How to Do Mantra Meditation

Mantra meditation is one of the most commonly practiced forms of meditation, an art that dates to nearly as far back as human history goes. But just because it is a common practice, that does not make it an easy one. We are going to look at some ways to get started down the road to a successful meditation.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A quiet room, time to yourself, and a willingness not to give up.

1. The key to mantra meditation is, of course, the mantra. Your first step in the road to successful meditation is to select your mantra. You should choose something that you're going to want to keep, because once you choose a mantra, changing mantras can set you back. Go through a lot of different options, and don't just take the first one you see, even if you think it might be a good one. Don't just read them on paper, either; say them out loud a few times, and see what resonates with you. If you have any doubts, keep looking.

2. Define your surroundings and your physical position. Choose a place in your house to practice your mediation; it should be someplace that you will always have available, someplace private that you know you won't be disturbed. Decide where you're going to sit, and when you do, choose which position you will always use for your meditations. Once you've begun practicing and using the same mantra, place and position, you will find that it becomes easier and easier to meditate after you associate those things with your meditation.

3. Choose a symbol to guide you. This symbol can be anything from a flower to your own heartbeat, as long as it will help you focus. Make sure you pick something here that can stay the same, too.

4. Practice breathing. At first glance it might seem like a silly statement, but proper breathing is a necessity. There are exercises you can do to make sure your breath is coming predominately through your left nostril. This can be a challenge in itself, but it'll make the work down the road much easier.

5. Make sure you have a set of Mala beads. The beads are a tool that is necessary for keeping your thoughts from drifting, and they also provide a link to the material world. In the more advanced stages of meditation, they are invaluable in bringing the mind back to the conscious state.

6. Once you have your mantra, your beads and your quiet place, seat yourself and begin reciting your mantra. Every time you complete one recital of your mantra, rotate one of the beads. Ideally you should go through all the beads at least once.

Tips & Warnings

• Practice, practice, practice! Meditation isn't easy, and half of learning how to do it correctly is not giving up. The normal state of mind for most people is the frantic pace of trying to think of everything at once; this is exactly the opposite, so if you have trouble the fist few times, don't get frustrated.