shoe said:
and i find your idea of a 'longer route to the same destination' absurd. there is no destination, only an unchanging process of change. which is a very 'yin' idea. it's only here, and now, in this instant. if you've tuned it in or tuned it out, that's the question.
For sister, the objective in using mantra and meditation are the same, to bring the mind to stillness. Her objective is her destination for lack of a better word. A still mind.
In some traditions, kundalini yoga for example, mantra is considered a form of meditation.
In her previous post, however, Sister was referring to the more classical form of meditation, where the mind, as you say, is initially focused on one thought, concept , sensation, colour or object. But that object of meditation is only a crutch or stepping stone to a much higher state where even the thought ceases and is replaced by pure awareness. Eventually the object is not required. It takes years of practice and discipline to achieve that state. Sister has had only glimpses of it after close to eight years of sustained practice. Some days all she is capable of is following the sensation of her breath, other days much much more.
Whereas, the use of mantra is not nearly as subtle. A complete layperson, with no previous experience whatsoever, can practice mantra and experience its benefits almost immediately.
So, when your Sister says one is a longer route, she is referring to the amount of time required to learn and become proficient with the technique. Years of practice have not radically improved the results Sister gets from mantra (but it has its place), but years of practice have improved the results Sister gets from meditation. Sister uses mantra as a sort of intercept for unwanted or negative thought patterns. A crude and short term, but effective way of blocking them. Meditation on the other hand is where she goes to get her ego unravelled.
shoe said:
If you want to fill your head with a mantra then by all means
Wahe Guru!
You might enjoy reading the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Sachidananda authored a wonderful interpretation of them if you are interested.