it's primary
exemplar (now deceased), "Swami" Rama. I included the entire quote
for context:
"Our Tradition
Shankaracharya established an ascetic order 1,200 years ago, though
renunciates had already lived in an unbroken lineage from the Vedic
period. He organized his orders through five main centers in the
North, East, South, West, and center of India. The entire ascetic
order of India traces its tradition from one of these centers. Our
tradition is Bharati. Bha means "knowledge;" rati means "lover."
Bharati means, "he who is the lover of knowledge." From this comes
the word Bharata, the land of spiritual knowledge, one of the
Sanskrit names used for India.
There is one thing unique to our tradition. It links itself to an
unbroken lineage of sages even beyond Shankara. Our Himalayan
tradition, though a tradition of Shankara, is purely ascetic, and is
practiced in the Himalayan caves rather than being related with
institutions established in the plains of India. In our tradition.
learning of the Upanishads is very important, along with the special
advanced spiritual practices taught by the sages. The Mandukya
Upanishad is accepted as one of the authoritative scriptures.
The knowledge of Sri Vidya is imparted stage by stage and the
advanced student is taught Prayoga Shastra. * We believe in both the
Mother and the Father principles of the universe. That which is
called maya or illusion, in our worship becomes the Mother and does
not remain as a stumbling block or obstacle on the path of spiritual
enlightenment. All of our worship is internal and we do not perform
any rituals. There are three stages of initiation given according to
our tradition. First, mantra, breath awareness, and meditation;
second, inner worship of Sri Vidya and bindu vedhan (piercing the
pearl of wisdom); third, shaktipata and leading the force of
kundalini to the thousand-petaled lotus called sahasrara chakra. At
this stage, we do not associate ourselves with any particular
religion, caste, sex, or color. Such yogis are called masters and are
allowed to impart the traditional knowledge. We strictly follow the
discipline of the sages.
It is not possible for me to discuss in detail the secret teachings
of Prayoga Shastra for it is said, "na datavyam, na datavyam, na
datavyam" -- "don't impart, don't impart, don't impart" unless
someone is fully prepared and committed and has practiced self-
control to a high degree. These attainments can be verified through
the experiences of the sages of the past. In our path, gurudeva is
not a god but a bright being who has faithfully and sincerely
attained a state of enlightenment. We believe in the grace of the
guru as the highest means for enlightenment, but never as the end.
The purpose of the guru is to selflessly help his disciples on the
way to perfection.
Our tradition has the following orientation:
1. One absolute without a second is our philosophy.
2. Serving humanity through selflessness is an expression of love
which one should follow through mind, action, and speech.
3. The yoga system of Patanjali is a preliminary step accepted by us
for the higher practices in our tradition, but philosophically we
follow the Advaita system of one absolute without a second.
4. Meditation is systematized by stilling the body, having serene
breath, and controlling the mind.
Breath awareness, control of the autonomic nervous system, and
learning to discipline primitive urges are practiced.
5. We teach the middle path to students in general, and those who are
prepared for higher steps of learning have the opportunity to learn
the advanced practices. This helps people in general in their daily
lives to live in the world and yet remain above. Our method, for the
convenience of Western students, is called Superconscious Meditation.
I am only a messenger delivering the wisdom of the Himalayan sages of
this tradition, and whatever spontaneously comes from the center of
intuition, that I teach. I never prepare my lectures or speeches, for
I was told by my master not to do so.
6. We do not believe in conversion, changing cultural habits, or
introducing any God in particular. We respect all religions equally,
loving all and excluding none. Neither do we oppose any temple,
mosque, or church, nor do we believe in building homes for God while
ignoring human beings. Our firm belief is that every human being is a
living institution or a temple
7. Our members are all over the world, and for the sake of
communication we also believe in education. Our graduate program
imparts the knowledge given by the sages, thereby fulfilling the
inner need of intellectuals.
8. We practice vegetarianism. We teach a nutritional diet that is
healthy and good for longevity, but at the same time we are not rigid
and do not force student to become vegetarians.
9. We respect the institution of the family and stress the education
of children by introducing a self-training
program and not by forcing our beliefs, faiths, and way of life on them.
10. Our trained teachers systematically impart all aspects of yoga
relating to body, breath, mind, and individual soul. Awareness within
and without is the key, and the methods of expansion are carefully
introduced to the students.
11. To serve humanity, we believe in examining, verifying, and coming
to certain conclusions regarding the yoga practices, including
relaxation and meditation.
12. Our experiments are documented and published for the benefit of
humanity.
13. We believe in universal brotherhood, loving all and excluding none.
14. We strictly abstain from politics and from opposing any religion.
15. Of great importance is the practice of non-violence with mind,
action, and speech.
The knowledge that is imparted by the sages and masters of the
Himalayas guides the aspirant like a light in the darkness. The
purpose of this message is to awaken the divine flame that resides in
the reservoir of every human being. This flame, when perfectly
kindled by spiritual discipline, mounts higher and higher into the
vast light of truth. It rises through the vital or nervous mind,
passes through our mental sky, and finally enters at the paradise of
light, its own supreme home in the eternal truth. Then the illumined
practitioner sits calm in his celestial sessions with the highest of
powers and drinks the wine of infinite beatitude. This child of
immortality is a child of universal parents, protected all the time
by the Mother Divine. This rapturous child of bliss remains divine
will intoxicated in delight. He becomes a sage, a sleepless envoy and
ever-wakeful guide for those who tread the path. Such a leader on the
path marches in front of human people to comfort, help, and enlighten
them."
Om, Shanti. Shanti, Shanti.
* Which explains the practicality and application of the discipline
one has to follow for this knowledge.
