Mantra Meditation

The word mantra is said to come from a root meaning “that which protects the mind.” In Buddhist meditation, many things can be used as objects of concentration — as “mind protectors.”

The breath is used in anapanasati, or mindfulness of breathing meditation. The sensations of walking are used in walking meditation. The emotions are used as a focus in metta bhavana (development of lovingkindness). And visual images are used in visualization. Mantras are sounds — words or phrases — that are used as an object of concentration.

The sounds may be chanted out loud, or may be heard internally. Mantras can be associated with particular historical or archetypal figures, or may have no such associations. For example, there are mantras associated with the historical Buddha (Om muni muni maha muni Shakyamuni svaha), and the mythical figure Avalokiteshvara (Om mani padme hum).