Mantra as the Common Link of All Eight Limbs of Yoga

Mantra Yoga

If our mind is noisy, disturbed, hyper-sensitive, reactive, opinionated, critical, or just constantly busy, we cannot silence it. If we are addicted to sensory sources of stimulation and entertainment, we are not even in control of our minds and so cannot focus them in for stability in meditation.

First, we must set in motion forces to take the mind from its disturbed (rajasic) or dull (tamasic) state to its natural clear quality (sattva). Mantra is the practice for changing the nature of the mind from tamas and rajas to sattva. At the same time, it provides us the focus and energy for going beyond the mind. Mantras prepare the mind for deeper Yoga practices. The other branches of Yoga are (Jñāna) knowledge, (Bhakti) devotion, and (Karma) service.

Eight-step Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Patañjali

Mantra is the common link for all eight steps of Yoga in calming the mind necessary to access the higher Self. Every repetition of intent is a mantra.

1. Yama: truthfulness.

2. Niyama: non-violence, gratitude, and sharing.
   Truth and non-violence are mantras themselves. They are constant reminders that guide our lives.

3. Āsanas performed while repeating the appropriate mantras bring a greater energy and awareness into the bones, muscles, joints, and nerves, and help us transcend body consciousness. The twelve names of the Sun are chanted during Sūrya Salutations.

4. Prāṇāyāma practiced with so’ham, the mantra of breathing, can draw deeper cosmic prāṇa into us for increasing vitality and awareness.

5. Pratyāhāra is turning senses inwards with bīja mantras to know subconscious drives.

6. Dhāraṇā is placing bīja mantras in various outer locations like body parts of a deity or inner locations like the cakras.

7. Dhyāna is flowing meditation on the sound or meaning of a mantra.

8. Samādhi is the state of oneness with the object of absorption and bliss. Guided meditations, sacred sounds and music, and graceful dance are some of the best means. In the final stages, mantras drop away, merging into a blissful calm.

Amṛtānanda