[Wckcvhsg]

Fellow Travelers,
Good morning! I hope you are all doing well.
I want to write a little about vibrations, and ask about anyone else's experience.
Over the past four months, I have been practicing reciting mantra (om mane padme hum) as a kind of "boot camp" for my spiritual life. "Just sitting" has been aggravating to me, so I thought I would try vocalizing as a way to start focusing my mind. Having let this mind wander unfettered all of these years has accumulated
so much noise that I felt I needed something more "active". I have always enjoyed singing, and the
vibrations created by the voice were of particular interest.
Early on, I was noticing a vibration moving from my throat downward into my chest. Soon, it was moving
to my seat, and after thirty minutes or so, starting to move out to my limbs. Finally it came back up my face
and through the sinuses, out of the Eustachian tubes until I could actually feel the vibration from my vocal chords in the back of my head. It is very soothing and peaceful, and there are moments when thoughts go away, and all that remains is the next inhale and vocalization.
Recently, I have added a period of simply "OM", long sustained sounds that make this vibration easier to hold
in one place. What I mean is that by reciting mantra, the voice is moving up and down a particular register,
so the vibration is coming from low, middle, and higher places, depending on the vowel. Holding OM, I am
able to keep the vowel at whichever space I choose.
So, that's the mechanics of it. I wonder if this practice, very simple and needs nothing but the breath and
voice, is a way of purifying the body through vibration. I see a lot of new-agey type of stuff about people
raising their frequency and vibration, but never tell you how to really do it, so it ends up in the realm of
quackery. But what if this simple practice, stripped of it's mystical associations, could actually be a
catalyst for real change? The Dalai Lama's description of the meaning of the mantra I practice states this
is practiced to transform this impure body, mind and speech into the pure mind, body and speech of a Buddha.
I can say that since I have started practicing, there is a notable change in my
ability to focus, in organizing thought, and in challenging troubling emotions. When I said I was in a sort
of "boot camp", I meant that I felt that I needed a change right now, and simply don't have the time to
wait ten years watching my breath to finally find some peace. As a stay-at-home father of three little girls, it is imperative that I get myself together as quickly as possible, as that they need a dad that is 100%.
They need a father who is focused, attentive, sensitive, and able to make rational decisions and remain calm
should an emergency arise. Also, it is important to be able to teach my children how to foster their
own Buddha-nature, and so to do that, I must become well acquainted with my own.
Does anyone have any experience with this kind of practice, and have any thoughts about this?
Thank you for reading this long entry, cheers!
-RT

[Serereids]

I wonder if this practice, very simple and needs nothing but the breath and voice, is a way of purifying the body through vibration.

Absolutely.

Any practise that nurtures the mind becoming conscious of the 'inner' physical body & nervous system will purify the body of accumulated negative emotions stored within it.

I can say that since I have started practicing, there is a notable change in my ability to focus, in organizing thought, and in challenging troubling emotions.

As a stay-at-home father of three little girls, it is imperative that I get myself together as quickly as possible, as that they need a dad that is 100%. They need a father who is focused, attentive, sensitive, and able to make rational decisions and remain calm
should an emergency arise.

This is wonderful to hear.

Not only do you have a strong source of motivation (bodhicitta) to practise but you are confirming the beneficial results of practise for yourself.

In my experience, any wholesome object of meditation will bring results. I attended a Medicine Buddha empowerment once and, was so inspired by the teacher, I recited the Medicine Buddha mantra for one week. The results were excellent.

Warm regards

Element

[nintenda]

Thank you Element, I appreciate your feedback!

[BlackBird]

Hi Red Thread,

Yes though it is very popular, it is a very powerful mantra and a great practice to go along with it. If you are able to get the transmission from an authentic teacher, that would be so much better and will add so much!

[Kolokireo]

Hi Mani,
I am unclear about what "transmission" of the mantra means, and how it is done. I am quite interested in the sangha, but live too far away from any monasteries or temples in which to practice. Can you give me any details about this?

[ZZipZZipe]

Hello Red Thread,

I will do my best.

In this case, the transmission of this mantra would come from a qualified Vajrayana teacher. He has practiced it, and more importantly received it from his teacher, who received it from his teacher, and so-forth all the way back in an unbroken lineage. In a sense, a sort of "continuum" of the practice itself is passed on, along with the power of the blessings from the previous lineage holders. Some people have a bit of a hard time with this one, but there are more than just "words" passed on from the teacher to the student. From a qualified teacher, a seed is planted so to speak, and that is one way of how the practice can have another aspect to it. There is a stronger connection to the practice itself through the teachers experience and his own practice.

Might not clarify it for you, but hope it helps a little.

