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What is a Mantra?

What is a Mantra?

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What is Mantra? A common definition of Mantra or Chanting is a “spiritual discipline capable of enhancing a person’s listening ability, intense energy, and additional compassion for other people.” Mantras mean a way of expressing religious observance, peace, appreciation, and compassion. Christian history says chanting became more popular after an album of Gregorian Chants (Central and Western Europe) by Spanish Benedictine monks in Santo Domingo turned into a best-seller. Yet, some others say chanting has Vedic origins. Lets us look closer into the starting point of Mantras.

 Origin

Teachings of the Vedas or the earliest Hindu scriptures produced in Sanskrit are made up of a variety of hymns acknowledged by prophets or seers from the Cosmic Consciousness. The exact dates of the Mantra origin are quite difficult to determine because the Vedas are divine. Earliest mantras are believed 30 centuries old. Mantras exist in different schools such as Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism. Similar songs or compositions are also seen in Christianity and Taoism. Use, arrangement, essence, and function depend on the philosophy and school of Hinduism or Buddhism. Here are some of the more well-known Mantras worldwide. The word mantra can be broken down into two parts: “man,” which means mind, and “tra,” which means transport or vehicle. In other words, a mantra is an instrument of the mind—a powerful sound or vibration that you can use to enter a deep state of meditation.

Om Mani Padme Hum

Om Mani Padme Hum or Compassionate Buddha refers to the Sanskrit Mantra with six syllables or Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus and said to be related to compassion. In other words, it is the Buddha of Compassion or Empathy. The chant allays fears, appeases concerns, and cures broken hearts. Buddhist teachings sat enlightenment will be achieved through wisdom and kindness. In Western vulture or society, wisdom is mainly intellectual while compassion is associated with emotions. These two attributes are independent of each other and unable to coexist.

Amazing Grace of Sanskrit

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the memoir (Eat, Pray, Love), calls it Amazing Grace of Sanskrit. Om Namah Shivaya or “Adoration to Lord Shiva” connotes I Bow to Shiva, the highest divine being of transformation who embodies the genuine and greatest self. Gilbert interprets the meaning as “I honor the divinity within myself.” It reminds people there is a celestial energy in each one of us and all of us must be regarded as being heavenly.

Happiness or Joy and Freedom

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu implies that all human beings in the universe should be free and happy. The feelings, words, and actions of a person partly contribute to this gladness and liberty. The powerful mantra concentrates on living a life as follower of the greater good. The chant promotes compassion as well as collaboration and living harmoniously.

How to Recite the Mantra

Recital of Mantras can only be performed correctly through faith and devotion and not by mental power or logic. The powerful Om (Aum) brings together physical with emotional forces which leads to feeling mentally and physically complete. In chanting the mantra, you need to envisage the divine and visualize the image of your god. Meditate for several minutes on love in a quiet place. It is also important to identify your purpose or purposes in chanting.

 

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