Chanting (Sacred syllables) Mantra - is it really effective spiritually?

Question: “Can anyone get any benefit by repeating sacred syllables (mantras) picked up casually?

Sri Ramana Maharishi: “No. He must be competent and initiated in such mantras.” Maharshi illustrated this by the following story:

A King visited his Premier in his residence. There he was told that the Premier was engaged in repetition of sacred syllables (japa). The King waited for him and, on meeting him, asked what the japa was. The Premier said that it was the holiest of all, Gayatri mantra. The King desired to be initiated by the Premier. But the Premier confessed his inability to initiate him. Therefore the King learned it from someone else, and meeting his Minister later, the king repeated the Gayatri and wanted to know if it was right. The Minister said that the mantra was correct, but it was not proper for him to say it. When pressed for an explanation, the Minister called to a soldier close by and ordered him to take hold of the King. The order was not obeyed. The order was often repeated by the minister, and still not obeyed by the soldier. The King flew into a rage and ordered the same soldier to hold the Minister, and it was immediately done.

The Minister laughed and said that the incident was the explanation required by the King. “How?” asked the King. The Minister replied, “The order was the same and the executor also, but the authority was different. When I ordered, the effect was nil (nothing), whereas, when you ordered, there was an immediate effect. Similarly with mantras."

Note: The chanting of mantra is good to bring balance and focus to the mind, great for those who just became the seeker of Truth. But chanting, breath watching and any concentration or focus-based practice are all mind work. How can one get rid of the mind by using the same mind? Therefore, the best practice one must pursue is Silence. As long as you're mind, there's no peace or freedom. Transcend and go beyond the mind and its matters to know your true nature. For that, Silence is the most immediate and direct path.

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