Mantras: Sacred Words of Power

by John Blofeld

Ou la puissance des mots sacrés
Avec le développement spectaculaire de l'intérêt pour les religions et le mysticisme d'Orient, de plus en plus de gens sont fascinés par les mantras, ces formules sacrées que l'on apprend par coeur pour la méditation en Inde, en Chine et au Tibet. Leur signification précise et la manière dont ils opèrent exactement ont été - à juste titre - longtemps tenues secrètes afin de tes préserver contre les déformations et les abus. Dans ce livre, John Blofeld (1913-1987), autorité reconnue en matière de yoga contemplatif bouddhique, explique le sens et le fonctionnement de ces "mots de puissance" sacrés que les méditants psalmodient d'une voix sonore et rythmée ou répètent intérieurement, en visualisant les syllabes d'où émanent des rais de lumière éblouissante. L'efficacité des mantras pour aider à la méditation est avérée . mais de nombreuses personnes croient que ce sont les syllabes elles-mêmes qui possèdent des pouvoirs merveilleux ou miraculeux. C'est cet aspect-là, le plus controversé, que John Blofeld examine avec une grande pénétration. La majeure partie de ses connaissances provient d'une expérience directe et de la bouche même des moines et des lamas rencontrés tout au long d'une existence entièrement passée en Orient.

Genres: Buddhism, Religion, Mysticism

106 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

John Eaton Calthorpe Blofeld (M.A., Literature, University of Cambridge, 1946) wrote on Asian thought and religion, especially Taoism and Chinese Buddhism. During WWII, he working in counterintelligence for the British Embassy in Chongqing (Chungking), China, as a cultural attaché. In the 1950s, he studied with Dudjom Rinpoche and other Nyingma teachers in Darjeeling, India. He later mentored Red Pine in his translation work.

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am aware of no other Western, English-language text that takes on the subject of mantra without also attempting to sell a particular school, though it could be argued that the author is shilling a bit for Tibetan Buddhism, I think that argument would be pretty weak. For an introduction to the subject from a relatively non-sectarian view by a native speaker of the language, I therefore think you would be hard pressed to do better.

And yet, there are flaws. Blofeld studied at a time when, if you wanted to learn this stuff, you went to the East to learn from them, rather than waiting for the next lama or monks to roll through your city or the nearest retreat center. With the increasing accessibility of the teachers has come better understanding of the teachings, in both wider array and greater depth. The book is therefore dated on one hand, and yet a personal view into how recently our knowledge of the field was so much thinner, and what we now take for granted.

Also, this is so veddy, veddy British, featuriing such stuffiness as, "After his morning ablutions, he repairs to his shrine-room, where such offerings as pure water, flowers, incense, lamps and so forth are ranged before a statue of the Buddha." Yes, "ranged." Now, I can claw my way through that when the underlying material is worthwhile, which to me this was, but others may find the style alone insufferable.

And, despite my decades of experience of the topic with both Eastern and Western teachers, I managed to learn a few things here, particularly regarding "shabda," which I've never heard a Tibetan use in quite that context. I have included several of the more interesting bits as quotes here on Goodreads, so they should be viewable from the book record.

[Claudio Yáñez Valenzuela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un interesante y académico trabajo. De lectura fluida y rica en información. Volver a leer este trabajo 20 años después ha sido muy enriquecedor y completa mi visión de los mantras. Como siempre, el trabajo de Blofeld es tremendamente esclarecedor para el estudioso occidental del alma oriental.

[Sylvie M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I currently practice mono-syllabic mantra such as om, or heu. This book offered a chance to expand and add more into my daily practice.