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mantras

TheJourneyTheJourney
edited October 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Just kinda confused about them. Like, are they something that you can just say by yourself at home? and how many times do you say them, or for how long? I know the right answer is probably yes and as many as you want, but just for a guideline.

Comments

  • zonetoneszonetones
    edited October 2010
    It depends on the tradition and on the practice. I think you answer of "yes" and "as many times as you want" are very good :-). They will not hurt and will likely help :-).
    TheJourney wrote: »
    Just kinda confused about them. Like, are they something that you can just say by yourself at home? and how many times do you say them, or for how long? I know the right answer is probably yes and as many as you want, but just for a guideline.
  • GuyCGuyC Veteran
    edited October 2010
    I have a few different mantra in my toolbox which I use depending on the state my mind is in. If there is a lot of desire I like to use the mantra "no desire, no desire, no desire". If there is a lot of restlessness I like to use the mantra "this is good enough, this is good enough, this is good enough". When I am doing walking meditation often I use "I will die (left foot), that's for sure (right foot), I will die (left), that's for sure (right)". If my body is sick or in pain I like to repeat "this to will pass". If my mind is a little negative or just low in energy I like to use "may I be happy, may all beings be happy".

    I suggest that you try different mantras and see what works for you for a particular purpose. If you don't know what a mantra is for, then it's probably not a good mantra for you. Keep repeating them until they have achieved their purpose.
  • pineblossompineblossom Veteran
    edited October 2010
    TheJourney wrote: »
    Just kinda confused about them. Like, are they something that you can just say by yourself at home? and how many times do you say them, or for how long? I know the right answer is probably yes and as many as you want, but just for a guideline.

    Depends on why you are doing them.
  • shenpennangwashenpennangwa
    edited October 2010
    TheJourney wrote: »
    Just kinda confused about them. Like, are they something that you can just say by yourself at home? and how many times do you say them, or for how long? I know the right answer is probably yes and as many as you want, but just for a guideline.

    For the most part mantras are embedded in the Vajrayana path (some can certainly be used outside of specific Vajrayana practice though). One of the main reasons for this is the Vajrayana emphasis on bring the body and speech into the path along with the mind.
    The appropriate use of mantra can actually include all forms of Buddhist meditation into a single practice, insight, concentration, visualization, compassion, skillful means etc.
    The mantra itself is seen as enlightened speech, they are used with visualization etc. in order to complete the Vajrayana ideal of bringing the body, speech, and mind into the path simultaneously.
  • FoibleFullFoibleFull Canada Veteran
    edited October 2010
    My teacher (a Tibetan monk) says that the Om Mani can be said anywhere, anytime. But that all the others should only be said when you can concentrate on the visualizations that go along with them.

    Mantras are a way of re-training your mind, your mental habits. Buddhism is a way of retraining your mind, your mental habits. There may be some esoteric truths deeper than this behind saying mantras, but at my low level of insight, I have not encountered them.
  • AlfonsoAlfonso
    edited October 2010
    "It is very good to recite the mantra Om mani padme hum, but while you are doing it, you should be thinking on its meaning, for the meaning of the six syllables is great and vast... The first, Om [...] symbolizes the practitioner's impure body, speech, and mind; it also symbolizes the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha[...]"
    "The path is indicated by the next four syllables. Mani, meaning jewel, symbolizes the factors of method: (the) altruistic intention to become enlightened, compassion, and love.[...]"
    "The two syllables, padme, meaning lotus, symbolize wisdom[...]"
    "Purity must be achieved by an indivisible unity of method and wisdom, symbolized by the final syllable hum, which indicates indivisibility[...]"
    "Thus the six syllables, om mani padme hum, mean that in dependence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha[...]"
    -- H.H. Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, "Om Mani Padme Hum"


    As in almost everything in Vajrayana, it depends on the instructions of the teacher that gave you the specific mantra. In general terms, you can repeat some of them anytime, anywhere. It is also good to bear in mind the general "meaning" of the mantra and its syllables.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om_mani_padme_hum
    This is a pretty good article on this I think, it has some good quotations.
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