On top of all the benefits of singing (see previous post), we are singing ancient mantras that have been sung trillions of times by countless people as a part of their daily spiritual practices. As we sing we connect to all those people and the state of consciousness that they were in. Many of the mantras were given to us by enlightened beings so as we sing we tap into that state. We can find that we are effortlessly concentrated on the mantra, which has a deep calming effect.
Some the mantras are to specific non physical deities, as we sing these we call upon their energy to help us and bless us. For thousands of years these deities or archetypes have been venerated and there is a large field in the collective consciousness full of their energy, singing their mantra helps us to tap into that field, that energy. We might find that we are transported to another state of mind entirely by the blessings of that energy. For example if we focus on Tara, the Tibetan Buddhist Deity of active compassion, and sing her mantra, we are tapping into the energy of the mother, of that endless kindness and compassion. As we deepen in our practice we find that, what we venerate, we become. It’s obvious really, if we spend all day reading the news and thinking about the endless negative stories, sooner or later we will become depressed and despondent. Conversely if we spend all day thinking about Tara and how kind she is and how she desires that all sentient beings be happy and well and free from suffering, and we go about our day thinking in the way she does, sooner or later we will find we have turned into a kind person who is happy and calm and always ready to help others. Singing her mantra is like a magical spell that we use to activate that archetype within our own psyches and even though we might not understand the words in the mantra, it is affecting us at the level of the subconscious. If we then add visualisation into the practice, it becomes and even more powerful way of reprogramming our subconscious minds as the subconscious does not use words it uses images. The subconscious is a little like a stubborn child and does not change the instant we want it to, habits die hard and it takes regular repetition to reprogram it.
Siva, for example, is the archetypal energy that destroys illusions so we can call upon Siva to help us to see through our delusions. Perhaps we have an unconscious belief that the world is a hard place to be in, and this causes us to continually manifest difficult situations for ourselves. By praying to Siva and asking for his help we might become conscious of this delusion and then replace it with a new program that says I can deal with everything that life gives me and I will learn from these situations and grow and remain positive, because ultimately I know I’m here in this world for such a short time and this plane is a school to which I have incarnated to grow and learn in.
I have certainly found singing the Maha Mantra, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. That I have become very blissful and even ecstatic when singing with many others. There are other mantras also that open the heart, and when this happens we can feel a great deal of bliss.
If we then take the next step in this process and we add humility and faith into the equation we find that this morphic field that we are tapping into, actually has it’s own consciousness and that these deities are not just archetypes, that we can tap into and download, but actual beings that we can make supplications to, have relationships with and receive blessings from. So when our consciousness changes due to singing their mantra we realise that we are receiving their blessings and that these are omnipotent, omnipresent beings that dwell in another dimension beyond time and space who can help us in our earthly existence if we will but open to them. And then in our awe of this wonderful realisation, devotion arises and the heart opens.
The blessings of the deities bestow many special qualities to us and also realisations. We become aware that we are not separate, that we are all parts of this creation and suddenly we become incapable of harm, to another being or the earth. We see the transient nature of this life and focus on what is important, that which helps us with everything else in life, our spiritual orientation, which guides and shapes the other areas in our lives. From this state of consciousness, new songs arise, realisations and prayers, and they are passed down from bard to bard and as we sing those songs the realisations that came in that moment of clarity to the person who first sung it is gifted to us and the cycle carries on.
All these positive intentions add into the many benefits we receive from singing together and leave us supercharged, ready for our daily lives, ready to face what ever comes with a big smile on our faces.
Every religion has singing as one of it’s core spiritual practices. Music has been used for millennia to unite people and change their state of consciousness, whether it be for a celebration or a ritual, to generate joy or deep reverence.
The NHS now recognises the health benefits of joining a choir and is recommending people with certain health problems join a choir as part of their social prescribing program. Many of the people who sing regularly in the choir are moved and say it is a great benefit and therapy for them.
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