Mahamantra Yoga : Chanting to Anchor the Mind and Access the Divine

A guide to mantra recitation for ecstatic states, spiritual liberation, and higher consciousness • Ideal for those looking to deepen the spirituality of their physical yoga practice • Offers detailed instruction on the practice of mahamantra yoga and exercises to improve one’s practice and move beyond rote chanting • Includes a CD of mahamantra yoga chants Based on a rich and ancient tradition revived more than five hundred years ago by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in India, mahamantra yoga involves repeated recitation of a sacred phrase, such as the name of a deity, to anchor the mind and access ecstatic states, higher consciousness, and, ultimately, as you vibrate the holy names, the Divine presence in sound. Part of the bhakti devotional tradition, mahamantra yoga is considered the best path to self-realization in the current age, offering a doorway into the hidden recesses of our innermost being—the internal forest of the heart. Citing ancient Vedic texts and the insights of perfected mahamantra yogis, Richard Whitehurst reveals the methods of mahamantra yoga and his own profound experiences based on more than 20 years of intense practice. Using the core principles of this ancient tradition, he offers mental and physical exercises—such as how to coordinate the breath, vocal cords, and mouth—to move beyond rote chanting and pursue the practice consciously and joyfully. He explains how to overcome common obstacles to successful chanting as well as purification practices to intensify your efforts. Including a CD of mahamantra yoga chants, this book is the perfect guide for those looking to deepen the spirituality of their physical yoga practice and attain the goals of spiritual life in the midst of the modern world. Part of the bhakti devotional tradition, Mahamantra yoga involves repeated chanting of a sacred phrase to anchor the mind and access ecstatic states and, ultimately, the Divine presence. Richard Whitehurst reveals the methods of mahamantra yoga and his own experiences based on more than 20 years of profound practice. He shows how to coordinate the breath, vocal cords, and mouth to move beyond rote chanting and pursue the practice consciously and joyfully. SPIRITUALITY "From time immemorial, religions have used singing and the chanting of sacred syllables, mantras, to lift their spirits to the divine. Yoga, for its part, is an exercise or practice to strengthen the human spirit and help it mature. All this is pulled together in . . . this remarkable book."—(Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions ) "Chanting is a venerable vehicle for altering consciousness and for personal transformation. This book is a manual for diligent practitioners of the 'great mantra'... This book is a guide for those looking to awaken spiritual devotion in their physical yoga practice. It shows how to coordinate the breath, vocal cords, and mouth to practice devotional chanting consciously and joyfully