I am on my 6th session and having some questions. For one, I am able to have the mantra go by itself on "auto mode" without any problem. However, that is part of the problem, in that it seems no different than when one gets to the point where they can drive their car automatically without thinking (and therefore their mind wanders on other matters). Said another way, the mantra doesn't seem to be doing anything but running in the background of my brain, and meanwhile, my mind goes on wandering all over the place just as though I was not doing a mantra. Does this make sense?

MBS,

Yes, this makes sense. The whole process is so natural for you that you hardly notice anything happening. But actually a great deal is happening.

When the syllable is present all the time, in the background, as an automatic process, what is happening is that the syllable has refined (become quieter) to the extent that it can. All that prevents its complete disappearance, and the experience of pure bliss consciousness, are the stresses stored in the nervous system. These stresses prevent awareness from diving within. But even this small dive is enough to bring the body deep rest, and with this deep rest the body's natural ability to heal itself comes into play. The rest allows stresses to dissolve.

When a stress dissolves, a thought, feeling, or sensation associated with the stress happens in the mind. What seem to be ordinary thoughts are actually signs of stress release.

Thus, you are experiencing the ideal balance of inward stroke (thinking the syllable) and outward stroke (releasing stress). The process balances itself naturally, so that nothing special seems to be happening.

But this is an illusion, since the rest is actually occurring, and the stresses are actually being released. At some point enough stresses will be gone that you will begin to have the delightful experiences that so many meditators have described: broader comprehension, inner peace, and quiet joy.

According to your description, you are doing the technique correctly. Simply continue, twice a day, and very soon much deeper and more fulfilling experiences will begin to happen.

Please keep in contact here so we can track your progress.

David Spector
Natural Stress Relief/USA