What exactly are meditation mantras, you ask? And why do they matter?
A mantra a word or phrase repeated over and over again during meditation. But using mantras for meditation involves a lot more than just sounding like a broken record. They’re generally sacred; a name or sound that both uplifts you and helps you find inner peace and keep your focus during meditation.
In other words, mantras are designed to change you.
Although they originated with ancient Hindus, the use of meditation mantras has since spread — mostly through the Far East — among Buddhists, Taoists, and others.
Today, Western people on a spiritual path also create mantras. Many seem more like affirmations, but the ones that are short-n-sweet still work nicely for that all-important transformative effect.
The thing about meditation mantras is that they give your brain something to do. Yes, spiritual mantras are meant to transform you just by uttering them again and again, but there’s a lot to be said for saying something just to keep nonsense babble at bay.
And speaking of nonsense babble, rather than just giving you some meaningless drivel like “my shoes are green,” or “I love pickled herring,” (which, for keeping your mind busy during meditation, does have its benefits.
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Here are some tried and true ancient meditation mantras for transformation
1. “Aum”
An oldie but a goodie, you really can’t mess this one up too badly. The “Om” is the sacred sound of Hinduism and is said to mean, variously: It Is, Will Be or To Become.
2. “Om Mani Padme Hum”
This one’s from Tibet, and it means, roughly, “Hail the Jewel in the Lotus.” The jewel, in this case, is the Buddha of Compassion.
3. “Namo Amitabha”
Homage to the Buddha of boundless light.
4. “I am that I am”
This is one of the Hebrew Torah’s most famous lines, and it was God’s answer to Moses when Moses asked for his name.
5. “Ham-Sah”
The Hindu variant, meaning I am THAT.
6. “I love you; I’m sorry; please forgive me; thank you”
Ho’oponopono (Hawaiian) Mantra.
Modern Mantras for meditation:
- “Love is the only miracle there is.” – Osho
- “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” – Gandhi
- “Every day in every way, I’m getting better and better.” – Laura Silva
- “I change my thoughts. I change my world.” – Norman Vincent Peale
Making Mantras Work for You
Your personal mantra may be one of those listed above, but it can also be any word, quote, phrase, or truth that carries meaning for you. You might even consider creating your own.
The most important thing when choosing meditation mantras is that they inspire and support you by calming your mind, strengthening your inner awareness, and powering your spiritual practice.
