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"Mantra has so much power! It has more value than any wealth in the world. Wealth is like insignificant
dust particles in comparison to mantra. But what does the recitation of mantra do in the hearts of
devotees? Primarily, it controls the emotions. The mantra controls anger and other negative qualities
in the hearts of seekers. It controls all the negativity in the mind, in the body and in life..."
"Mantra meditation is not only something one practices, but a radical re-envisioning of ourselves, our lives,
and our ability to create the future we desire... Through the application of Sanskrit spiritual formulas,
energy comes into our body that dissolves our difficulties and improves our lives."
"...mantras are creative forces that act directly upon consciousness... While all sounds are ultimately
manifestations of the divine Power, mantras are especially concentrated expressions of Shakti. This gives
them their particular potency and usefulness on the spiritual path."
"Mantra chanting increases willpower, the power of concentration, and positive emotions..." Mantra yoga is an ancient practice, the origins of which extend back into the obscurity of prehistory. By the time the Vedas were recorded in writing (the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism, ca. 5000 B.C.E.), the concept of the mantra had already been developed to a very sophisticated degree, so it is safe to say that humans have been chanting mantras for quite a long time! A mantra is a sacred sound, which may take the form of a letter, a syllable, a word, a sentence, or even a short paragraph. The sacred sound of the mantra has a vibratory energy that operates at a particular frequency, so, when a person repeats the mantra enough times their own energy field becomes attuned to the frequency of the mantra. This is a good thing, because the mantras that are used in yoga practice are intended to vibrate the frequencies that create emotional stability, dissolve energy blockages, increase contentment, happiness and peace, and can even lead to the ultimate goal of yoga - knowledge of the Self. Mantras exist and have been documented in many cultures and languages. The mantra chanting sessions at Ananda Bhav Yoga use Sanskrit, the ancient, sacred language of India, which is particularly well-suited to this practice. Over the course of thousands of years, seers (rshis), yogis and priests (brahmans) in India have experimented with Sanskrit, sculpting it into a perfect vehicle for mantric energies, and the effectiveness of the language has been verified and attested to by countless practitioners over the centuries. The Sanskrit mantras are directly complementary to hatha yoga and can yield a greatly increased benefit if both forms are made a part of one's spiritual path.
It's important to remember that, although there are instruments involved and the chants have specific melodies and rhythms, this is not a recital of classical music, nor is it a rock concert. It is actually a yoga practice and as such, your personal ability to sing is not important. No one will be judging how well you can hold a tune here! What matters is that you surrender your inhibitions/feelings of inadequacy (if you have them) and allow the mantra to do its work. Chanting classes will be held on Friday nights as regularly as possible at Ananda Bhav Yoga; check the calendar below to find out the schedule for this month. To sign up for chanting classes, contact Ian Boccio (404.401.0060 ian@anandabhav.com) to reserve a space and pay by cash or check at the studio. |
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Click this link to get on the Mantra Yoga email list and receive regular updates about the chanting schedule: |
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August 2008
Bija Mantra Sadhana July 2008
Bija Mantra Sadhana June 2008
Lakshmi Vighneshwari Mantra Sadhana May 2008
Lakshmi Vighneshwari Mantra Sadhana April 2008
Lakshmi Vighneshwari Mantra Sadhana March 2008
Friday, March 7th, 8 pm, at Ananda Bhav Yoga - $15 February 2008
Friday, February 8th, 8 pm, at Ananda Bhav Yoga - $15 January 2008
Saturday, January 5th, 8 pm, at Ananda Bhav Yoga - $15 December 2007
Friday, December 7th, 8 p.m., at Ananda Bhav Yoga - $15 |
"The chanting or recitation of mantras activates and accelerates the creative spiritual force,
promoting harmony in all parts of the human being. The devotee is gradually converted into a living
centre of spiritual vibration that is attuned to some other centre of vibration vastly more powerful.
This energy can be appropriated and directed for the benefit of the one who uses it and for that of others."
The actual practice of mantra chanting could not be more simple. Upon arriving at the yoga studio you will
take a seat, on the floor or in a chair as you prefer, and you will get a sheet that gives
the mantras (usually three) that will be chanted that evening in Sanskrit but written in phonetically
rendered English. Once the session begins, Ian will sit up at the front along with the other musicians
(if any) and the music will begin. The musical accompaniment is simple and rhythmically repetitive, to
help create a tranquil and open state of mind. Then Ian will begin chanting the first mantra. Once you
have picked up the rhythm, melody and pronunciation of the words, you can join in the chant, and soon
enough everyone in the room will be resonating with the energy of the mantra. When the energy has been
building for an appropriate amount of time, Ian will stop chanting and you can too, when you feel ready.
The music will play for a while longer and you can keep repeating the mantra internally, allowing the energy
of the mantra to be incorporated into your own energy. Finally, the music will fade out and the
group will sit in silence for a few minutes, continuing to repeat the mantra and drawing that energy
even further inside. After the silent meditation, the music will begin again and Ian will chant the next
mantra.
