Mantra: (sanskrit) a prayer or sacred thought

Mantras are a useful tool to help you to focus on a particular quality or area of life. To be best utilized, select one and use it everyday for at least a week in your meditation practice. While meditating, repeat the mantra to yourself and focus on the feelings and thoughts that it brings into your consciousness. Do this every day until you feel that the mantra has become a part of who you are. Outside of meditation, repeat the mantra whenever you have time during your day. This can be during any idle time or while doing any kind of repetitive work that doesn't require active thinking - such as when you're doing the dishes, taking a shower, walking, … Put yourself to sleep at night while repeating your mantra. Wake up with your mantra. Make it a part of your very essence.

A mantra must connect you with the sacred. Here is a list of some useful mantras.

•  May I awaken to the light of my own true nature.

•  I acknowledge the divinity within me.

•  God Is.

•  I am never alone.

•  The kingdom of God is within.

•  Be still and know that I am God.

Some Sanskrit mantras -

•  Om - (ohm) The greatest of all mantras it is the representation of the Supreme Being. the past, present and the future are all included in this one sound. Meditation on this sacred syllable is said to satisfy every need and leads to liberation.

•  Om Shanti (ohm shahn-tee) The peace of God.

•  Om mani padme hum - (ohm mah-nay pahd-may hoom) For opening the heart center and developing compassion.

•  Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha (gah-tay gah-tay pah-rah gay-tay pah-rah-sahm gah-tay bow-dee swah-hah). To go beyond all illusion to the ultimate reality of God.

•  Shivo ham (shi-voh-hum) To awaken to one's own spirituality.

•  Tayata om muni muni maha munaye soha (ta-ya-ta ohm moo-nee moo-nee moon-aye-yay so-ha) To awaken the Buddha mind - the mind of enlightenment.

•  Om tare ture tuttare ture soha (ohm ta-ray too-ray too-t-tar-ray too-ray so-ha) To liberate oneself from ignorance and fear.

•  Hari om tat sat (huh-ree ohm tut sut) For purification and for the benefit of departed souls.