2012 Enigma 11-11-11 The Spiritual Awakening and the Dawn of a New Era For All Mankind to Experience Spiritually part 4
2012 Enigma 11-11-11 The Spiritual Awakening and the Dawn of a New Era For All Mankind to Experience Spiritually part 4
To make the mind empty is difficult as by its very nature, the mind changes, processes memories, makes associations and constantly takes in new information. Possibly the only time the mind becomes somewhat still is in the deep state of dreamless sleep. Because of these mental processes, one method to make the mind quiet and focused is to tempt or lead it to concentrate on one object or stimulus at a time. The goal therefore is not to make the mind empty, but to quieten the mind by giving it a single focus. (Hindu traditions for example, have many idols or Demi Gods. There are many thousands to choose from and you choose the one which appeals to your psyche. The purpose of ‘Idols’ within Hinduism is misunderstood and usually mocked by other religions. Even the general Hindu believer does not understand it fully. The idol is there to create a single focus mind, ‘worship’ of this idol is a by product. The idol is meant to be used as a symbol in meditation).
A word, phrase, sound or a symbol can be used to give the mind this one-pointed focus on which to concentrate. Mantras can be used to focus. The words Amen, Shalom, and Om (Aum) are all mantras. There are many sounds, syllables or words which can be used as mantras. Many aspirants try and co ordinate a mantra with their inhalation and exhalation. Not all mantras however can be utilised in this manner. Mantra is a powerful tool, a compact prayer. Constant prayer creates awareness and constant awareness leads to self-realization.
Carrying on with Mantras, many have asked about Mantra chanting during breathing, inhalation and exhalation. Not all Mantras can be coordinated with the breath during inhalation and exhalation. If you try to force the Mantra to follow the waves of your breath, you will end up creating a distraction for yourself and disrupt your breathing. The goal is not to keep on paying attention to the process of breathing. Soham mantra lends itself perfectly to our inhalation and exhalation. The Soham Mantra is a universal mantra and perfect for realigning your chakras and for centering.
All sounds have certain qualities. Some are soothing others are energizing. As readers of this Healer 2.0 blog come from many different backgrounds and religions I am proposing using a universal and a natural sound SO HAM to initially focus the wandering mind. What is SO…..HAM?
Soham (pronounced “So’hum”) literally means “I am Him”. Every soul has a presence of God in it. In other words, it means “God is within”.
This natural mantra, is the mantra of your true self. It does not belong to the East or the West or to any religion. So’ham is the inherent in everybody, in all of us; it repeats itself continually, along with our breathing. It is said that as long as this mantra keeps going on inside us, there is life in the body. As soon as it stops, we are no more.
The Bible tells us that in the beginning there was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. But in the beginning, there were no words, no languages, or even sounds of humans or animals. So what was the Word that was in the beginning?
The ancient cavemen, before they had invented language or fire, would sit in their dark caves and have nothing else to focus on but the sound of their breath. Similarly, the first sound we hear when we were in our mothers’ womb is the sound of her breath, and this sound has been with us ever since we drew our first breath. It negates the need to rely on any of the words of the languages of the world to use as a mantra. It can be done even while driving, working, and doing other acts of daily life and thereby offers a continuous experience of being in the present. This is a great present, because Reality takes place now, in the present. Soham is a wonder-full meditation/focusing technique and I hope its constant application will bring you the experience of Knowledge, Consciousness, and Bliss that is your birthright.
In Sanskrit, the sound of the inhalation is termed SO, and the exhalation is HAM. Combined, the word Soham is translated as “I Am He/That”. So, whenever you are doing this technique, you are calling on God. Every breath thus becomes a prayer and adoration.
How SOHAM can be utilised to regain focus and how it can be used to center yourself.
At the time and in the place where you feel most comfortable, place your body in the position that you have found to be the most beneficial for meditation. Close your eyes. Close your ears by putting your thumbs in them, or by using earplugs. This will intensify the sound of your breath while diminishing the distractions that sight and sound bring. Focus on the sound of your breath coming in. Associate it with the word So. As your breath leaves, listen to the sound and associate it with the word Ham. To pronounce So and Ham correctly, listen to how they sound. For those just starting to use this technique, it is usual to silently say the word So with each inhalation and the word Ham with each exhale. When you are focused consistently, consciously, you will flow into simply listening to the sound of Soham. Soham is by far the easiest meditation. It comes to all living creatures without any effort. The following link illustrates precisely how SOHAM can be done or performed. It is much better than explaining.