Using a mantra?

I downloaded the Discover Meditation audio, and in it they actually suggest using a mantra. This is different from the "focus on breathing" method which I have also seen suggested.

If one is to use a mantra, is the meaning of the word somehow significant or could it be just any word? I think I have read somewhere that different mantras have different effects or something but I have also read that the point is just to focus on the word and its meaning has no significance. Can anyone explain this to me?

 

Hi Shadix and welcome to the community

Discover Meditation uses a mantra technique because it works for the majority of people. When your mind focuses on one thing, your attention is guided away from other thoughts more easily.

If you choose a word that has meaning to you, your mind will automatically gather all kinds of thoughts about that meaning and therefore you will experience many thoughts. This defeats the object of using a mantra because the mantra is simply a vehicle to help you to reach the meditative state.

When you reach this state, let the mantra go. When you slip out of the meditative state, you can focus once again on your mantra until you reach the meditative state once again. Patience and practice will allow you to become familiar with and rest in the meditative state for longer periods of time.

Hope this helps and wish you much peace and joy

 

I agree with Polly, if you pick a mantra that is some meaningful word to you then you already have associations in mind with it, so saying that mantra is likely to bring up related memories or thoughts and that will only serve to distract you somewhat.

There are other mantras you can use that are less meaningful to most people. You could just make one up if you like, or you can pick from one that is supplied here or elsewhere on the internet. Some of them (like the ones used in TM) do have some connection to particular faiths/beliefs, but if they have no meaning to you then that is just fine.

Of course, some people choose to meditate with a mantra that has meaning, either because of their faith or for some other reason. They may not get as deep into meditation if that mantra has too much meaning for them, but if they're happy with that, then that is their choice, so fine.

Hugs

Giles

 

Good point. Thanks for the info.

 

Choosing or creating a mantra is really dependant upon the goal of your specific meditations.

Using the mantras: Lam, Vam, Ram, Yam, Ham, Om, and Aum which each correlate to a specific chakra are great for cleansing and balancing the chakras. You can probably even find a video or app to help guide you through that

I also really find freeflow meditation fun and great for opening up my creative flow. In this state I literally just start by holding a vowel sound until I feel myself resonate or align with it and then begin to improvise without any real conscious effort simply pushing the sound around and adjusting the level of tension and release with my body and voice as one. If you do this you might find that you forget you are the one making the sound. Although you are producing it you might find yourself as a simple observer. I find this to really help to break me free of preconceived notions.

 

Thanks for the info. I have read about chakras before, but I didn't get too deep into it. Is it true that each of those mantras opens a specific chakra and that it effects your personality in the way that correlated to that chakra? Does it really work?

 

Chakra work is a whole conversation in itself.
If you're not familiar with it, it can be good to read up on it and get an understanding.
Warning though... if you come across information talking about opening and closing chakras (especially guided meditations that talk about closing all the chakras at the end), then these people do not really understand chakras. One of my bugbears, but the fact is, in Indian philosophy (where Chakras originate), if all your chakras are closed, then you are dead, so generally not a good idea to focus on closing them all.

 

Ah ok. I found this website where you take a test answering questions about your personality and it tells you which chakras are open and closed. I am assuming this is not accurate then, since a living person can easily have all their chakras closed according to this test.

 

Indeed, that sounds like a site that is playing on a western 'new age' misconception of chakras. People like to play those 'personality test' type games, but often they are just collecting data to sell.