• Home
• Symran
  MantraHow to choose a Mantra?How to use a Mantra?
• Meditation
• Meditation Practice
• Mindfulness
• Program Information
• Buy SMM Program
• Program Testimonials
• Aromatherapy Products
• Training Programmes and Workshops

Symran, (Simran, also known as sound or mantra meditation)

Symran from the Sanskrit word Smriti means to “remembering” although it’s normally translate as “mindfulness” and in this context it is remembering to be here in the Present moment, as opposed to “being” in our normal fantasies of the future or replaying something from the past.

 

Symran is concerned with the immediate reality, unlike science, which is concerned with knowing immediate objective reality; the use of sound in meditation is to know one immediate subjective reality.

 

One can only listen to sound in the present moment, anything else is just impossible, however, there are obstacles in accessing this immediate reality of sound with clear present moment awareness, such as, our normal conditioning of listen to the internal dialogue which is going on within our minds, as opposed to listening with clear awareness.

 

The powerful physical and psychological impact of Symran has been demonstrated in the West through techniques such as Transcendental meditation or Primordial Sound Meditation.

 

Sound:

 

According to Wisdom tradition and practical experience, define sound as that which conveys the idea of an object, indicates the presence of a speaker and constitutes the subtle form that conveys quality of the sound produced, e.g. something said in anger or love, may convey the quality of origination of sound produced.

 

Mantra is a special sound which is considered to contain an inherent beneficial quality realised through its vibrations. “Man” mean the mind, and “Tra” means technique. Therefore Mantra is a sound that enables us to realise our true Self.

 

Practice of Symran:

Step 1 is to select an appropriate sound, some mantra as listed below. The whole exercise should take about 20-25 minutes, with 15-20 minutes of reciting and 5 minutes at the end remaining silent and listening within.

 

Mantra: WaheGuru, Aum, Ongkoar, Sohang, Har, Satnam,

 

Step 2 is to gently start reciting so you are able to hear audible the sound you are producing, while listen to the sound

 

After a few minutes, you may close your eyes, keep reciting and listening

 

After a few more minutes continue recitation, gradually becoming quieter as you continue, always listening

 

Step 3 is to recite and listen to the sound internally (mentally) - without moving your tongue or lips

 

You don't concentrate or control the mind. Just think the sound easily and effortlessly, whenever you forget the mantra, simply and gently come back to it.

 

After about 15 minutes stop reciting the sound mentally and just sit silently and listen, becoming aware of the silence within, almost waiting to hear something.

 

After about 5 minutes of silently sitting, gently open your eyes and come out of your meditation.

 

The initial effects of Simran are feelings of calmness, centeredness, joy and peaceful

 

List of research studies using Transcendental meditation:

http://www.tm.org/research/508_studies.html

 

http://www-psych.stanford.edu/~pgoldin/Buddhism/MindfulnessMeditationSummary.doc