Beyond Emotional Intelligence

9Mantras, Metaphors,and Maps

Mantras

A mantra is a sacred utterance that has the capacity to move the mind. The word mantra in Sanskrit derives from the words “man” and “tra,” which translate as “to think” and “vehicle,” respectively. So, quite literally, mantra is a vehicle for thought. What is thinking? Thinking is the mind moving. In one sense, mantras can be thought of as that which evokes or moves the mind.

Remember the analogy of the lake and its waves in the context of the mirror-like aspect of our awareness? In this metaphor, the surface of the lake undisturbed is calm and reflective. When waves appear on its surface, the mind temporarily loses its reflective quality and bends in the direction of its movement. It becomes absorbed in and by its own movement irrespective of what moved it. Our awareness moves by virtue of the capacity quality of our minds, that is our mind's ability to move and shift itself. Words that hold meaning for us move our attention in their direction. If words do not have meaning for us, they may still catch or move our attention, but until we understand their meaning, they remain meaning-free. The mind moves with sound and the meaning it makes of that sound. Mantras have great importance and varying significance and contemplative use within many religious traditions, which is important to mention but whose full meaning and use within that context is out of the scope of our aims. Within the context of the 12 Self-Discoveries, however, mantra refers ...