A mantra is a short group of words, a word, prayer, or a sound that centers your mind and helps transform your life. Mantra mediation is the most common use of mantras, designed to change the internal energy of the mediator. So mantras have power; however YOU have the power to choose your mantra.  One that you repeat to yourself during the day or at a schedule time for mediation or prayer.

 

Should you wish to make your own mantra, choose positive, supporting ones. Select power words that help you realize your highest potential. Find some quiet time when you will not be disturbed. Relax your body and with eyes closed spend a few minutes taking in seven to eight complete breaths (breathe to the count of: in - 101, 102, 103, 104, 105. And out - 101, 102, 103, 104, 105.)

 

Next, write down words and or thoughts that come to you. Take your time and fill up the page if need be.

Finally summarize your thoughts and words into short powerful statements. Use the present tense.

Examples:

“I am strong and will preserver.”

“I am kind, considerate and caring.”

“I am healthy in my mind and body”

“I am joyous and appreciating every moment of my life.”

 

Mantra and prayers have been used in religion for thousands of years. From Hindu mediation came

one-syllable sounded mantras, known as “seed mantras.” These have no exact meaning; rather

they are designed to give the mediator a spiritual experience. The most famous seed mantra is ‘OM’.

Considered to be the sound of Universal Consciousness and is the most sacred symbol of Hinduism.

‘Om’ can also be spelled ‘AUM’ and is pronounced AH-OO-MM.

 

Buddhist Mantras Mediation uses OM MANI PADE HUM, pronounced OM MAH-NEE PAHD-MAY HOOM. The translation is “Praise to the jewel in the lotus.” In this mantra you are attempting to purify and transform your consciousness into the consciousness of a Buddha. Taoist Mediation is where the mediator focuses on the ying-yang symbol. We use this symbol for the front cover of our book, Meta Mind Yoga. The ying-yang symbol represents life’s opposites, positive and negative, day and night, masculine and feminine, good and bad. Taoists believe while mediating with this symbol in mind the world’s mysteries will be revealed to you.

 

Christian Mediation is made up of both words and prayer.  The prayer used by all Christian denominations is ‘The Lord’s Prayer’- “Our Father, who art in heaven………” (Matthew 6: 9-13). Also ‘The Jesus Prayer’ “Lord, Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.” from the Eastern Orthodox tradition of Christianity.  Christian centering mantra mediation uses a word or phrase. Examples, ‘Love’, ‘Mercy’, ‘Peace’, ‘Jesus, I trust you’ and ‘Hail Mary, full of grace.’

 

Islamic Meditation is known a dhikr, is the remembrance of Allah and G’d. There are 99 names of Allah or G’d, each evoking a different aspect of G’d. During the prayer you keep track of the numbers by counting on your right hand or using prayer beads. Dhikr Mantra is sacred phrases that are repeated or chanted 33 times each. These are ‘Glory to G’d’ ‘Praise be to G’d’  ‘G’d is the greatest’ and ‘There is no goal but G’d.’ The Shahada is the First Pillar of Islam (there are Five Pillars). Muslims repeat this mantra constantly. The first part of the Shahada is: La ilaha illa Allah! pronounced LA ILAHA IL’ALLAH. Jewish Mediation is found in the Old Testament “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:20). In Hebrew, mediation is known as hitbodeduct, “being a alone with one self.”

 

Hebrew Mantra Mediation can takes the form of one word “Shalom” or Adonai (pronounced AH-DOE-NAI).  Prayers include The Amidah (standing) (pronounced AMM-EE-DAH). Comprising 18 sections and said while standing. The Shema, a prayer and a mantra repeated twice daily. Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai echad  (Here O’ Israel, the Lord our God the Lord is One),pronounced SH’MA YIS-RAY-EL, ADO-NAI EL O-HAY NU, ADO NAI EH-HAD.  Jews are required to have this prayer recited on their death.

 

Have you ever wondered why we keep repeating the same mantras and prayers? This is due to rote learning principles. Simply, what we repeat we remember. Rote learning is prevalent in many religious schools throughout the world and is partly due because most major religions appeared before the emergence of print.

 

Most Dharmic religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism initially transmitted their scriptural knowledge through oral transmission without relying on text. This was done by converting verse into chant and repeating it to commit to long-term memory. To this day we sing or use rhythm to say a prayer or mantra. In Muslim madrasas (schools) it is used in memorizing the Qur’an. In Jewish yeshivot (schools) is it used when teaching children the Torah. Singing and rhythm appeals to your whole creative brain, where words are processed in your left and rhythm in your right hemispheres respectively, making it easier to place the mantra or prayer into your long-term memory. You experienced this at an early age when learning the alphabet, which even today you can repeat, both the sequence of letters along with the rhythm, A,B,C,D, E,F,G… try it for yourself, right now!

 

Peace.