What is a mantra?
A mantra is a word, sentence or sound that the practitioner repeats over and over to help with concentration in meditation. When repeating a thought or an idea, it grows in strength and energy, anchors us in the present moment, and gives us a stronger foundation to support our physical and mental intentions.
Repeating these positive affirmations can help relieve built-up tension and overcome obstacles.
How to use mantras?
Mantra in Yoga Practice: Setting an intention
If you’ve ever been to a yoga class, the teacher has most likely invited you to set an intention for your practice. In yoga, mantras help us establish a connection with the state of mind we wish to cultivate during our practice. It helps us stay grounded and focused while moving through the poses. You can also seal your practice by repeating the mantra once again silently.
Mantra in Meditation: Anchoring Yourself
Developing a daily meditation practice will help you cultivate a more present, peaceful and balanced lifestyle which will ripple into other aspects of your life. Mantras can help bring you back to the present moment.
Mala beads are a great mantra meditation tool. They can be used to help you keep count of repetitions by touching each stone or bead while chanting your mantra.
Malas are made of 108 beads. In Buddhism, 108 is a very important number, referring to the number of energetic channels within our body. When repeating or chanting a mantra 108 times, the sound vibrations fill up and balance out all of these energy channels.
How to Choose a Mantra?
A mantra can be any thought, goal, idea, image or sound vibration that is meaningful to you. There are thousands of beautiful and touching mantras in Sanskrit
It is believed that chanting a mantra will eliminate negativity from your mind by filling it with positive thoughts and intentions.
A mantra may be as simple as the word “love.” It can be something you are grateful for, or a sentence such as "om shanti, shanti, shanti," which is an invocation of peace.
You can also meditate using affirmations such as “I fully love and accept myself.”
While many people are given a personalized mantra by a teacher or guru, you can choose your own mantra according to what you wish to manifest in your life.
When choosing a mantra, you should consider your inner motivation to practice meditation. Whether it is to cultivate positivity, health, happiness and self-love, or to simply find balance, mantras can be an excellent tool to use in your daily meditation practice.
Rose Buddha’s favorite mantras to be repeated as necessary :-)
For calmness of the mind
“I am at peace. I am calm. I am kind.”
For gratitude
“I have everything I need to be happy, here and now.”
To shift negative thoughts
“ I change my thoughts, I transform my reality”
To cultivate abundance
“I am ready to receive all the good that the universe has for me now.”