Mantra Meditations

Some people find mantra’s very satisfying, almost mystical, others do not like mantras, and it is true that mantras have religious connotations, however, the choice is yours and what you choose to meditate upon will have its own connotation to you and no one else.

Often mantras are just simple words, or they maybe meaningless sounds or affirmations to help you to relax when following your breath.

However, they also teach you about your own life, your own circumstances and experiences and can help you change your thoughts and actions for the better.

Things to remember – always consider the general meaning of the word, sound or phrase, always consider what it means to you and how you relate to it personally.

Sometimes we struggle to find what a word means to us, but over time and practice this usually becomes second nature.

Mantras can also be used alongside visualisation causing images or colours, pictures or themes to arise in our mind.

For instance, the word snowflake may immediately bring a previous experience to mind of how you feel about snow, maybe you become cold or a winter scene appears within your minds eye and reminds you of something gone past.

However, on this note you need to remember that you shouldn’t be thinking about the snowflake or scene as mediation is not thinking it is FEELING, basically being aware of its delicate structure is what you are trying to achieve and how it makes you feel inside.

Also at this point you need to remember that visualising is more than just seeing things, it is about bringing all of your senses and emotions together.

Below is two types of mantra words that will put you to the test, both of which you will find will make you feel completely different. The first mantra type is a positive word to meditate upon and then the second is to meditate upon a negative word, then answer this simple question: What is the difference between a positive feeling/sensation and a negative feeling/sensation?

Things you should take notice of: how the words make you feel physically and how is your body responding to the word i.e breathing pattern changes, feelings of being fidgety, feel relaxed, calm, loved etc.

THE TEST

Begin by getting into your preferred meditation position and then begin to focus on your breath, when you are ready choose a word from the positive list that you would like to meditate upon and then begin to say this word to yourself very quietly over and over again.

Stay like this for 10-20 minutes before having a short break and testing yourself again with a negative word.

Positive: Love, Gratitude, Forgiveness, Contentment, Joy, Feeling loved, Feeling secure, Laughter.

Negative: Anger, Hate, Jealousy, Sadness, Despair, Fear of failure, Insecurity, Worry.

ANSWER

Did you notice that the negative words arouse unpleasant strong emotions, whilst the positive words brought about senses, emotions, love and togetherness.