How does mantra meditation work?

[sonamdhargey]

Mantras are rather mysterious. They are said to be “sound symbols” – sounds that in some way correspond to and evoke the spiritual forces that can be represented in visual form as Tara, Avalokiteshvara, etc. We can easily see how an image of a particular figure can have symbolic value, but quite how a sound does this it is not possible to explain rationally.
Mantra: “instrument of thought”, speech, sacred text or speech, a prayer or song of praise; a sacred formula addressed to any individual deity; a mystical verse or magical formula (sometimes personified), incantation, charm, spell.

Read more here: www.wildmind.org/mantras/method/

[yontenjamyang]

This is a very good topic. Does mantra works? If so how does it works?

The first that comes to my mind is, does a medicine works. Does for example paracetamol works. I am sure it does. We need not know how it works but it works.

Form what I understand, mantras are the sound representation of a particular deity ie Buddhas, Bodhisattva, protector or even worldly gods. It is the the sound energy of that particular deity. It we notice, mantra are never translated (except for understanding or as commentaries) and are always chanted in the original language, usually sanskrit or tibetan. Any modifications are very minor.

When chanted, mantras invokes the energy of that particular deity and the energy. For example, if we chant, "OM MANI PEME HUM", we invoke the sound energy of Avalokitesvara and the energy of Great Compassion. If we chant  "OM A RA PA TSA NA DHI", we invoke the sound energy of Manjushri and the energy of Great Wisdom.

Another way of putting it is we create affinity with that particular deity by chanting the mantra. If we make friends with a minister of the government by calling his name often (in this case also to making friend with him in the worldly way), then when we need a favor, he is sure to help. Similarly, when we chant mantras, we are creating affinity with the deity. So, we gain the values that deity represent when chanting and also when in need we also have the protection of that deity because we have created the affinity beforehand.

[pgdharma]

Many people believe that mantra meditation holds some kind of spiritual meaning which could be a connection with something or someone else when chanting the word or sound. For example, if we are chanting the sound “om” it is said to be connected to our body, the sound “ah” is said to be connected to our speech, and “hum” is said to be connected to our mind. So when we practice the mantra “om” we should feel more connected to our body, and so on.

The basic English translation of Om Mani Padme Hum is "Om Jewel in the Lotus Hum" or "Praise to the Jewel in the Lotus." Some people believe that the jewel represents wisdom, and the lotus represents compassion. So, in  Avalokitesvara  mantra meditation we should feel more connected to wisdom and compassion.

A mantra is a word or phrase repeated over and over again during meditation. Mantra meditation helps us to focus all of our energy on one or more key parts of our body, mind and soul. The end result should be a heightened knowledge and control over those key parts of our body, mind and soul. Mantra meditation is a form of concentration that helps us to keep our mind at rest and we will be able to clear our mind of other needless thoughts and focus on the  particular mantra.

[Jessie Fong]

Mantras often contain PM, AH, and HUM that are related with body, speech and min (respectively).

It is also said that .. "Mantras are also correlated with the Buddhas of the mandala, with Om being the seed syllable of Vairochana, the central Buddha, Ah with Amoghasiddhi, the northern Buddha, and Hum with Akshobya, the Buddha of the east."


Can mantras help us develop minfulness? If we pay attention to the sound of the mantra, it can become a sort of meditation, where the mind becomes less scattered.

Another way is to pay attention to pronouncing the mantra correctly, ensuring that our lips, tongue, mouth, etc work together in a precise way. We must also be conscious of our breather and sitting posture.

What about when we chant out loud? Do we feel the physical vibrations?

[Midakpa]

Mantras help to alter states of consciousness, by making the mind stay still instead of chasing after thoughts. It is not necessary to know the meanings of the words in the mantra. In fact words encourage dualistic thought which hinder the mind from entering upon a truly spiritual state.  It is said that each mantra has a mysterious correspondence with the various potentialities embedded deep in our consciousness (subconscious).

When we recite, we must pronounce each syllable clearly and with a pure state of mind, free of discursive thought. If it's a mantra for healing, for example, Medicine Buddha or Tara, we are tapping into the Buddha's energy. This energy reverberates in our body and our body starts to heal.  The mantra works by activating  the healing energies in our body. The result is we become well or we prevent the illness from becoming serious or even avoid a serious illness from manifesting.

[RedLantern]

Mantras can definitely help with stress and chanting of the mantra can be soothing,and it also reduces the mind's capacity for keeping up a train of stress-inducing thought.Avalokiteshvara mantra, OM MANI PADME HUM
is very calming.
With mantras,the meditator is generating the sound,either internally or out loud,whereas you're just listening
to the sound.Also mantras tend to be generally more evocative,symbolic,and non-conceptual.Chanting any mantra will tend to reduce our suffering.The mantra replaces any negative thinking we might otherwise have
been doing,and so helps our emotions to settle down and our mind to clear.Mantras clears the mind by reducing idle chatter,and that's helpful.They 're esthetically pleasing and they involve contemplation of spiritual ideals.