Years ago, I was in a car accident. The car I was driving ran off the road, rolled over one and a half times, and landed on its roof in a ditch. I vividly remember spontaneously repeating Om Namah Shivaya throughout the entire episode, even after the car came to rest upside down with me hanging from the seat belt. I was unharmed. Fortunately, my accident did not damage anyone or anything except the car.
What a blessing it was to find the mantra arise as an involuntary reflex while I confronted those moments of powerlessness and possible catastrophe! The mantra superseded my fear and held me.
I am so grateful for Eesha’s installment about the mantra’s power and my responsibility to use it for good in this world, especially now. Doing my Siddha Yoga sadhana has taught me to love this world, and I now feel more deeply connected to my ability and my dharma to nurture the world I love.
New York, United States
The mantra Om Namah Shivaya has supported me throughout the forty-four years of my sadhana. Whenever I need to connect to the peace and stillness of the Self, I turn to the mantra.
In February 2022, a friend of mine, who also practices Siddha Yoga, had a stroke. Although she could barely speak, she called me from the hospital. She was reaching out to me to connect her with the mantra. Due to the effects of the stroke, she was unable to chant or even form the words of the mantra in her head.
I stood beside my CD player, the phone in my hand, and started to chant the mantra along with Gurumayi so my friend could hear us. Gradually, she managed to form the words of the mantra and joined in, her voice fragile and tentative.
For both of us, it was such a strong and moving experience of the power of the mantra. From that moment on, she gradually regained her speech.
Llwynygroes, United Kingdom
I am grateful for these reflections on the mantra and on Gurumayi’s words. In my daily life, the mantra often arises of its own accord. For example, as I walk in the forest, tuning in to nature, the rhythm of my pace often naturally aligns with my repetition of the mantra. And every time I find myself facing a challenging situation, when darkness seems to gather, aligning my breath with the repetition of the mantra is the most soothing practice I know.
Hørsholm, Denmark
One of my family members is currently facing an extremely difficult situation. I recently visited her to offer my help. Each night while I slept, I played the mantra, and I felt it giving me strength, support, and protection. When I woke up in the night with stressful thoughts related to the situation, I fastened my mind to the mantra, and I felt the mantra steadying me.
With the support of the mantra and grace, I was able to be a steady presence for my family member. While she is not on the Siddha Yoga path, she does believe in God. So I talk to her about God’s protection. And I can feel that my experience of the mantra, God, and the Guru’s grace comes through to her when we talk about God.
My family member’s challenges are ongoing, and, through Eesha’s words, I feel Gurumayi’s teachings reaching me so personally and poignantly, guiding me to continue to chant, repeat, listen to, and hold my attention on the mantra. In doing so, I sense all will be well.
California, United States
For me, the mantra is a lifeline. It gives me strength and protection. It represents unity in the midst of duality. It is the light that dispels darkness. The mantra is the ground on which I walk and the golden shell that constantly surrounds and protects me. The mantra is the sacred goal that I have the ability to achieve again and again in every single moment.
Konolfingen, Switzerland
In 2007, dangerous wildfires were burning out of control in the San Diego area in southern California. The winds were too high for the firefighters to stop the fires from spreading. Authorities evacuated over half a million people, including me and many friends.
When Gurumayi heard about these fires, she held a chanting satsang in Shree Muktananda Ashram. Not long afterward, the winds abated, and the firefighters were able to gain control and stop the fire’s forward progress. I am convinced that this happened through the power of the mantra and Shri Gurumayi’s grace.
California, United States
