The Navhind Times 30-Sep-2007
Chanting Mantras Can Transform Life
By Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev
W hat is the significance of chanting mantras? Logical minds have a problem
with mantras. A logical mind asks: "What can a simple sound do to me?"
All mantras are not for higher levels of freedom. There are many mantras
that you can chant for getting material benefits or to even ward off negativity. Day-
to-day matters can be effectively handled by such mantras. Very few mantras lead to
spiritual well-being. If any mantra, God, or religion supported your greed, fear or
limitation it would be of no significance. Maybe your immediate purposes would
be served because you destroyed your neighbour with your mantra or you made the
necessary money that you wanted.
Why do some people make fun of those who chant mantras? A jnana yogi uses his
intelligence to realise his ultimate nature. Usually jnana yogis have absolute disdain
for all other systems, because they consider everything other than jnana stupid or
idiotic. They laugh at bhaktas; they make fun of kriya yogis and karma yogis. Once
a jnana yogi went to Shiva and said, "All your bhaktas keep chanting mantras? All
they are doing is just adding to the noise pollution. If you want to transcend, you
must have the consciousness to look beyond. Just by shouting mantras, where will
they go? Why don't you tell them to stop this nonsense?"
Pointing to a worm crawling on the floor Shiva said, "Just go close to that worm
and utter the mantra, Shiva Shambho." The jnana yogi shrugged with disdain and
went close to the worm and uttered Shiva Shambho. The worm died. The jnana yogi
was shocked. He said, "What is this? I just uttered the mantra, and the worm died."
Shiva smiled and pointed to a butterfly and said: "Focus on that butterfly and say,
Shiva Shambho". The jnana yogi said, "No, I don't want to kill the butterfly." Shiva
said, "Try." The jnana yogi looked at the butterfly and said, Shiva Shambho. The
butterfly too died.
The jnana yogi was taken aback and said, "If this is what the mantra does, why
would anyone want to utter it?" Shiva continued to smile and again pointing to a
spotted deer romping around said: "Focus on the deer and say Shiva Shambho." The
jnana yogi said, "No, I don't want to kill the deer. Shiva said, "It doesn't matter; say
it". So the jnana yogi said, Shiva Shambho; the deer fell dead. Aghast, the jnana yogi
asked: "What is the purpose of this mantra? It is just for killing every being".
Soon after, a mother came with her newborn child seeking Shiva's blessings. Shiva
looked at the jnana yogi and said, "Why don't you utter the mantra on this child?"
He replied, "No, I don't want to kill the child." Shiva said: "Try." The jnana yogi, with
great apprehension, approached the child and said, Shiva Shambho. The child sat
up and spoke. He said, "I was just a worm; with one mantra you transformed me
into a butterfly. With another mantra you turned me into a deer. With yet another
mantra you turned me into a human being. Just utter the mantra once more; I want
to attain divinity."
Modern science has now conclusively proven that the whole of existence is just
a vibration of energies. Where there is vibration there is bound to be a sound. So
in yoga we say the whole existence is just a sound. This is known as nada brahmn.
The entire creation is a complex amalgamation of sounds. In this complex web of
sounds there are a few sounds which are key sounds. These key sounds are referred
to as mantra.
Sadhguru's 7-day inner engineering program will be held in Margaoto from October 3. 2007 at 6.30 pm at the 'Motiram hall', Baboy com-
merce centre. Margao. For further details contact 9822100305.