What is a Mantra
A mantra is most commonly used in the practice of transcendental meditation. The word mantra comes from the ancient Sanskrit language and is used to induce a transcendental state of consciousness. ‘Man’ means ‘mind’, and ‘tra’ means ‘release’ in Hinduism. A mantra is a combination of sounds meant to release the mind from all the anxieties of material life. One gets incredible insights when using this casual yet sacred word.
Choosing a Mantra
Choosing a mantra is something you usually do the first time you practice transcendental meditation. It is to be something you keep personally as your own sacred affirmation. Choosing a mantra is considered a sacred act by many. Here are a few suggested mantras and the ideas behind them and what they mean.
FYI: Join us for our deep dive into transcendental meditation in the first week of our Foundation course. We’d love to get you paired with an accountability partner in our 21-day meditation challenge so make sure to check it out!
Om or Aum: A mantra pronounced ‘Ohm’
It is the most universal mantra because speaking this sound is a match to the natural frequency of the universe and our human heart — 432 Hertz.
This frequency is said to be the exact and original vibration. This vibration represents the cycle of life. Due to its simplicity and adaptive nature to resonate with the cosmos, it is the sound of the universe.
Hamsah, a Mantra from the Bible
Ham-sah: It means “I am that I am” A mantra used by Moses when he asked for his name, God’s answer is this mantra. “I am that I am”.
‘I am that I am’ speaks the conscious presence of God being divine and in everything and everyone. Within you is the same presence of the infinite God.
Breathing in, with ‘Ham’, breathing out, continue ‘-sah’. With that, you acknowledge your presence and everything that you are – your senses, your feelings, your experiences. Breathing out and continue saying ‘sa’ and with that, you align everything that you are, with everything that there is.
Buddho, a Hyms part of the Theravada tradition
Bud-dho: A hyms, which is a word for mantra in Buddhism, and a significant part of the Theravada tradition.
‘Buddho’ comes to call attention to His title, rather than Buddha, the name. By repeating the mantra, you are calling for the enlightened teacher to bring peace and harmony to yourself and others and bring peace between the physical and the spiritual world.
Breathing in, with a long ‘Bud-’, breathing out, continue ‘-dho’.
A Powerful Mantra, One
One means God or Universe in many religions and means empathy, connection, and understanding. Breathing in, with a long ‘On-‘, breathing out, continue ‘ne’.
‘One’ has the meaning of oneness and represents unity. One is a mantra that was once used by Dr. Hebert Benson in the 1960s, who wrote the first popular book about transcendental meditation in the Western world. He later wrote a book about relaxation and studied this type of meditation scientifically. Check out both of the books below.
Create Your Own
If you feel like creating your own, here are some helpful tips. Go with what resonates with you!
Set A Goal
The goal of meditation is to relax the mind. Try to make a commitment of meditating every day for up to 20 minutes — twice a day if possible.
It seems like a tall task but it has incredible payoffs when committed to and worked at on a daily basis (even if for only 5 minutes). Check out our membership platform to learn more about this tool, join our 21-day meditation challenge, and the others like this that we offer on the platform!
As it is with any goal, let’s break it down and start with small and work our up to what works best for us. This meditation practice can work as a safe haven in our lives if we let it.
Conclusion
With consistent meditation practice, you will find that over time doors began to open. We begin to find footing in our individual meaning and purpose. An amazing go-to technique to get aligned with our highest self and refresh the quality of our lives.
With a spiritual approach and the right tools to retrain your brain – You have the power to transform your life and habits significantly. Satori Way is here to help set the stage with what is right for you, join us as a free member, and check out our 5-day course here!
