What is a mantra?
A. A mantra is a word or a phrase that we repeat silently to ourselves to prepare the mind for meditation. ‘Man’ is from ‘manas’ which is the Sanskrit word for the mind and ‘tra’ means that which protects and quiets the mind. So the mantra is a tool which soothes the mind and helps us turn within.
A mantra is a specific sound used during TM practice as a vehicle for the effortless settling down of the mind to the experience of the source of thought, pure consciousness. The mantra has no meaning but is known to produce beneficial, life-supporting effects. When you learn to meditate, you will receive your own mantra- and then, equally importantly, you will learn how to use the mantra properly so that your mind and body settle down to a profound state of restful alertness. It is important to receive complete instruction in how to meditate properly from a trained teacher. The reason is obvious: if you are going to take two 20-minute blocks of meditation time out of your busy schedule, you want to be sure to be meditating correctly and making best use of that time!
Related Questions
- Does navarna mantra make up the form of Maa Kali and will we invoke that form of Mother by repetition of these letters?
- Can the navarna mantra be permutated and the syllables rearranged in different orders to generate different effects?
- Is it true that the mantra "Om Aim Hrim Klim Camundayai Vicce" should not be chanted unless it is taught by a Guru?
