Mantra has lost its meaning

Good morning everyone,

Here is today's quote:

What is meditation? Is it to escape from the noise of the world? To have a silent mind, a quiet mind, a peaceful mind? And you practise systems, methods, to become aware, to keep your thoughts under control. You sit cross-legged and repeat some mantra. I am told that the etymological meaning of that word ‘mantra’ is ‘ponder over not-becoming’. That is one of the meanings. And it also means ‘absolve, put aside all self-centred activity’. That is the real, root meaning of mantra. But we repeat, repeat, repeat, and carry on with our self-interest, our egoistic ways, and so mantra has lost its meaning. So what is meditation?

That Benediction is Where You are, p 75

Here is my reflection.

The irony of mantra, as will so many of the yoga techniques, is that we have become lost in the technique. We think that the technique will do the work for us, as if the matra will create a total inner revolution - just by repeating a word! So we try to perfect the technique, find a teacher, etc. In fact, it's just a way of avoiding the reponsibility to observe ourselves. This is the only adequate response to living. This is the only think that will change us.

Best wishes

Robert