Easy to Use Mantra

Patanjali: author of the Yoga Sutras

What's in your mind?
It is estimated that the average person has over 60,000 thoughts every day. Not all of these thoughts are happy approving ones though.

When you get into the habit of monitoring your thoughts and subsequent actions through meditation, you develop the ability to discern what you are thinking and can then choose to replace the negative, nay-saying thoughts with ones that are encouraging, upbeat and supportive in their energy.

Protecting your mind
A mantra is a mental or auditory word or phrase, often with a personal or sacred meaning. Derived from the roots of two Sanskrit words; manas, referring to the mind, and tra, meaning that which protects, a mantra is therefore a thought, word, or sound which protects the mind.

It serves as a replacement for unwanted thoughts by pulling the mind back to concentration, allowing you to develop single-pointed focus. You can repeat or chant a mantra, focusing on the meaning and the sound, while hearing the mantra vibrate within you.


View from the foothills of the Himalayas

Your very own shield
With regular meditation, you become familiar with detecting thoughts as they appear and by the use of a mantra, your chosen word or phrase rises up like a shield to protect you from either your own self-deprecating thoughts or hurtful energy directed at you from another person or situation.

OMMMM

Om is known as the first mantra. If the mind has a tendency to wander or unwanted thoughts enter the field of awareness, it provides a simple means to relax the mind and allow it to surrender into the peaceful influence of this singular point of focus. Om (also known as AUM) will be written about in more detail in a future blog. To begin though, develop the habit of repeating a mantra, either Om or one of your choice.


Know God, by Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji

THE DAILY EDGE
Helping You Expand Your Possibilities
TODAY'S EDGE: Mantra

Traditionally, mantras are repeated 108 times, signifying one complete round. You can say as many rounds as you want to every day. Over time, you will notice that the mantra does have both a protective and a positive effect on the way that you think and subsequently act because you are replacing negative thoughts with more beneficial views and beliefs.

Try looking at yourself in the mirror and telling yourself “I Love You.” Do it 108 times every day for a week. Notice how you feel every day.

You can continue with this phrase or repeat a different one, so long as it is meaningful to you and not derogatory in any way.

Om is the most powerful mantra and the vibration is said to resonate with the universe. Meditation upon the sound of Om will therefore give you knowledge of Om and of the whole universe.

Mantra can be repeated silently during meditation or when walking and is easy to carry around with you and perform.

Keep it short and say it like you mean it.

Soon you will not only mean it, you will believe it even when you’re not saying it.

Meditation is for life.