Welcome to this Soham natural breath mantra experience.
In today's session,
We will explore the Soham mantra in three gentle steps.
We start with the meaning and its deep connection to the breath.
And then we will explore how Soham is traditionally repeated inwardly and how we also can chant it melodically to help us reconnect.
And we will chant or listen together,
Allowing the mantra to guide us into calm and steady awareness.
You don't need much for this session,
Just make yourself comfortable,
Maybe some tea or water to drink.
If you have a tanpura or a harmonium,
You can also bring your instruments.
We are in the key of A today,
If you would like to play your instrument as well.
Before we begin the practice,
Let's take a moment to understand the heart of the Soham mantra.
It is very simple,
It's two words,
So and Ham.
And that's in IAST,
In the International Sanskrit Transliteration.
The IAST transliteration of Sanskrit is Soham.
And it is often translated as I am that,
A reminder of our deeper nature beyond thoughts and roles,
Not as an ideal to think about,
But as something you can gently sense and feel.
But Soham is also known as a natural breath mantra.
And traditionally it is felt like this.
It is So on the inhale and Ham on the exhale,
Without effort and without control.
And because of this,
Soham is often repeated silently,
Inwardly,
Together with the breath.
It doesn't pull the mind outward,
It gently draws awareness back into the present moment and to our breath.
And when we chant or follow Soham with the breath,
We are not trying to create anything,
We are simply listening,
Resting and remembering.
And through the breath,
We begin to sense who we really are before thinking about it.
So,
Before we use our voice and chant the mantra,
Let's begin in the most natural way with awareness.
And I invite you to simply notice your breath,
The inhale and the exhale,
Just as it is.
You may want to gently close your eyes,
You can also place a hand over your heart space on your chest.
Just notice your breath.
No need to make it deeper,
No need to slow it down,
No need to change.
And now,
Very gently begin to think the mantra with the breath.
As you inhale,
Silently think So,
And as you exhale,
Silently think Ham.
So,
On the inhale,
And Ham on the exhale.
Let it be soft,
Almost like a whisper in the mind,
And if the mind wanders,
That's completely okay,
Just return to the next inhale,
So,
And the next exhale,
Ham.
Feel how the mantra doesn't sit on top of the breath,
It moves with the breath,
Like a wave coming in and flowing out again.
So,
Notice how the breath happens by itself,
You don't breathe,
The breath is happening.
Just continue on your own for a few moments,
Inhaling So,
Exhaling Ham.
In your rhythm,
With your breath,
The breath guides the mantra.
Now,
Let's refine the practice even more by listening.
Again,
Let the breath be completely natural,
No shaping,
No controlling,
No improving.
And now,
Listen closely to the sound of the breath,
The gentle whisper of the inhale,
And the soft release of the exhale.
You might begin to notice something subtle,
Sometimes the inhale carries a quiet inner So,
And the exhale carries a soft inner Ham.
Not because you're making it happen,
But because you're simply listening more closely.
Let the breath be like wind moving through you,
And let the mind become an ear.
Nothing to do,
Just listening and the breath happening.
Listen,
Inhale,
So.
Listen,
Exhale,
Ham.
Listen to your inhale,
And to your exhale.
And if you don't hear it clearly,
That's perfectly fine.
This is not a test,
It's an invitation into gentleness.
Simply keep listening for a few more breaths,
And let the breath teach you in its own time.
Beautiful.
And now,
From this quiet inner awareness,
We will gently allow the mantra to become audible,
Carried by a simple steady melody,
Not to add anything,
But to gently give sound to what is already there.
Allow,
So,
To be a soft open sound.
Let the lips and jaw be relaxed.
The sound flow easily,
Like a sigh of relief.
Try it with me.
Once more.
Beautiful.
Let Ham be a releasing sound.
The Ha is breathy and gentle,
And the M softly closes the lips and allows the sound to resonate inward.
Try it with me.
Let Ham feel like resting.
Beautiful.
Now we will chant the mantra aloud in call and response,
Focusing on the softness of these sounds,
Letting each one gently carry you.
We start by letting the mantra follow the breath.
So,
As you inhale,
You gently think So,
And as you exhale,
Allow Ham to sound if you wish.
I will chant both words aloud,
And accompany us gently with the harmonium,
But you,
You can,
Of course,
You can also chant both words,
But you have the opportunity to just think and listen to the So,
And then,
If you wish,
Sound the Ham together with me.
Let's pause for a few breaths,
And notice what remains when the sound stops.
Just breathing and presence.
Beautiful.
And now,
Let me chant the mantra for you,
Again.
I will move through the same simple melodies again,
Repeating each one twice,
So you can gently drop into the sound and the rhythm.
And toward the end,
I will slow down,
Soften and let the mantra dissolve into silence.
Of course,
You can again chant with me,
If you wish.
Or you can also just take a comfortable seat or find a comfortable position on the floor,
Maybe in a yin yoga pose or in shavasana.
You don't need to follow the mantra,
You don't need to do anything.
Allow the mantra to carry you.
I will chant the mantra for a few minutes,
Or a little bit longer.
Let yourself sink into the sound and relax.
Maybe even 10 minutes.
Simply feel the breath moving.
Notice how the mantra continues on its own,
Like an echo inside you.
Nothing to do.
Nothing to change.
Let this feeling of peace and light spread through your whole being.
Feel the connection with your breath.
So hum,
I am that.
Just resting as what is.
Beautiful.
Let's complete our practice with one OM and Purnam mantra followed by OM shanti,
Shanti,
Shanti.
The meaning of the mantra is,
That is whole,
This is whole.
From wholeness,
Only wholeness arises.
And when wholeness is taken from wholeness,
Wholeness alone remains.
We do two rounds.
Thank you so much for sharing your voice,
Your breath and your presence.
May the Soha Mantra continue to support you in stillness,
In movement and in daily life.
Namaste.
