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The Exciting Thing About Mantra

“The practice of mantra actually kneads the flesh of the body with sound. The delicate cells of the elaborate bundles of nerves are subjected to a constant hammering, a seizure of the flesh by the vibrations of divine sound.” ~Vilayat Inayat Khan

MEDITATION

Majeeda Tatum-Anderson

7/25/20262 min read

a group of dices with the words peace written on them
a group of dices with the words peace written on them

I woke up this morning feeling something I don’t usually feel when I first open my eyes—peace.

Not just a fleeting moment of calm, but a genuine sense of ease and even excitement for the day ahead.

That hasn’t always been my experience.

For a long time, my first thought in the morning was usually, “Oh shit… here we go again.” I’d lie in bed dreading the day before it had even begun.

So what was different?

Like many nights, I woke up in the middle of the night. Normally, that’s when my mind starts racing. I’d toss and turn, replay conversations, think about everything I needed to do, or eventually turn on the television just to distract myself enough to fall back asleep.

This time, I did something different.

I began silently chanting a mantra.

I stayed with my breath. I let the sound and rhythm of the mantra hold my attention. I could actually feel my body begin to soften and relax.

The next thing I knew, it was morning.

This is the second time this has happened. The first time, I brushed it off as a coincidence. This morning, I couldn’t. I knew the mantra had shifted something—not just helping me fall asleep, but changing the quality of my inner experience.

The word mantra comes from Sanskrit and is often translated as “tool of the mind.” It has also been described as divine speech or the language of our spiritual physiology.

One description I love comes from Vilayat Inayat Khan:

“The practice of mantra actually kneads the flesh of the body with sound. The delicate cells of the elaborate bundles of nerves are subjected to a constant hammering, a seizure of the flesh by the vibrations of divine sound.”

Sanskrit is often referred to as Deva Bhasha—the “language of the gods” or “divine language.” Although it is no longer spoken conversationally, it continues to be preserved in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. In yogic philosophy, each Sanskrit letter is said to correspond to the petals of the chakras, which is why Sanskrit is sometimes called the “language of the chakras.”

When I teach yoga or Energy Awakening sessions, I often use the Sanskrit names for the asanas. For me, it helps create a sense of presence and sacredness within the space we share.

As for mantra…

It’s no longer just something I study or teach.

It’s becoming something I rely on.

I’m discovering firsthand how supportive it can be for quieting anxiety, easing insomnia, and changing the way I meet each day. While I know everyone’s experience is different, this practice has become deeply meaningful in my own life.

Just as yoga has been a steady companion for the past twenty years, mantra is becoming a permanent part of my daily practice.

Sometimes the most profound shifts don’t come from doing more.

They come from repeating one simple sound… until the mind finally remembers how to be still.