Thread: does it matter which mantra you use ?

whats the difference between a sentence and a mantra ?
i think philosopher tried to explain it but i didn't quite understand

Originally Posted by Justinn

whats the difference between a sentence and a mantra ?
i think philosopher tried to explain it but i didn't quite understand

A mantra is designed to empty the mind. Stop it. It is a meaningless word. I paid 300$ for mine a long time ago. It is designed to relax--completely--even the mind.
A sentence for lucid dreaming is the focal point of intended action, the starting point of human will.

Lucid dreaming has its origin in the jewish nations, mantras in the Indian culture. They are as opposed as inaction and action.

For a complete understanding of mental discipline, one learns both--but they do not confuse them.

However, common to both is getting under the myths of their origin and meaning. The Yoga Sutras were written in a language that was almost dead when written, and they have never been translated correctly. If one undertake the task, one might discover a similarity between the idiology of the sutras with a certain Greek philosophy. Both initiated by language scholars--not mystics. One important anomaly is a phrase that is not common to Indian Lituratue in the Sutras, and has been always missed, but common in Greek formal presentation. "it is a given" if I remember, in about 4 of the suturas. It is a formal presentation about language and the mind.

Another thing, common to Greek thinking, but not Indian, is that the Sutras us a Geometric metaphor "parallel" which, quite frankly is the prime meaning of the idea of yoking in the sutras. What you see is what you think. Perception is the modification of the mind. One learns to cut off perception, blank all imput to isolate the mind. An exercise in mental discipline.

Here is what mystics do. It was known that there was one Patanjali at the time who was a language scholar. Sanskrit was near a dead langauge at the time, a language of scholars. Patanjali hated mysticism, was a realist. So, A new Patananjali was created, one of myth. but here is the rub, how did he also get to be a language scholar to write in Sanskrit? And a third really difficult thing, the name Patanjali itself is composed of two words which denote the core idea of the sutras themselves. There is much more, but what I concluded is that it is probably more than coincidental that the Patanjali lived at the same time as Plato, came up with with a foundation and method of learning very similar with the theory of forms, Both language students, and the name Patanjali a construction. And, that this character appeared in India, but his origins were unknown.


When you search for understanding, you have to dig really deep sometimes. I gave up on it, put it aside for a later restudy of the whole mess.

Originally Posted by Philosopher8659

A mantra is designed to empty the mind. Stop it. It is a meaningless word.

it is ironic that you are so confining in your definition.

the word and perception of "mantra" is different across cultures and philosophies, with dozens of Buddhist or Hindu schools espousing various approaches to "mantra." not all of them are meant to empty the mind, some of them, such as japa (prayer beads) are meant to focus the mind on an intention. In the context of the Vedas, mantra means entire portions of the text. And a mantra can symbolize thought-forms or higher powers, it can be a form of worship, or it can be simply a sound / thoughtform.

it is semantically accepted on this forum, and amongst lucid dreamers, that the mantra is used to focus one's intention.

to the OP, i would try out different mantras, and see which one works best for you. try to find a resonance with your intent.

Originally Posted by zhineTech

it is ironic that you are so confining in your definition. .

You mean focused. In formal presentations it is called "WELL DEFINED TERMS." My approach to the study of philosophy and religion appears to be quite different from yours. I do not search out the variations and spread and how opinions of meaning have changed when I study something. I study the founding document. I believe I mentioned the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. I did define my topic. You can take almost any word in history and watch it change to mean exactly the opposite of its original meaning, but I am not looking for a cluster frill of nonsense, simply an understanding of what was on the mind of the writers of original documents.

One thing I learned as a child. When you study a thing, you do so to the limit of your own ability. To study those who had opionions about a thing switftly leads to an exponential degradation of understanding. The highest integrity you can acquire is to go one on one with the source, nothing else matters. I think we all learned about the telephone effect in grade school, however, I don't see many using the idea to guide their method of study.

Even my studies of the Judeo-Christian Religions did not start with churches or bibles, but I went to the source, actually stubled across it in my studies. I learned in dreams and visions, I actually became a prophet even before I knew what one was. I learned the distinction between being a prophet and being a prophet sent--a prophet sent is very, very rare. It was only after much of my learning was over, was it hinted to me to search the scripture. Needless to say, you have no idea how frightening that can be. You do not understand the same as is popular.

As for the specific term of "mantra" I paid for mine, complete with lecture, when the Self-Realization Institute (SRI) was popular in the West. However, the term is used in the translations of the sutras, but it's origin is not in that work--it never was.

As for the varius branches of the Yogic tradition, you can see plainly, when you study the original document, how these branched off from particular lines in the text, as if someone got stuck. The part became the whole for them. It is like a child who gets stuck on something, and embellishes it over and over, because they cannot get beyond it. When you see a fragmentation, straying from a path, it is, and always has been, called "being lost."

So, you fault me for not using hearsay, the telephone effect, I fault you for using it. Those who do not seek understanding rely on the effect to challenge clear distinctions--for I think they desire others to share in their confusion. You missed the most important distinction. A mantra is personal, secret, and never changes. Learning in the Lucid dreamstate one changes their focus commensurate with their intended destination. The one is fixed, the other is not, it is alive. A mantra is given to one by one's human teacher, the focal point for lucid dreaming is often suggested by what men call God--that is when one learns to listen.

At the foundation of language, any language, is a convention of names. This drive to make words mean everything and nothing is no more than the lack of ability to formulate and participate in a convention of names, thus civil discourse. It is not well defined terms that limits language, it is what makes langauge and understanding possible--i.e. provides a focus for attention. The very same thing required for student intiated lucid dreaming.

Originally Posted by Philosopher8659

Lucid dreaming has its origin in the jewish nations, mantras in the Indian culture. They are as opposed as inaction and action.

Lucid dreaming is definatly in in Indian culture. Look up yogic dreaming. The Indians are masters of it. Also you can use a mantra to focus intention, why not?

An Idea I'm throwing out there that works for me: Meditate before bed to empty your mind then say an affirmation to state your intention. Then go to sleep.
You can use mantras too of course. All thought is energy, but if your saying the mantra and your mind doubts it and says bullshit I'm not becomeing lucid tonight that is attracting that outcome to you. So a major factor is confidence. Also get a healthy night sleep (don't go to bed exhausted)