[Ygd2qr8k]

Ah, yes, that does help- for some reason "transmission" sounded more ceremonial to me than it really is, apparently. This makes sense, as so much of human history is passed down through the generations as a matter of keeping the information alive. And having the aspect of receiving this information from someone that has practiced this method transmits nuance that only comes from experience. Thank you, I was making this more complicated than necessary.
Cheers!

[nilliraq]

Yes, and while transmissions can be as simple as a reading transmission of a text or repeating mantra after the guru, it can also take the form of elaborate rituals also. Depends on the teacher, the lineage, and the student as well.

Mani

[Czrzftmz]

I wonder if this practice, very simple and needs nothing but the breath and
voice, is a way of purifying the body through vibration.

Hi RT,
That sounds very good indeed. I love the way you are aware of all the physical sensations throughout your body whilst reciting the mantra. 'Awareness of body' is crucial as Buddha Dharma is sometimes treated as a head trip.
The beautiful thing is that your mind is dropping its usual stuff and your awareness is becoming unbounded. This process itself is real purification.
namaste
Kris

[skiboyx]

Kris, thank you- it's funny that this vibration almost commands my attention. It starts right away in the chest, and just as the mind starts saying "wow, that's pleasant...", it starts to travel, like ripples in a pond moving outward. The mind wants to follow it around, see where it is going, and where it will centralize. The feeling continues for several minutes after the chant has ended, and I find myself content to just continue to sit on my cushion for a little while.

[emily]

I see a lot of new-agey type of stuff about people
raising their frequency and vibration, but never tell you how to really do it, so it ends up in the realm of
quackery My cousins have read a book which they have highly recommended to me on many occassions (darn, now I forget the exact title) but I know its about sound, reverberations, vibrations, etc. and its all about the scientific research on those things and their effects on the human body and mind. So there is some sources out there that aren't necessarily 'quackery' (lol), if you are interested enough to search it out.

Keep in mind, that book really isn't Buddhist related at all I dont believe, but I figured it was on topic and could be a very interesting read.

Loosely, from my cousins explanation, I believe it discusses things like music and sound and their effects on our mind and body (and goes into experiments how plants exposed to rock and roll will die and plants exposed to classical music bloom and grow strongly, etc.), and those kinds of things. I believe there is also information in there about the "om mani padme hum" meditation and its vibrational effects.

If you are interesting in knowing the title, I can text my cousins and find out for you.

[mirvokrug]

Balgore, that sounds (haha) very interesting, and would love to know what the book is called. There are really interesting correlations between this practice, and something called "morphic resonance", which is being debated in science circles. It has to deal with the frequency of vibration of living things, including the Earth itself, and electromagnetic energy- but I'm not a physicist, so a lot of that info is over my head. Thank you for the info!

[Usesdiums]

Hello, I am a Nichiren Buddhist and chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. I have had some interesting feelings whilst chanting that have someimes made me jump lol. Sometimes the point of contact I have with the floor feels extra sensitive and tingly. I have also thought that my bell has started to resonate a very slight sound as I am chanting. There was also one time shortly after I began practicing when I was chanting with over 200 other people and became overwhelmed with the power and feeling, I had to leave the room for a while and calm my body and mind down.

I also find focussing during chanting really helps with my focus.

Feels good to post again, thanks for the topic!

[Xbcofega]

Thank you H_R! I met a fellow years ago that practiced the same chant, and spoke of it very highly. When you say it made you jump, can you elaborate? Sounds interesting!

[XIMHOTEP-X]

You don't need any transmission or empowerment in order to practice this particular mantra. I am so happy you are feeling its benefits already.

[fapourfasiark]

Londonerabroad,
Thank you, do you practice this, or any other, mantra? What is your experience, if I may ask?

[vesiasmepay]

Hi Red, I remember many years ago being told that singing hymns would produce this effect.

[sat23neus2]

Balgore, that sounds (haha) very interesting, and would love to know what the book is called. There are really interesting correlations between this practice, and something called "morphic resonance", which is being debated in science circles. It has to deal with the frequency of vibration of living things, including the Earth itself, and electromagnetic energy- but I'm not a physicist, so a lot of that info is over my head. Thank you for the info!

Hey. I am sorry it took me sooo long to get back to you on this. I forgot about it and it slipped my mind for a while..

Anyway, here it is:

The Resonance Key by Marie D. Jones

Keep in mind, I have not read this book, but my cousins have and say its good. They have given me other material in the past and they turned out to be interesting reads. Also, this book I do not think has anything specifically to do with Buddhism, so don't go into it expecting it to be about that.

If you read it, let me know what you think about it! I keep trying to borrow it off my cousins to read it myself... But they keep lending it to other people who wont give it back haha.

[nerohedfrs]

This sounds wonderful. I'm so glad that you find it beneficial, and I hope that you can continue!

Best,
Laura

[uncoosesoge]

I have been practicing every day for six months now, and though I have yet to find clarity, at least now I can see the muddy water.