24. Chanting the mantra AUM
A mantra is a word or phrase or sentence that, when repeated soulfully, focuses and purifies the mind, elevates the heart and brings to the fore that which is most divine within us.
For this week meditation exercise we focus on the sacred and ancient mantra AUM which Sri Chinmoy describes in this way: "AUM is the soundless sound. It is the vibration of the Supreme. It is called the Seed-Sound of the Universe, for with this sound, the Supreme set into motion the first vibration of His creation. The teeming universe is sustained perpetually by the creative vibration of the Divine AUM."
Sri Chinmoy's words:
It is best to chant AUM out loud, so its sound can vibrate even in your physical ears and permeate your entire body. This will convince your outer mind and give you a greater sense of joy and achievement. When chanting out loud, the 'M' sound should last at least three times as long as the 'AU' sound.
There are many ways to chant AUM. If you chant it loudly, you feel the Omnipotence of the Supreme. When you chant it softly, you feel the Delight of the Supreme. When you chant it silently, you feel the Peace of the Supreme. Everything that God has and everything that God is within and without, AUM can offer to you because AUM is at once the Life, the Body and the Breath of God.
If you want to achieve overall purification of your nature, then japa can be most effective. But you have to do it in a systematic way, step by step. Today repeat 'AUM' or 'Supreme' or whatever mantra your Master has given you five hundred times. Then tomorrow repeat it six hundred times; the day after tomorrow, seven hundred, and so on, until you reach twelve hundred in one weeks time. Then beg descending each day until you reach five hundred again. In this way you can climb up the tree and climb down the tree.
Please continue this exercise, week by week for a month. Whether you want to change your name or not, the world will give you a new name: 'Purity'. Some of my disciples have done this exercise and they have achieved, I must say, considerable purification of their nature and their emotional problems. (Source: Meditation: Man-Perfection In God-Satisfaction)
Follow the ancient disciplines
And soulfully recite
The sacred mantra-incantations.
– Sri Chinmoy