Neti Neti
Neti Neti is a meditative mantra and philosophical inquiry from the Upanishads, meaning “Not this, not this.” It is used in self-inquiry to point toward the truth of the Self (atman) by negating all that is not the Self; body, thoughts, emotions, roles, and experiences.
This mantra doesn’t define what the Self is, but instead strips away illusions and identifications, leaving the practitioner resting in what remains: pure awareness, untouched by form.
English Name
English Spelling: Neti Neti
Transliteration: Neti Neti
Sanskrit Name
Sanskrit: नेति नेति
Phonetic Spelling: Nay-tee Nay-tee
Translation: “Not this, not this”
Mantra Breakdown
Na: Not
Iti: This
This mantra is repeated to negate anything that can be observed or known.
If you can see it, name it, feel it, or think it; it is not the true Self. The real “I” is the one who is aware of all these things, yet remains unchanged by them.
Benefits of Chanting Neti Neti
- Supports deep self-inquiry and introspection
- Releases attachment to roles, thoughts, and identifications
- Guides awareness toward the unchanging Self
- Reduces mental noise and internal conflict
- Grounds non-dual awareness in direct experience
How to Chant Neti Neti
- Find Stillness: Sit in a meditative posture with a quiet mind.
- Observe Thought: Let thoughts arise naturally without resistance.
- Apply the Mantra: For each thought, image, or sensation, repeat mentally: “Neti Neti.”
- Disidentify: Gently remind yourself: “Not this. I am not this.”
- Remain Aware: Rest in the space that remains beyond words and forms.
Integration of Neti Neti
Neti Neti is not a devotional mantra, it is a razor of discernment. It cuts through illusion by denying identification with anything impermanent.
Use it as a meditative tool when you feel overwhelmed by thoughts, emotions, or identity confusion or most importantly when you seek a deeper understanding of the Self.
Methods to Integrate:
Self-Inquiry: During meditation, gently repeat “Neti Neti” to unhook from transient thoughts and feelings.
Mental Reset: Use the mantra in daily meditation.
Mirror Work: Gaze softly into a mirror and repeat “Neti Neti,” releasing identification with appearance and labels.
Breath Awareness: Pair the mantra with your breath to stay grounded, inhale “Neti,” exhale “Neti.”
Neti Neti leads not to answers, but to freedom. It doesn’t tell you what you are, it clears away what you are not.
Through this process of negation, what remains is the silent, spacious awareness that cannot be grasped, only lived.
In its emptiness lies truth. In its stillness, Self.
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