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FEATURE | EASTERN HORIZON 45

how for many years many brilliant
The Science of
minds have written about this
same dream with more skills and
knowledge that I do here.
It is also with a smile that I recall Mantra Chanting

the many years of exertion and
By Gemma Perry
effort applied by so many others
trying to improve themselves
under the guidance of the Buddha People often ask me how I found
and his teachings. myself studying the science of
mantra chanting and what led me
We have seen and will likely
to my own mantra practice. The
continue to see difficulties,
honest answer? Severe depression
including failure and success. But
and accessing the darkest parts
this is all part of our growing up
of myself are what led me to the
process as a human species.
ancient practice of mantra chanting.
Chanting mantras, quite literally,
Go ahead and practice for your
transformed my life. So, after
well-being by taking care of
personally experiencing the dramatic
yourself just as you would wish
effects of mantra, and having seen
others to take care of themselves
Gemma scientifically that many of the benefits can be
too. Most important is that we
investigates the psychological scientifically explained, my focus
must always reflect wisely by
asking this question: Is this for effects of chanting and how became studying and sharing the
my well-being and that of others its positive outcomes can value of this ancient medicine with
too? We should extend this open- impact society. She completed the world.
heartedness to our closest circle her Honours and Masters of
Like many people, I had no idea
of friends and family. We should Research in psychology and is
what mantra chanting was or how
share what we know, organize now continuing her research
it was going to help me, but I was so
activities for the benefit of others, with a PhD at Macquarie
even if it is a small contribution desperate for a solution to my state
University in Sydney, Australia. of depression, that I gave it a try. I
to benefit others. If we cannot do
Gemma is a passionate and found myself chanting in Tibetan,
all these, at least let us not simply
engaging communicator Hebrew, Arabic and Sanskrit with
criticize others or be an obstacle
and is currently focused on whomever, whenever and wherever!
to them. Every small grain of sand
sharing and teaching ancient I had found my medicine! I felt
counts, just as many small lights
methods of heightening states happiness creeping back into my
will fire up the guiding light we
of awareness and promoting life, and I experienced a depth of
desperately need.
health and wellbeing. connection with myself, others and
We need not despair because nature that I had never even known
every little effort counts. As the before. I have been practicing
Buddha advised, let us be a guide mantra chanting (mainly Sanskrit)
to ourselves, a lamp to ourselves, for over 10 years now, and on the
so that we can shine and help science side of things, I am currently
others shine brighter every day. doing my PhD at Macquarie
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