A Thought is a vibration that comes from the lower plane of nature ... But A Mantra is a vibration that comes from the higher plane of nature.A Thought has always a meaning ... Whereas A Mantra, although it has a meaning, it is rarely uniform. It has a force, and the meaning of the Mantra is revealed to the person who has received it through revelation, which comes at a higher level of realization.
A Thought is a reflection of turbulence in the lower nature ... But A Mantra -- when it becomes natural -- is a reflection of the psychic state.
A Thought always has a direction, a dimension, a depth. All or any of these properties must be found in a thought ... But A Mantra has nothing of the above. It is only a rhythm and always withers away automatically the moment the psychic state of awareness is active. A Mantra necessarily turns into a desire when it acquires the properties of direction, dimension and depth ... But A Mantra never becomes a desire. On the other hand it neutralises the desire formation process.
A Thought generally originates from the lower mental, lower vital or higher vital planes ... But A Mantra has no such origin and its sole purpose is to activise the psychic being. A Mantra is given by the spiritual master or may descend automatically when the seeker reaches a high state of psychic awareness.
A Thought attracts other thoughts ... But A Mantra never attracts other Mantras.
A Thought has no sound aspect. It has only the meaning aspect ... Whereas A Mantra has no meaning aspect. It has only the sound aspect.
Thoughts make us restless ... But A Mantra makes us calm.
A Thought automatically dies when it has become a desire ... But A Mantra automatically merges into the consciousness when the psychic state is established.
A Thought clouds the soul ... Whereas A Mantra awakens the soul.
A Mantra comes automatically ... But A Mantra is invoked and it may come automatically only when the psychic state has become more or less permanent.