Chanting - Becoming Buddha

This is an extract from 'Becoming Buddha', a small meditation book by Vikram. "A mantra emerges spontaneously in my mind. And along with the mantra: a memory. In the morning, before the others got up, I went to Ba’s room. I looked inside. The old woman was sitting on her bed. She held a mala in her right hand, mumbling something."

Transcript

A mantra emerges spontaneously in my mind, And along with the mantra a memory. In the morning, Before the others got up, I went to Ba's room. I looked inside. The old woman was sitting on her bed. She held Amala in her right hand, Mumbling something. Then she noticed me. She looked at me and smiled, Inviting me in. She spoke Gujarati. I didn't understand much, But I understood the most important thing from the tone of her voice and the way she looked at me. I was loved. I sat down next to her on the bed. She gave me Amala. She repeated a mantra again and again in a low voice as she moved her mala. I imitated her, Draping my mala between the middle and index fingers, Using the thumb to move the beads as I repeated the mantra. Eventually, We chanted the mantra in our mind, Sitting silently next to each other on the bed, Moving the malas with our fingers. The mantra she gave me is chanted again and again, By itself now, In my mind, Filled with love. See for yourself. Sit with a straight back, Alert and relaxed. Close your eyes or rest your eyes on the ground in front of you. Choose a mantra, A sound, Word or phrase that you repeat. It can be a well-known mantra or one that you create yourself. It can be something linked to your highest ambition and intention. I often use, We are loving awareness. Feel free to use that. We are loving awareness. We are loving awareness. We are loving awareness. Let the mantra be the focus of your attention. Repeat the mantra again and again in your mind. We are loving awareness. We are loving awareness. We are loving awareness. When you notice that you have been lost in thought, Return to the mantra. Let the mantra be the focus of your attention. If it's helpful, You can try to coordinate the breath with the words that you're saying. Perhaps one word on the in-breath, Another word on the out-breath. You can play around with it. Again and again repeating the mantra that you've chosen. At some point, The mantra may become so integrated, Integrated in you that it at times will appear spontaneously and without conscious effort. Let the mantra be the focus of your attention. Let the mantra be the focus of your attention.