|
Reviews
"highly readable. A
rare knowledge that is
concisely, poetically put."
- The Book Reader
"For those who seek the
more esoteric explanations of
the practice and power of an
ancient spiritual discipline.
Recommended for public
libraries."
- ALA Choice
"Very complete, a
highly readable work. Radha?s
use of language is delicate,
her touch surprisingly
light."
- New Age
Excerpt
From Chapter 7: Individual Mantras
Hari Om is the healing
Mantra. Hari is a name of
Vishnu, the preserving aspect
of the Divine. Krishna is also
an aspect of the preserving or
sustaining force, and so Hari
may be thought of as the
healing aspect of Lord Krishna.
God assumes many aspects in
order to provide us with a
variety of ways to tackle our
difficulties, according to
individual characteristics and
temperaments.
In Sanskrit, Hari means
"to take away."
Vishnu takes away the
consequences of offences,
errors, and follies, when there
is repentance. These are the
impurities that bring about
grief and sickness. If they are
removed, health and strength
are conserved for spiritual
endeavors.
Om or AUM is the Hindu
trinity, which here means
creation, preservation, and
destruction: the generation
within us of that which is
pure, sacred, and noble; the
sustaining and strengthening of
these qualities; and the
dissolving of all that is
impure and negative.
This Mantra calls on Vishnu
(or Lord Krishna) to preserve
the human body and the mind in
the best state of health for
the purpose of finding
Self-Realization, attaining to
the Om, the cosmic concept that
absorbs all aspects in One,
finally becoming formless.
The Hari Om Mantra is most
powerful between midnight and
three o'clock in the morning.
At this time worldly vibrations
are calm and mental activity is
less. This is the time at which
you are most likely to have a
spiritual experience.
Since the science of sound
and breath control applies to
any religion, Christians can
chant Jesus Christ to the tune
of Hari Om, while Jews can use
Adonai or Elohim. A Buddhist
might choose one of the names
of Lord Buddhist might choose
one of the names of Lord
Buddha; or you can chant the
words, divine Mother, or use
any one of her 108 names, such
as Radha, Lakshmi, or
Saraswati. When a spontaneous
feeling of gratitude wells up
towards your teacher or Guru,
this may be expressed by using
the teacher's name as a way of
blessing and giving thanks for
all that has been received. You
can go from one to another of
these names, in order to give
greater variety to the
chanting, without changing the
notes and the key in which the
Mantra is sung.
Through the various ways in
which it can be chanted, Hari
Om is effective in efforts to
make the mind single-pointed.
To control the restlessness of
the mind and overcome feelings
of doubt, changes may be made
by stressing syllables or
sounds differently, while
keeping the melody the same.
Here are some possibilities:
Sing in a soft voice, using
normal breathing to bring the
mind slowly under control.
Sing a full sequence of
Mantra in one breath, so the
concentration is again
gathered, like light through a
magnifying glass, to become
single-pointed and returned to
the Mantra. Continue chanting
for as long as you can keep the
concentration single-pointed.
If the mind begins to behave
like a monkey, jumping here and
there, it is time to make
another change.
Chant two sequences in one
breath. This will again help to
bring concentration back to the
Mantra. When concentration
begins to wane it is time to
attempt three Mantras in one
breath.
When thoughts crowd in and you
cannot keep them out by any
effort of will, try another
change. Express your distress
by emphasizing the
"ee" sound in Hari.
Stress the HA, with emphasis on
the breath and tension of the
muscles in the region of the
solar plexus. Link this with
the mind and throw out
everything that is negative.
Another variation is to
stress the Om, extending the
sound as long as possible.
Click
to listen to Hari Om
mantra.
© 1997 timeless
More information
Click
for more information on mantra
yoga.
back to top
|
