How to Choose a Meditation Mantra

Mantras are words or phrases that you can chant, either silently or aloud, during meditation. They are wonderful tools for keeping your mind focused. Without a certain word, or mantra, to focus on during meditation, your pesky thoughts can absorb your mind and ruin your time of silent contemplation. Mantras prevent that from happening. But this is not the only reason to use mantras. For thousands of years, mantras have been used in the East to bring about specific results. It is believed that the sound vibrations of particular mantras have unique effects on your body, on your mind, and on the universe around you. These ancient mantras, they believe, are the most effective ones to use because the power of those words have increased the more that they’ve been used. Now, you can harness the power of mantras for your own benefit. Here is how to choose a meditation mantra.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Pen or Pencil
• Paper

1. Write a list of words or phrases on a piece of paper that symbolize what you want to achieve. For instance, if you want to calm down, you might want to write such words as peace, tranquility and serenity, or phrases such as calm down, slow down and totally relaxed. If you want more money, you might write such words as prosperity, wealth and money, or such phrases as wealth is flowing to me, my bills are paid and I have money for all my needs. Make a list of words or phrases for any of your needs.

2. Read your list aloud. See which one “feels” right to you. There will usually be one word or phrase that arouses a unique, inspired feeling inside of you.

3. Use your chosen word during meditation. Say it slowly, either aloud or silently, for 20 minutes. If you have chosen a two-syllable word or phrase as your mantra, draw the word out as you say it. For instance, for tranquility you might say,”tran-quil” as you breathe in, then say “it-y” as you breathe out.

4. Try some ancient mantras. Chant the word OM (pronounced like home without the “h”). This word is best chanted aloud rather than silently. Take a deep breath, then as you exhale, say OM. When you get to the end of your exhale, and your mantra, hum the “m” of OM. This mantra has a hypnotic effect, and almost everyone feels soothed while chanting it.

5. Try the most popular Tibetan chant—Om Mani Padme Hum, which is pronounced “om maanay padmay hum.” This chant increases your compassion and your spirituality.

Tips & Warnings

• For many more ancient mantras, those designed for specific purposes, any book by Thomas Ashley-Farrands is a great resource.