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Mantra Question

Telly03Telly03 Veteran
edited December 2011 in Buddhism Basics
I love the mantras that have been shared here, but I'm not clear on the use of them.

Is the idea that you just listen to them, or do you learn them and chant along with, or on your own?

I understand the idea of repeating something to yourself to imprint the thought into your life, but how does it work if you don't know the meaning of the words?

Comments

  • SattvaPaulSattvaPaul South Wales, UK Veteran
    edited December 2011
    If you're talking Vajrayana then usually a particular mantra would be associated with a particular deity, which embodies a quality of the awakened mind. You could be given a particular deity practice and then do visualisation and chant its mantra. But of course some mantras you can just chant on their own, like the most popular Om Mani Padme Hum mantra. Or listening to them is fine too. They work on a deeper energetic level and the literal meaning is secondary. Some mantras can't even be translated.
  • BonsaiDougBonsaiDoug Simply, on the path. Veteran
    Take a look at this site - excellent mantra explanations: http://www.wildmind.org/mantras/figures
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