Mantra MeditationWhat is Mantra?Simply put, mantra meditation, also known as japa meditation, or simply ajapa, is the use of a word or phrase repeated over and over to oneself as a dharana - a focal point for the meditation practice. Japa meditation is usually done out loud, though in a very quiet voice, almost a whisper, and mantra meditation, or ajapa japa, is done silently. This is an ancient practice, and its mastery is probably far beyond my grasp. And yet, anyone can meditate. I've been doing it all my life. And I find that conscious repetition of meaningful sound can bring tremendous peace and insight. Traditionally, a Sanskrit mantra is used, one given to the practitioner by their teacher, and imbued with meaning by the ardent use of thousands of other meditators over hundreds or maybe thousands of years. But there is no rule that says your mantra must come to you in this way. One of the most ancient and beloved mantras of all time is om namah shivaya It makes me smile just to type the words. I think I would have thought it silly before, repeating words over and over in a foreign language, a feeling of peace and joy building inside me with each syllable. I would have thought you were crazy if you told me that it would become one of my fondest pleasures in life. But it has. It is said that the sound vibrations of a mantra have meaning in and of themselves, and that they affect change in the physical world, and in our bodies and hearts and lives. Whether or not that's true, there is personal meaning in any word or phrase we use for mantra meditation, or japa. There is the meaning lent to the mantra by the experience of spending time in quiet immersed in an activity that is soothing to the soul. And there is the meaning of the words themselves. You can also create a mantra for yourself. As an example of a mantra in English - these words were suggested to me my my teacher, to be silently repeated to the rhythm of the breath: inhale: I am worthy, I am divine exhale: It's all in God's hands (Feel free to replace "God" with "nature," or "spirit," or "higher mind," or something else that suits you.) This mantra's meaning very closely resembles the meaning of om namah shivaya. Om I bow, namah - in deep reverence - shivaya - to the light of consciousness, that is ever present in all beings and forms of the universe. The most universally repeated mantra, and some say the most powerful, is simply the syllable "om." I use mantra repetition in my daily meditation practice, and also as a sort of refuge when my emotions are getting the best of me (if I can remember in time). The most powerful experiences I have had with mantra have been when I remembered to sound it, and to consider its meaning, in the midst of a difficult time. Like someone I love acting like a jerk to me - om namah sivaya. Or an experience of fear and anxiety - I am worthy, I am divine. Or even in the face of tragedy - this, too, is a manifestation of pure consciousness I find that the energy and the effectiveness of the mantra builds over time. For more on Mantra Meditation I highly recommend the accessible and lovely writings of Sally Kempton.
read the blog post about mantra and heartbreak
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