Using and Choosing a Mantra
Tips and Guidelines
There are 2 main points when choosing a mantra:
- Either choose a mantra that means nothing to you but functions as a
detached
point of focus (e.g. counting 1-10, A-B-C...).
- Choosing a mantra that means something to you, pick one that carries relaxing, natural associations (e.g. Love, Ahhh, Mmm,
Om,
Calm).
The associations depend on your experiences and cultural background. "Om" may not mean anything in particular to you, or "Om" may mean the world to you. A person from Germany may not find much meaning in the English word "Love". Certainly not so in its Norwegian counterpart, "Kjaerlighet." "Liebe" will obviously be a better choice for the German. There's no magic involved in your choice of mantra, only common sense and some insight... - Choose a permanent mantra. By permanent I mean a mantra that's not associated with someone or something (material object), such as a person's name, a city, a car etc.
I wish you relaxation and happiness, so please choose a detached, permanent mantra for peaceful stability in your mantra meditation. - Never recite an emotional mantra while you fix your eyes or imagination on a material object. In other words, don't force/coat a mantra on a particular luxury vehicle, a mansion, or a money-scheme...
E.g. an aggressive gorilla-like growl or repeating "I wish/I want" while fixating your eyes and mind on money/things causes greed, high expectations, negative emotions, and
stress
in your meditation and in your life. Finally... - Learn to say and/or internally repeat your mantra in a detached, positive manner. You should feel calm and relaxed while you recite your mantra, so recite it in a calm, relaxed manner.
Choosing a mantra and regularly
practicing mantra meditation
you learn to associate and produce instant relaxation at the mere thought of your mantra. So you can call upon your mantra in stressful situations and relax. Calmer and more focused, you also increase your mental endurance, your determination and productivity.
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