Happy Mantra Monday!
Lately, I’ve been utilizing mantras to help keep me grounded and as sane as possible. The word ‘mantra’ comes from Sanskrit and refers to a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in informal or formal mindfulness practices. Informal mindfulness practices include a range of activities, from simply taking a deep breath before entering a conversation to spending a minute reflecting on what you are grateful for. Formal mindfulness practice is what most people call meditation.
On a related note, earlier this year, I had the pleasure of taking an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) online course led by Dr. Elizabeth Strand. The evidence-based MBSR course was created by Jon Kabat-Zinn, PhD, at UMass Memorial Medical Center in the late 1970s. I highly, highly recommend this course! It’s offered in many venues, so you will likely be able to find a local in-person class near you. BTW, Dr. Strand will be offering the virtual course again in early 2026!
Back to mantras. Today’s inaugural Monday Mantra is one of the original mantras, Om Mani Padme Hum, a well-known Buddhist mantra, often translated as “Hail to the jewel in the lotus”.
- Om: Represents one’s impure body, speech, and mind, which are transformed into the pure body, speech, and mind of a Buddha.
- Mani: Means “jewel” and symbolizes the method, such as the altruistic intention to become enlightened, love, and compassion.
- Padme: Means “lotus” and represents wisdom. The lotus grows from the mud unstained, symbolizing how wisdom can exist even in a difficult world.
- Hum: Represents the inseparability or indivisibility of the jewel and the lotus, or the union of method and wisdom.
More on Om
Manish Tandon, a seasoned instructor in meditation and personal development, explains that ancient seers scientifically designed mantras to have different effects on the nervous system. One of the most popular mantras is “Om”, also known as the primordial sound. It is a combination of three sounds: ah, ooh, and mm.
Ah = sounds of creation
Ooh = sound of sustenance
Mm = sound of destruction and renewal
When all three sounds come together, it makes the sound AUM. It is said that Om is resonating subtly throughout the universe, bringing these three energies together. Tandon recommends that when you are in low spirits, say “Om” three times before beginning a meditation practice, as it brings these three energies into harmony. For those just beginning, Om is a good starter mantra meditation practice. Licensed teachers can also help practitioners cultivate a deeper and more profound meditation experience by creating a personalized mantra.
Now What?
In case it may benefit others, each Monday I will share a mantra I have used intermittently in the past and currently find myself using daily, sometimes moment to moment! Check back next Monday for another mantra.
RESOURCES
Meditation and Chanting: Timeless technology of ancient seers
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
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Mia Su Cary, DVM (she, hers)
W: https://caryconsulting.com/
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miacarydvm/
IG: @zenvet23
