This month we have begun our deep dive into the Om Namah Shivaya mantra as Meditation Master Mark Griffin leads us on a profound exploration of the science and art of Mantra Yoga. The mantra that is given by a Spiritual Master lives within the empowered lineage. It is referred to as Chaitanya, meaning in Sanskrit’ consciousness,’ ‘spirit,’ or ‘intelligence.’ It is pure, aware Consciousness, and as such, it is a road map back to its source as Atman.
Om Namah Shivaya was the initiation mantra given to Mark Griffin by his Guru, Swami Muktananda. Passed on to the Hard Light Center of Awakening by Mark, the practice of this mantra powerfully connects us to the Siddha Lineage and to Absolute Reality itself.
In week one, Mark introduced the matrikashakti, or “hidden Mother.” It is the power, the source of each vibration of sound from which letters, words, and language take shape. Mark asks us to pay particular attention to the mantra as it moves through the layers of consciousness, from vibration to pure consciousness, for therein lies the secret of this yoga. He points out the meaning of these core terms:
Mudra = formation
Mantra = vibration
Spanda = creation
Atman = supreme source of all consciousness
Mark tells us that the Hidden Mother, expressed as the goddesses of the alphabet, produces a chain of letters that occupy the inner channel of the Sushumna, particularly along the right channel, Pingala. He explains:
“Each of these 50 syllables together produces a dynamic spirit called Matrika. They are the essence of vibration, and their vibration is the essence of formation. They have their roots in spanda, which is the primal throb of creation. Spanda emerges from the Ocean of Consciousness, Atman. It is this sequence of inner connected unfoldment that is the secret of the path of mantra.
If mantra is understood to be vibration, if spanda is understood to be creation, the throb of creation emerges from the infinite ocean, the still waters of the Ocean of Consciousness. At one moment, the Ocean of Consciousness seeks to express itself, seeks to know Itself. In that moment of cause, there is a throb that flows through the Ocean of Consciousness. This throb is called spanda. The dynamic of the throb is the essence of Infinite Creation.
The sound of that throb is said to be Aum. The opening letter of Aum is the letter ‘A.’ What emerges from the letter ‘A’ is the entire chain of letters. So it is understood that the ‘A’ syllable contains the entire lexicon of creation because out of this throb of ‘A’ is the sound of spanda, the sound of creation. The Matrika emerges. The Matrika are the 50 syllables that are the essence of mantra. Mantra is said to be the substance of Matrika. Matrika is the hidden mother, the cause of creation.”
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