What is mantra-shakti, the power of mantras?

Osho, what do you say about mantra-shakti, the power of mantras?

There is no power in any mantra. That is why a mantra of one religion does not work for another. That is why the people of one religion laugh at the mantras of another, calling them foolish; yet they have great faith in their own, even when they don’t know the meaning. When you understand something and it affects you, of course it can work. But how will you be affected by what you don’t understand? Almost everywhere the priests have arranged it so that dead languages are not allowed to die; at least in the temples they keep them on life support. The advantage of dead languages is this: since you don’t understand, you think, “It must be something extraordinary!” Open the Vedas and you will be astonished—ninety-nine percent rubbish! Stuff that has no business being in the Vedas; calling it “Veda” is utterly pointless. But who reads them?…

Beloved Osho, different religions have different mantras, such as: om namo shivaya namo, arihanta nam, allahu akbar, om mani padme hum. In what state of being were such great mantras born? How and in what way are they related to our various inner centers? How should a seeker select a mahamantra most appropriate to him?

The search for power brings religion into the confines of the world. And it makes no difference whether it is Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism or Mohammedanism. As long as your interest is in the miracles, understand well that the quest for religion has not arisen in you yet. You are in awe when some sadhu, some baba, some holy man, creates ashes in the palm of his hand. What are you going to do with the ashes? There are plenty of ashes lying on the roads, or you can make ashes at home for little cost by burning coal. But if someone creates ashes in his palms, and this so impresses and delights you that you are moved to become his follower, then you are mad! It is worth understanding the nature of this fascination. That nothing is going to change from this creation of ashes is something that you also…

Osho, different religions have discovered different great mantras—like Om Namah Shivaya, Namo Arihantanam, Allahu Akbar, Om Mani Padme Hum. In what state did such great mantras descend, and how are they related to the inner centers? And how should a seeker choose the mantra suitable for himself?

It happened that when Vivekananda came to Ramakrishna, his household was in dire straits. His father had died—and, being a worldly, whimsical man, had left many debts. There was not even food enough. If somehow there was food, it was not enough for both mother and son. Vivekananda would tell his mother, “A friend has invited me today,” so that she would eat; otherwise she would feed him and remain hungry. Saying so, he would wander the lanes, then return home cheerful, belching, as if well-fed—no friend had invited him—but to make his mother feel at peace that he had eaten well so she could eat without worry. Ramakrishna came to know and said, “You are a great fool. You come daily to Mother Kali’s court—why don’t you ask? Such a small matter—why suffer needlessly?” At Ramakrishna’s insistence, Vivekananda said, “If you say so, I will ask.” Ramakrishna sat outside…

Verse (Sanskrit): चित्तं मंत्रः। प्रयत्नः साधकः। गुरुः उपायः। शरीरं हविः। ज्ञानमन्नम्‌। विद्यासंहारे तदुत्थस्वप्नदर्शनम्‌।। Transliteration: cittaṃ maṃtraḥ| prayatnaḥ sādhakaḥ| guruḥ upāyaḥ| śarīraṃ haviḥ| jñānamannam‌| vidyāsaṃhāre tadutthasvapnadarśanam‌|| Translation: Mind is the mantra. Effort is the seeker. Guru is the means. Body is the oblation. Knowledge is the food. When learning dissolves, there is the dream-vision born of That. Chitta itself is mantra. Mantra means: that which, through repeated utterance, gathers power; whose repetition becomes power. Whatever thought you repeat again and again, slowly it becomes conduct. Whatever thought you go on repeating, it will begin to appear in your life. Whatever you are is the result of certain thoughts being repeated innumerable times. Great researches have been done on hypnosis. Modern psychology has discovered very deep layers of hypnosis. The essential key of hypnotic process is one: whichever thought you wish to transform into actuality, repeat it as many times as possible.

Question: CHITTAM MANTRAH PRAYATNAHA SADHAKASH GURUH UPAYAH SHARIRAM HAVIH GYANAMANNAM VIDYASANGHARA TADUTTHASWAPNADARSHANAM. THE MIND IS THE MANTRA, EFFORT IS THE SEEKER. THE GURU IS THE MEANS. THE BODY IS THE OFFERING. KNOWLEDGE IS FOOD. WHEN KNOWLEDGE IS DESTROYED, THE DREAM IS SEEN. THE MIND IS THE MANTRA. Mantra means that which creates energy by continuous repetition; the very repetition creates the power. If any single thought is repeated continuously it is translated into action. The thought that is repeated time and again begins to manifest in life. Whatever you are is the outcome of some thoughts that have been repeated over and over again. A great deal of research has been carried out on hypnosis. Modern psychology has been able to penetrate hypnosis at its deepest levels. The basic principle of hypnosis is: if you want to convert any thought into reality, repeat it as many times as possible.