Mantras have influenced thinking about meditation for a long time. That's not surprising: mantras are a time tested tool, helping people grow spiritually for thousands of years.

But given the broad ignorance in the West about mantras and the wide variety of ways mantras are approached by meditation teachers, novice meditators (and some veterans, too!) will confront a confusing mix of information about how to use them in their own meditation practice.

There are three main ways to think about mantras, and how they work:

1)Energetic- the actual sound of the mantra resonates in some way with the spiritual energy of the universe and our subtle bodies. The effect of such resonance is largely independent of the meditator's understanding of the mantra, or their mental involvement in reciting it. In this model, mantra are delivered to humanity through revelation. They can't just be made up.

2)Religious- in this view,the mantra initiates some level of contact with spiritual beings or the Absolute. From this perspective, mantra may be revelatory (as with the first point of view) or they can be drawn from spiritual tradition. In either case, the meditator needs to be mentally engaged in the effort to reach for, or open themselves to, the supramundane.

3)Mechanical/psychological- here, there is no preternatural context within which mantra reside. The impact of any repeated word or sound is simply to promote a particular psycholgical effect; usually, this effect is one of relaxation. "The Relaxation Response", by Dr. Herbert Benson, is a good presentation of this mechanistic view.

So the answer to the question, "are there special mantra for meditation?" very much depends on which model you subscribe to. If you are in the mechanistic camp (the third model listed), the answer is a clear "no". Any sound may be used as a point of focus, and will produce the calm state of mind which has so many positive effects.

From the first perspective, the answer is similarly clear, though directly opposing: there are very specific, non-arbitrary sounds which have an effect on the world through their own power. If you want to use mantras for meditation, you need to learn these specific sounds; you may even need to be initiated into the use of your particular mantra.

The second view of using mantras for meditation work is the tricky one. The mantras are not necessarily energetically active, but users typically ascribe a high level of holiness to them; these mantras often include the name of religious figures. A Buddhist example of this could be the well known "Om Mani Padme Hum" - this mantra consists of a 'nick name' for Avalokitashvara (Mani Padme = Jewel Lotus) sandwiched between the symbols 'Om' and 'Hum'. There is some sense that the six syllables have a particular power, but more importantly, the mantra invokes the presence and blessing of Avalokiteshvara. There is a holiness in it, more than a magical spell.

Similarly, Orthodox Christians have been using the Jesus Prayer for centuries: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." There is no inherent magic in the mere sounds of the prayer, but there is an obvious reverence toward Jesus' name and the short phrase is clearly intent on asking for help rather than promoting a magical effect through simple intonation.

While most meditation instructors will tell you how to think about mantra, I would suggest a simple path to finding your own answer: try them out. If you are inclined to follow the energetic model, learn the mantras for meditation which purportedly create an effect you are looking for in your own life. Make it something easily and objectively discernible: more money, more health, more love - whatever it is, make your goal clear and then meditate with that mantra for weeks or months. And then see; did your life change the way you had hoped?

Do the same with the other two models. Can you discern an expanded openness to spiritual realities when relying on religious mantras for meditation? Or, do you simply feel more relaxed after repeating some random word for twenty minutes?

This exploration, if you want to use mantras for meditation, is extremely important. Without a good answer derived from your OWN experience, you will never have the certainty that you are taking full advantage of this technology. Eventually, you'll drop it. And that would be a shame, because using mantras as part of your meditation practice can be enormously beneficial.

Vigilate,

Christopher Boozell

For more information on Christian meditation check out Christopher Boozell's website: . You can even sign up for a free mini-course on meditation!