Your mantra has a form; all sounds have a form. The sound of Om creates a form. It has not been created by an artist according to his imagination. The sound of Om has produced this image and this becomes its symbol. So this is a symbol of a sound called Om. And that sound represents three states, and the fourth state, Turiya, is called amatra, the soundless state, that is hidden.
When you remember your mantra, you are creating an image in your mind. You have stored many, many images in your mind. There are many grooves in your mind. The many memories in your life have created many grooves in your mind. And your mind is in the habit of flowing in the grooves that you have created. Now, if you want your mind to flow in new grooves that you would like to create, you find yourself helpless. Many a time, students think nothing happens when they are remembering their mantra, nothing happens when they pray. Your mantra is a compact prayer. Instead of saying, “O Lord give me this and O Lord give me that,” one uses the word, ‘namaha,’ commonly used to complete most mantras. Namaha means, not mine. Nothing belongs to me; everything belongs to Thee. This is the meaning. When you use the word namaha with that feeling, it becomes part of your life and your behavior changes according to that feeling and according to that thought.
So mantra is not only a mere word that creates a form but is a great thought which has a deep impact on your life. It is a great feeling which leaves a deep impression in your life. Now you say, “I have been remembering my mantra and nothing is happening to me, I don’t see anything.” This is a common complaint. This complaint is voiced by those who do not understand the science of mantra. Is it ever possible to do some action and not reap the fruits of your action? No, it’s not. When you are performing an action, you are bound to reap the fruits of your action.
When you are remembering your mantra and nothing is happening to you, what does that mean? It means that your mantra is being stored in the unconscious mind and when the time comes, when there is need, the mantra will help you. When does the need for the mantra arise? Remember one thing. Among all the diseases of the world, there is one most serious disease. We have tried our best to eliminate that disease, but it is still there and is increasing all the time and all human beings have to face it. And that disease is called loneliness. We are all lonely. So when we get lonely we try to enter into a partnership called marriage. Loneliness doesn’t go away; then we try to have children. Loneliness doesn’t go away; then we try to have pets. Even that does not give us freedom from loneliness. Loneliness still remains. There is only one thing that will give you freedom from loneliness, and that is your own constant friend within, called your mantra.
Reprinted from “Om the Eternal Witness” by Swami Rama.