Page 20 - NAMAH-Jan-2020

Living the mantra

James Anderson

Abstract
Once the mantra is discovered, our life changes for good. An indelible link is created and an
imprint is laid upon the soul. It becomes a true panacea for everyday living. The mantra possesses
immense power and accompanies us through our lifetime and, in the case of japa, leads us right up
to the threshold of transformation.

Mantra is my lifeline. It is the key that opens all the practice is resumed: it is truly an exercise
the doors. Truly, it gives me everything I need; in living.
it keeps me going. Without it my life would
have been sterile and meaningless. Once With mantra, the Word rises from the very
installed, there can be no turning back. Once depths of our being. It truly resonates inside.
discovered, everything can become so simple. When uttered, it rises to the surface and
The mantra, over time, builds momentum, calms my surface consciousness. Although
supporting and sustaining us through life. the overall process can be very long, with
We start living through it, although initially continuity and persistence, it starts to settle
at least, it may not be so easy. The repetition and determine proceedings inside. The mantra
is challenging enough, but it needs infusing starts to take over, align and organise our entire
with the greatest possible consciousness. existence. It becomes our greatest friend and
Inevitably there will be times when limp ally. Over time, it starts to automatically
and times of greater intensity. I feel a vivid repeat itself. As we practise and evolve, we
sense of drift when the mantra lessers with become conscious of this unique vibration,
the consciousness gravitating downwards. constantly present in the background. In times
Our consciousness needs continuous tending. of adversity and crisis, it magically reappears.
It is up to us to persistently bring the mantra It creates homogeneity in our being. Very
to the forefront of our consciousness. Any gradually the two parts — inner and outer —
slack and the focus and single-pointedness become one. It is remarkable how something
will disappear. For me, it is the mantra which so ‘exterior’ can manage all this!
elevates the consciousness and there is a
feeling of immediate realignment whenever As soon as it rises from inside, if the particular

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