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What are mantras and how do they work ? For real!
This article explains what really mantras are and how they work on the brain
I started to discover mantras when I deepen my practice some years ago, especially when I did my certification of Meditation Teacher. At the time, I only knew things like « repeating affirmations » in order to feel better in your day to day life. But then, I came across Mantras which are way more powerful because they directly impact the brain. Let me explain you why. First, when we research where Mantras come from, there is no right or wrong answers. They have been part of various spiritual and religious traditions for thousands of years, and they do not have a single, specific creator.
Mantras have evolved and been used in different forms across different cultures and belief systems. In Hinduism : mantras are integrated in practices like meditation and prayers. The most well-known Mantra is « om » (which is supposed to be the sound of the universe). In Buddishm : mantras are also used a lot. he « Om Mani Padme Hum » mantra is widely recognized in this tradition. In other traditions : mantras and similar chants can be found in other spiritual and religious traditions around the world. But of course, the use of mantras is not limited to organized religions. They are also widely used in mindfulness and meditation practices as a way to focus the mind and promote inner peace.
Each syllable was considered to have a unique vibrational quality and the combination of these syllables in specific mantras was thought to create a resonance that can influence the mind, body and spirit. The creation of mantras was the result of deep understanding of sound, phonetics and their effects on consciousness. The idea that specific syllables and sounds have a profound impact on the brain is rooted in the belief that the vibrations fo these sounds can resonate with different aspects of the human experience. Each mantra was supposed to represent a fundamental aspects of the divine or natural forces.
Here are some examples of mantras to make it more accurate for you :
Om Mani Padme Hum: This is a widely known mantra in Tibetan Buddhism. It is associated with Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. The mantra is a prayer for the spread of compassion and wisdom. Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu: This is a Sanskrit mantra often chanted at the end of yoga classes and meditation sessions. It means « May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom. » Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti: « Om, Peace, Peace, Peace. » This mantra is chanted to invoke peace on three levels: physical, mental, and spiritual.
How to practice with Mantras ?
You have to repeat them a certain amount of time to liberate their effects on the brain and on your body. The traditional count is supposed to be : 108 or any multiples of 108 (216 or even 1080 times). The number 108 is considered sacred in many Easter traditions. Another variable can be the time duration : you might chant for 10,15 or 30 minutes depending on your meditation practice. Or you can just chant a mantra continuously without a set number or time frame, allowing the repetition to continue as long as needed or desired.
They act as tools to focus the mind during meditation. By continuously repeating the mantra, the practitioner can enter a state of deep concentration and inner stillness.
How do Mantras work on our brain ?
If you know me, you may know that I always need facts to really believe in something. This is a part of me that I cannot deny. Even if I love all the spiritual aspects of my life and practice, I still tend to believe proven facts. So I deepen my research on mantras and their effects on our brain. I’ve been amazed by all the amazing researches that have been created on the subject. Here are the most interesting results :
Neuroscientists from the University of California found that even 10 minutes of mantra chanting blocks the release of the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. This soothing effect lasts for up to 48 hours after each mantra session. We become calmer during mantra practice, but also more resilient to new potential stressors we encounter later, or even the next day. Mantra practice strengthens the connection of the prefrontal cortex with other parts of the brain (like the amygdala), helping us regulate our emotions better. This means that we are more in touch with our emotions and choose an appropriate response. So, for instance, rather than losing our temper, we catch ourselves earlier and decide to take a walk to cool off. When we chant out loud mantras (not only repeating them on our mind), we stimulate the vagus nerve. This activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the part of our nervous system that activates when we are resting, digesting, sleeping, overall in a calm state. As it is a sort of meditation, chanting a mantra can also help to sleep better (a study was conducted in 2018 in Dublin regarding this benefit).
Do you still have doubts about how useful Mantras can be ? 🙂
Source : http://www.integralyogamagazine.org