Inside Himalayan Caves,

Over monestry walls,

Across the hill tops of Tibet,

One can hear those syllables.

In the quaint street of Salisbury,

Down a conservative lane,

Those mantric sounds too,

Could be heard all the same.

Susan had sat apon her cushion,

Rearranged herself again,

Stilling the mind for meditation

Was difficult to attain.

Remembering that mantras,

Were an ancient technique.

In the corner of her bedroom,

Released the power of speech.

She began by chanting ''Aum''

'The seed sound of creation'

And after a few minutes

Was deep in meditation.

As her mind was now focused,

Mundane thoughts ceased their rounds

And her heart's beauty blossomed

Coupled with the verbal sound

She felt some what reserved at first,

But what a discovery!

And from that day forward

Chanted Aum, Peace and Shanti

Question: Will you please speak about mantras?

Sri Chinmoy: Mantra is a Sanskrit word. In Indian philosophy, spirituality and the inner life, mantras play a considerable role. A mantra is a syllable divinely surcharged with power. This power can be utilised for a divine purpose or for an undivine purpose orate it is attained through chanting.

Mantras are of two types. One kind of mantra is called dhvani-antak, which means 'with sound'. This mantra comes into existence from sound. The other kind of mantra is called varnantak, which means 'lettered'. This mantra is called a soundless mantra. When two things are struck together we hear a sound. But we hear the sound of AUM, the anahata nada, in the inmost recesses of our hearts. Ahata means struck; anahata means unstruck. Varnantak and anahata are the same.

At times we will discover that we hear the word we have been repeating even after we stop. If we continue repeating 'God, God, God,' for some time, when we stop, we will hear the same name of God being repeated inside our heart. The mouth is not functioning, but the inner being has started repeating the mantra naturally and spontaneously.