The Power of Mantra and the Mystery of Initiation Paperback – February 8, 2007

The dictionary defines mantra as a sacred word or phrase that is repeated and used in some forms of meditation to deepen the meditative state. But that is only part of the story. The Buddhist scholar Edward Conze used to describe mantras as "spells," and others translate them as "instruments of thought." Pandit Tigunait describes mantra as "the word which protects just by the virtue of being repeated."The idea that words and sounds could have power is found in every culture. Many Hindu philosophers, like some of the early Greek writers and Kabbalists, thought that sound was a great deal more than a noise, but was a fundamental property of the Universe that had the potential to create physical forms. Mantra meditation became well known during the 1960s with the rise of Transcendental Meditation.Some of the literature on mantras is patchy, but this book is just outstanding. Pandit Tigunait's teacher was Swami Rama who was for two decades a close friend and confidante of one of my own teachers, so I probably knew a bit more of this material than average. I can also attest to the power of mantras.The author comes from a school of thought that believes that mantras should be passed directly from a teacher, and so this is not a book with details of how to use them. Instead it is a book that sets out to explain why it is that mantras produce the effects that they do. In this it succeeds extremely well.However, the book is not just theory: there are also two appendices detailing some excellent methods for preparing for mantra initiation by a teacher. I was first taught them as a teenager, and they can be very effective if done with passion and focus. You can use these exercises either on their own, or as preparation for working with a teacher.Highly recommended.

Great book, serves it purpose and gives much more knowledge than that. The writing is very lucid and one doesn't need to scramble for a dictionary or have to have brilliant English to understand the content. A must read for anyone and everyone who is spiritual, no matter whether they meditate and no matter what fatih of meditation they do. Particularly useful for those who wish to get initiated into meditation but have doubts and want an authoritative clarification without having to read the scriptures. This book answered all my questions and also shed a new scientific yet spiriitual perspective on things I already knew. The condition of the book was also excellent - though I had picked up one that said "very good" from here.

This book is valuable because it offers a lot of information which is not readily available in other books on mantras in the West. It presents the traditional way of working with mantras and the author suggests that unless you have a guru (teacher) your attempts of working with mantras on your own may be either unfruitful or dismal.Because the author believes that you should be guided through your exploration of mantras - by a guru (teacher), there are no mantras, except so'ham in this book. However, the process described for working with mantras is very good. You will learn about different kinds of mantras, and at the end of the book, the author offers few yantras, hatha yoga postures and breathing techniques.The book warns of different challenges and pitfalls one may encounter of the way. Some should be really common-sense - that is if you engage in doing anything mechanically, without putting your heart and soul into it, you will get bored with the process much sooner than you get any results. It is also unlikely that you will get results - whether you are meditating, doing mantras, or mastering any other skill in life, unless your heart is in it and the practice of learning of the skill is imbued with life. Devotion to any subject is what makes one's being most receptive to the mastery of the subject.To point out what kind of dismal consequences can happen to a person who decides to work with mantras without his guru's guidance - and blessing, if you like - the author gives an example of a person who found a mantra in book and started fervently repeating it. As he was nearing the end of required repetitions of the mantra, a gigantic woman materialized with a huge pot, and then a huge man who asked the woman if there's anything to eat - at which point the woman said there is nothing else other than she could cook this man, who was repeating the mantra.I would now like to mention that in ordinary life, among people who have neither interest or knowledge of esoteric stuff - it often happens that when individual embarks upon a journey of accomplishing some goal that is much bigger than he is - he encounters numerous challenges on the way. This is actually a universal experience and is sometimes referred to as a mythic journey of a hero. The challenges are there both in a way of tests - to test how genuine is the purpose of the hero and make the hero aware of any weaknesses he has to overcome within himself to successfully complete the journey. When a person's heart is set on attaining this great goal, when his heart is pure, his mind is so completely focused on the goal, that no obstacles exist on his way. The fire of his intention and love for the noble goal, burns the obstacles away. The person may be put in a situation where he has to demonstrate that he is willing even to give his life in order to accomplish his goal - the moment he is willing to give all of himself to have the desired goal - even his life if need be, the obstacles get vaporized.As for the guru - whether we are consciously aware of it or not - each one of us is in the hands of the Supreme Guru (teacher) which is within us. It speaks to us through our conscience and it guides us all the time - if we are willing to pay attention to it. If we turn to it, it will take us over any obstacles in life. If we act arrogantly and pretend that we know better than IT does - we'll suffer the consequences.Granted, when working with mantras, one should know how to pronounce them properly and in this respect, even if one doesn't have a guru (teacher), there are numerous books and audio recordings created by people who are very well versed in the science of sound and working with mantras. You may experience some profound and sometimes instant effects even by just listening to recordings created by such individuals. The results you experience may then inspire you to get more deeply involved in the study of mantras and to work with the teacher who has demonstrated his helpfulness to you.There are many people in the East and in the West who call themselves "gurus", but who themselves still have much to learn and who do not possess enough spiritual discernment to guide others. These have not yet mastered their own impulses, these yet do not have control over their own minds and emotions. These have not yet become intimately acquainted with the Supreme Guru - God within. The one who doesn't live his life consciously under the guidance of this Supreme Inner Guru, is not ripe yet to guide others on the spiritual path.Ideal and genuine external guru should be a pure reflection of your Inner Guru - committed totally to this One Supreme Guru - One Self expressing through everything and everyone. Because the Inner Guru (teacher) guides you through your heart, when you meet a genuine external guru, you will know it in your heart - you will feel a resonance, a stirring of energy in your heart - even if you don't know anything consciously about that individual and regardless of how such individual may look or behave on the outside.There is a saying that is absolutely correct - when the student is ready, a teacher appears. It works because of the Law of resonance. If you genuinely desire guidance in working with mantras beyond the scope of books and don't know where to find further external guidance, you can always rely on your Inner Guru to guide you. Simply ask for guidance with your heart. Your guru (teacher) may even guide you through your dreams. The possibilities are endless.

I feel this book is a great start to a deeper practice of meditation and understanding of Yoga in general. It opens many of the ancient teachings meaning to a more Western mindset in a comprehensive and direct way. Well written and full of parables that help illustrate the journey to a 'one pointed' frame of mind that helps facilite a greater peace and calm, especially when initiated by a master in the Yogic tradition. Highly recommended!

Another incredible book from my teacher's teacher. Beautifully written and easy to understand. An important addition to any yogi's library.

This is a useful text. upon reading it I was able to ascertain that the process by which I was given my mantra was correct, and that was reassuring.

this book puts the new age movement in to shade.you can't buy a mantra........to must be given.

I bought this as a guidebook for mantra meditation and its not that so I'm disappointed in it. It might yet prove to be worthwhile.