Mantra Challenge - Update

The last time I checked in I'd done 7 malas (756 mantras). The next day I did 7.5 malas. Then I struggled for 3 days to get 8 malas, and finally did it! 864 mantras, wow! But I had definitely reached capacity since the next two days I found myself falling back to somewhere between 7.5 and 8 malas.

And then something magical happened. I let the counting go. I decided to put down my mala, but keep the mantras. What does this mean? It means I am definitely saying less mantras, because there are times I'm not saying them that I was before (just to get them in). It means I am no longer "encumbered" by carrying around a mala or counting on my fingers when I don't have it.

So what have I kept? I'm still saying my mantras. I think if I'd tried this at the beginning it would have proved too much of a challenge. But because I spent weeks building myself to this point, the mantra has become part of me. I still chant the mantra during my meditation, on my walks, in the shower, and when I'm stressed or over thinking things.

How do I feel? I loved this mantra before I started. Now I feel like I am receiving such love when I chant it. I feel strong and connected to the Divine.

I also had a pleasant surprise the other day. I was standing at the bus stop by myself. It was snowing and cold. Instead of chanting (really just saying) the mantra in my head, I started to sing it out loud. I've never heard a tune for this mantra so I made one up. And I found it absolutely lovely. Suddenly I felt warm and protected and really happy! Since then I'm probably about split half between chanting the mantra in my head and singing the mantra (both out loud and in my head). While the sung mantra takes about twice as long as the chanted one (and therefore I'm getting in less mantras) I feel it more than makes up for it in devotional quality.

I am really glad I took on this challenge as I learned so much about myself and mantras. I'll be giving each of my students a challenge or two while I'm away in April. I promise none of them will be this challenging, but hopefully they will be as enjoyable.