By way of our actions and non-actions, the human body, mind, and soul become fragile and enfeebled. Chanting mantras with utmost concentration and purity of thought enables the mind to regain vigour and robustness, resulting in an alchemical transmutation. Consequently, we are able to enhance the Shiva Tattva, Narayana Tattva, and Guru Tattva in ourselves. The above narrative was regarding Hinduism. However, all religious orders and spiritual organisations endorse the chanting of words and syllables.
The intent of these words is to silence the mind, helping it travel from cacophony to symphony. Among Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs, it is the cantillation of OM. Those professing Islam undertake incantations of Qur’anic passages, or the Names of Allah. Christians offer praise to the Lord by chanting scriptural texts, especially the Psalms. Jews too chant from the biblical texts (Old Testament). Practitioners of Sudarshan Kriya, a rhythmic breathing technique, inhale and exhale to the syllables So-ham. Aeons ago lived a Zen Master who specialised in teaching mantras. The foundation of his teachings was absolute faith in the mantra being chanted. Two tutees once approached him and expressed a desire to learn a mantra that would help them fly in the sky. The wise Master wanted to know if they were sure that they would carry out his instructions in toto and with absolute faith, which was agreed to by the mentees. Very soon they began to levitate and, over a period of time, began to fly like majestic birds.
Somewhere in the stratosphere one day, the two postulants met and exchanged notes. Said the first novitiate, “Brother, what is the syllable imparted to you by the Holy Master?” “La,” replied the second freshman. “Oh! I was given the mantra Ba,” remarked the first greenhorn. They surmised that if they were to combine the two mantras, surely their powers would be magnified and they could then circumnavigate the universe. In their minds, they thought it extremely unfair on the part of the Master to impart only one half of the mantra to each of them. Their energy and enthusiasm doubled, but faith punctured, they chanted the mantra Ba-La. Much to their surprise, they came hurtling down and landed with a big thud. The enlightened Master had disseminated the sacred words to his students, which were La and Ba respectively, and not a combination. They were consumed by venomous vipers, as in a game of snakes and ladders, and their virtuosity dissipated in the sands of time.
Meanwhile, a young boy’s mother lay on the last leg of her life. His father and family were traumatised. The boy overheard the doctor telling his father that only a miracle could save her. In all innocence, he rushed to the chemist in the hospital, placed all his savings with a few rupees on the counter, and asked for the magic drug called “miracle.” Taking pity, the chemist handed him vitamin tablets.
The boy prayed to Almighty God and gave the “miracle” medicine to his father, certain his mother would be saved.To everyone’s amazement, the lady regained consciousness and slowly recovered.
The “wonder drug” worked as a placebo in the child’s mind, filling the family with positivity that hastened her recovery — astonishing the doctors. This was the power of the mantra: Miracle Drug. Its efficacy lies not in parroting but in imbibing its pristine essence through devotion, dedication, deification, and determination.
The writer is the CEO of Chhattisgarh East Railway Ltd. and Chhattisgarh East West Railway Ltd. He is a faculty of the Art of Living