SOULHUMKirtan Band

Mantras lead us to a reality that lies beyond the thinking mind — a sweet silence where thoughts have yet to be formed, and where any thought, and therefore anything, is possible.

Mantras allow us to choose our thoughts and to create our state of mind. So many of our thoughts are subconscious and habitual — carried over from people and experiences of the past, the same patterns and loops arising over and over again. Mantra practice helps us gain awareness of our thoughts, and to slowly begin choosing for ourselves how and what we think. This dawning awareness gradually transforms our lives.

Mantras also help us cultivate different emotional states. This is especially true of mantras in Sanskrit, the ancient language of India. The sounds of these mantras — their unique sound vibrations — help produce different feelings.

Think of the sounds we naturally make when we are delighted: “ahh”, “ooo”, “mmm.” Is it a coincidence that these are the three sounds contained within the mantra “aum”? What sound do we use to calm an anxious child? “Shh” — which opens the mantra “shantih”, meaning “peace.” And “ma”, found across so many languages, means “mother” and brings feelings of comfort, security, and protection.

Mantras can be practised silently, whispered, spoken, chanted, or sung. There is value in each. Kirtan — setting mantras to music and singing them together in call-and-response — is an especially powerful and uplifting way to experience their magic.