Energy, Frequency and Vibration - Mantra Meditation
I love this quotation by Nikola Tesla ‘If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration’.
Mantra meditation taps into the very core of this as it is less about logical meaning and more about sound, rhythm and vibration. A mantra may not have a direct translation but its sound vibration is considered powerful in itself.
The word mantra comes from the Sanskrit but it is a term that has entered languages world-wide and is now commonly used to indicate a keyword or phrase that is used in both traditional and non-traditional practices of meditation.
Mantra is often described as a tool for the mind but the Sanskrit word ‘mantra’ is actually formed by joining ‘mantr’ - that which is secretly uttered all around with the agency ‘ac’ - in pure being. So mantra means: the state of being secretly uttered all around. It is that which is always present, always quietly uttering.
A mantra can be chanted, whispered or repeated silently. There are many benefits of sounding a mantra, particularly a traditional one, but maybe that’s something to explore another time! Needless to say, repeating a sound gently engages the mind, giving it an anchor so it’s less likely to wander. Over time, the mantra becomes a rhythm - steady, familiar, and soothing.
Mantra meditation helps us cultivate an inner warmth: a steady, comforting energy that softens stress, awakens compassion, and reconnects us with a sense of belonging within ourselves. It can also connect us with a deeper spiritual state or align with higher consciousness.
In his commentary on The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Sri Swami Satchidananda states that mantra is not outside you but always within. You don't need to go to a particular place or have a particular time for it. It is always in your heart, the most sacred place, because it is your beloved. It is a cord between you and God or the cosmic force, consciousness.
Many religions and traditions use some sort of mantra or prayer and the tradition of the transformative power of the word is universal. For example, the Judaeo-Christian tradition starts with God creating the universe through the word ‘let there be light and there was light’. The New Testament ponders ‘in the beginning was the word’. And many Christians meditate on the Aramaic word Maranatha.
The Jewish Kabballah has mystic symbols and explains the Hebrew alphabet in a similar way as the yoga tradition does the Sanskrit alphabet. Sufiism relies on the power of repeated prayers and divine names to bring life into harmony with the spirit.
Buddhism has its own rich tradition of mantras especially in the Buddhist tantras. In Tibetan Buddhism these are largely Sanskrit mantras and include many of the same mantras as in the Hindi tradition.
Shamanic healing invokes healing powers in chant and prayer and we find traditions of sacred sound in all cultures from Egypt and Babylonia to India and China.
At the British School of Meditation we look at mantra meditation from a secular standpoint. We explore both traditional mantras and non-traditional mantras used in silent meditation and in chanting.
So, how can we practise mantra meditation if we’ve never tried it before and don’t follow a particular tradition or teacher?
Choose a mantra that feels right to you. You don’t need something complicated and you might like to try one of these:
- Om
- So Hum (I am That)
- Shanti (Peace)
- Calm
- I am safe
Pick one that feels soothing when you say it.
Sit comfortably, cross-legged, in a chair, or lying down. Take a slow inhale…and a longer exhale. Let your body know it can soften now.
Repeat your mantra softly. Whisper it, say it out loud or silently, or simply feel it vibrate in your chest. Let it gently repeat. Don’t chase it. Just listen to the repetition of the sound and observe any shifts – there may be a loosening in the shoulders, a softening in the heart, a quiet glow of ease.
When you finish, thank yourself for taking a moment to reconnect.
Try to spend even five minutes a day in mantra meditation. It’s wonderfully nourishing. Inner warmth and connection through the vibration of sound is more than a pleasant sensation - it’s a compass. It guides us towards gentleness, towards healing, towards clarity. It reminds us that calm is not something we find outside - it’s something within.
When practiced regularly, mantra meditation becomes a homecoming. A way to return to yourself no matter what is happening around you.