Sri Aurobindo

Letters on Himself and the Ashram

The Complete Works of Sri Aurobindo. Volume 35

Mantras and Messages

Traditional Mantra Japa [1]

In the Upanishads (Mandukya chiefly) the upasana ॐ (OM) is recommended. It is said in the Pranava Upasana that the praṇava deha — or the mantra deha of Praṇava deva — comes successively into the sthūla, sūkṣma and kāraṇa deha of the sadhaka. It projects itself into the sadhaka first, then it engulfs him. It creates a divine rhythm and harmony and at last becomes one with every particle of his triple body (sthūla, sūkṣma, kāraṇa). Does this process include the transformation of the physical consciousness which Sri Aurobindo’s yoga aspires to achieve? Or if it is different, in what way does it differ?

I do not believe a mantra can change the physical consciousness. What it does, if it is effective, is to open the consciousness and to bring into it the power of that which the Mantra represents.