What's better, inner stillness or a sacred mantra?

The term "Mantra" is being used very loosely these days. People often say, what is your success mantra? Tell me what your mantra is. It is often implied as if it is some secret formula to do something in a shortcut manner. Well, let us discuss what it is and how does it compare to Stillness.

The term "mantra" comes from "man" and "tra." "man" means mind and "tra" means tool. So mantra can be referred to as a tool of the mind. Mantra has absolutely no meaning in itself, it is the sound enhancement of a particular subtle vibration. Now even the quantum physicists are declaring that this whole universe in made up of subtle vibrations of energy. We, yogis, refer to this universe as "Naada Brahmn." The term "Naada" means sound and "Brahmn" means God. So this creation is very subtle amalgamation of vibrations and those vibrations have their own sounds, so this whole amalgamation of sounds is referred to as "Naada Brahmn" which means the sound manifestation of God. John 1:1–3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

So based on this very deep understanding of the nature of this existence, some sounds are identified as beneficial vibrational patterns, so those are generally regarded as "mantras." Different mantras have their different vibrations and they can be used for different purposes. The real way to use a mantra is to get it from a master who transmits it to you in the form of energy, follow the instructions and it will do its magic. It will create a thought form and that thought form will create an energy pattern in you which has the power to transform your whole being. 

Mantra, being a sacred sound, is still a play in the creation and is not the core of creation. It can be used as a powerful vehicle to drive to the core of the creation but it is not at the core of the creation. There is utter limitlessly intense stillness at the core of this whole existence. We call it "Nothingness" or "Shoonya" or "Emptiness." Even Om comes from it and is happening in it, Stillness is Primordial. So, we say that silence is the only language of God and stillness or nothingness is the core nature of God. It is said that when the disciples came for spiritual instructions to Dakshinamurti, He just took them into silence. Jesus Christ says, "Be Still, and know that I am God."

Bhagwan Sri Ramana Maharshi says, "The highest form of grace is silence. It is also the highest spiritual instruction." His holiness says, "The experience "I am" is being still." The Self is God. "I am" is God. All that is required to realize the Self is to be still."