Lesson 27 - Meditation Q&A – Location of mantra

From: Yogani
Date: Wed Dec 3, 2003 0:08pm

New Members: It is recommended you read from the beginning of the
archive, as previous lessons are prerequisite to this one. The first
lesson is, "Why This Discussion?"

Q: Am I supposed to think the mantra in particular locations in the
body? Sometimes it gravitates to physical locations in me.

A: No, we do not deliberately physically locate the mantra. This is a
delicate question because the mantra has a vibratory quality that
awakens the nervous system in particular ways, as previously
discussed on the question about the vibratory quality of the mantra.
So it might be experienced in some place or another, as you said. But
we do not favor that. We continue with the simple procedure for using
the mantra, always.

The nervous system in its most subtle realms is like a tuning fork --
rather, like a multitude of tuning forks, with just a few tuning
forks harmonizing the vibrations of all the others. The mantra
resonates with these few leading tuning forks. Later on, we will
enhance the mantra to broaden the influence of this tuning fork
effect. The result will be broader and deeper immovable inner
silence, also experienced as pure bliss consciousness coming up in us.

If you find the mantra occurring in particular locations, that is
okay. We don't resist that. Nor do we encourage it. Just as we let
the mantra settle down naturally to quieter and quieter levels, so
too do we let it occur in the body wherever it is naturally. If it
doesn't occur in any particular place, that is okay too. It is not
about physical locations. The mantra naturally resonates according to
the complex purification process going on inside us while we are
meditating. All we have to do is follow the simple procedure of
thinking the mantra easily, and picking it back up easily when we
realize we have been off it.

Another reason this question you ask about location of the mantra is
a delicate one is because soon we will be discussing pranayama, and
taking up an advanced breathing practice before each meditation
session. This will involve moving the attention in a particular way
through the physical body in concert with the breath. We will be
using two practices in succession – pranayama and meditation, each
quite different in its procedure. They will complement each other
tremendously, as you will see. This will be the beginning of the all-
important integration of advanced yoga practices. Each part will be
done independently. Yet, with these two methods taken in succession,
an integration will begin to occur in us. The whole will be greater
than the sum of the parts. Instead of using one natural pathway to
the divine in us (the mind), we will be using two (adding the
breath). Together, these will transform the nervous system at a more
rapid rate, and the greater purification and corresponding
experiences will reflect this. This process of integration of
practices will be gradually expanded to more fully embrace all of the
natural pathways leading in through us, and coax pure bliss
consciousness out through us in increasingly dynamic ways. This
integration of practices is a delicate process, much like playing a
musical instrument. We must be able to do one thing at one time and
do another different thing at another time. With some practices, we
will be doing several different things at the same time. It is all
part of a natural unfoldment in us, and the practices themselves will
become natural in due course, and automatic. The results
experientially cannot be done justice with the written word, except
perhaps in poetry. You have to go there and see what it is for
yourself. It is the real "final frontier." It is the glorious cosmos,
and you are the doorway.

The guru is in you.

<  Previous  |  Next  >