Mantra #
One of the most ancient techniques in human’s history is repeating of mantras — certain sound combinations, resonance with particular parts of our brain and body. According to modern studies of neuro-psychologists, practice of mudras really changes relative amplitudes of brain rhythms, providing altered states of consciousness. They should not be confused with prayers and other forms of autosuggestion, because they can have no meaning (although some of them do have it). Some mantras have a symbolic meaning, for example, six syllables of Tibetan mantra Om mani padme hum correspond to six worlds of Buddhist cosmogony, but it is an exception.
Unfortunately mechanisms of mantra influence are not sufficiently studied. Maybe a key to understanding are researches of phonosemantics as for primary meanings of sounds, as well as the scheme of how different parts of the body correspond to different sounds.
There is another mechanism of mantra influence — resonance effect on endocrine and nervous vegetative systems. Indeed, singing various sounds, we can form our standing to have the maximum vibration amplitude over the needed zones. Thus mantras can perform an inner massage to our endocrine glands (see «Advanced pranayamas»).
Note that human’s history has other analogues of reading mantras. Hence a well-known musical instrument of Northern people — Jew’s-harp, uses the skull as the resonator, which makes it possible to localize acoustic vibrations of maximum amplitude in certain parts of brain, stimulating their activity.
In Indian tradition there were four ways (or stages) of reading mantras:
First stage — singing mantra aloud distinctly;
Second stage — mantra is whispered with distinct articulation;
Third stage — mantra is read mentally;
Fourth stage — the highest — lines of mantra are not pronounced, but a practitioner takes the respective state.
There are also some less known ways to use mantras. One of them is a brusque shouting out of certain sounds. For instance, in Tibetan yoga to relieve depression, they were shouting out mantra «phat». In Japan there were mantras «os» and «kiay». These practices demand an articulate pronunciation and correlating mantras with breathing.
Another technique that can be considered as mantra is listening to inhaling and exhaling of the air. In Indian tradition it is believed that when you inhale the air, it makes the sound «so» or «sah», and when you exhale — the sound «ham».