Mantra Meditation – Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist, Shinto Mantra Recitations for Meditation
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Mantra Meditation – Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist, Shinto Mantra Recitations for Meditation
This is a collection of audio files of mantra chanting or recitation, which is used as a spiritual meditation practice. This form of meditation practice is called "mantra meditation" or "chanting meditation" in English. In Sanskrit it is known as "Japa" (जप) and in Chinese it is generally known as "Niàn Zhòu" (念咒) when a dharani or sacred phrase is recited. Either the name or "sacred title" ("Shèng Hào", 圣号 / 聖號) of a deity can also be recited, although all terms can be generally referred to as a "mantra" (口头禅). The practice was created in Hinduism and passed on to or developed by other Asian religions. When it is for a god or goddess, it is called a "divine mantra" or "deity mantra" (神咒) in Chinese and Japanese religions.
Mantra meditation uses the silent or verbal repetition of a mantra as the object of meditation. It is differentiated from many other common forms of meditation (which use different objects of focus) because it is not only used to enter meditative concentration, but is simultaneously a prayer and is considered to produce spiritual benefits or effects for the practitioner (such as a mental connection to a deity as well protection and blessings from deities). However, the recitation must be sincere, done with morally pure intentions, and practiced with a clear mind for this to occur. One must also remember that in many religions there are certain mantras that are used specifically for rituals, requests, or incantations which are not suitable to be used as meditation objects.
In this collection, we have selected popular mantras used in meditation as well as ceremonies from four large Asian religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Shinto. However, these mantras can be recited with various speeds, rhythms, and melodies which differ among temples and organizations of a particular religion. Also, note that often recitations are done a specific number of times (such as 108 in Hindu and Buddhist rituals), but when used solely for meditation can be recited indefinitely any number of times. The following is a listing of the mantras in this collection:
1. HINDUISM:
2. BUDDHISM:
Included here are several mantra chants commonly done in Chinese Buddhist ceremonies which consist of two parts: A slower beginning part praising a Buddha or Bodhisattva ("Namo...", or "Praise to...") followed by a faster recitation of simply the name or title of that Buddha or Bodhisattva. This latter is called "Niànfó" (念佛 / 念仏) for a Buddha and "Niàn Púsà" (念菩薩 / 念菩萨) for a Bodhisattva.
3. TAOISM (DAOISM):
Certain shrines or sects of the Japanese religion Shinto have developed their own mantras for meditation primarily in response to Buddhism's use of mantra meditation. Included as examples here are mantras where the name and title of a deity (kami) is recited repeatedly as the mantra, although there are other phrases used as meditation mantras depending on the shrine or sect of Shinto. These mantras are referred to as "shinju" (神咒), meaning "divine mantras" or "deity mantras."
In the audio recording, the recitation is in plain speech and without any melody, but some sources recommend matching the mantra with breathing rhythms and it is also possible to add a chanting rhythm to the recitation. Three audio files were included here as examples of this practice: One of reciting for the Sun Godess "Amaterasu Ōmikami"(天照大御神), the second of reciting for the god "Inari Daimyōjin" (稲荷大明神), and the third of reciting for the Moon God "Tsukiyomi Ōmikami" (月読大御神). There are many other deities whose names are recited for identical practices, either with the title "Great Deity" ("Ōmikami", 御神), "Great Shining Deity" ("Daimyōjin", 大明神), or a different title.
Mantra meditation uses the silent or verbal repetition of a mantra as the object of meditation. It is differentiated from many other common forms of meditation (which use different objects of focus) because it is not only used to enter meditative concentration, but is simultaneously a prayer and is considered to produce spiritual benefits or effects for the practitioner (such as a mental connection to a deity as well protection and blessings from deities). However, the recitation must be sincere, done with morally pure intentions, and practiced with a clear mind for this to occur. One must also remember that in many religions there are certain mantras that are used specifically for rituals, requests, or incantations which are not suitable to be used as meditation objects.
In this collection, we have selected popular mantras used in meditation as well as ceremonies from four large Asian religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Shinto. However, these mantras can be recited with various speeds, rhythms, and melodies which differ among temples and organizations of a particular religion. Also, note that often recitations are done a specific number of times (such as 108 in Hindu and Buddhist rituals), but when used solely for meditation can be recited indefinitely any number of times. The following is a listing of the mantras in this collection:
1. HINDUISM:
The well-known single-syllable "OM" or "AUM" has been adopted by many other Asian religions and is the least religion-specific mantra, but originated in Hinduism. "OM" is the most popular bija (seed syllable) mantra, is believed to represent divine cosmic energy and has multiple meanings and effects. Chanting of a second bija syllable mantra, "AH", has been also been included here.
There are several other popular Hindu mantras in this collection:
The Gayatri Mantra (Sāvitri Mantra) is dedicated to the goddess Savitri or Saraswati and consists of the following phrases: "Om Bhur Bhuva Svah, Om Tat Savitur Varenyam, Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat". The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is dedicated to the god Shiva and consists of the following phrase: "Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam Urvaarukamiva Bandhanaan Mrityor Mukshiya Mamritaat".
Also included here are the following shorter mantras dedicated to certain major deities: "Om Namah Shivay" (a Shiva Mantra), "Om Gan Ganapataye Namah" (a Ganesha Mantra), "Om Namo Narayanaya" (a Vishnu Mantra), "Om Shri Krishnaya Namah" (a Krishna mantra), "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya" (a Vishnu & Krishna mantra), "Om Krim Kalikaye Namah" (a Kali mantra), "Om Mahalaxmi Namaha" (a Lakshmi Mantra), and "Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundaye Viche" (a Chamunda mantra).
2. BUDDHISM:
Included here are several mantra chants commonly done in Chinese Buddhist ceremonies which consist of two parts: A slower beginning part praising a Buddha or Bodhisattva ("Namo...", or "Praise to...") followed by a faster recitation of simply the name or title of that Buddha or Bodhisattva. This latter is called "Niànfó" (念佛 / 念仏) for a Buddha and "Niàn Púsà" (念菩薩 / 念菩萨) for a Bodhisattva.
The first mantra here is of chanting for the Amitabha Buddha: "Namo Amitabha" (南无阿弥陀佛) to "Amitabha" (阿弥陀佛). There are with two other related chants: one of only "Namo Amituofo" and another of only "Amitabha" chanting. The second is for Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva or Guanyin Pusa, which has three chanting versions: "Namo Guan Shi Yin Pusa" (南無觀世音菩薩) to "Guanyin Pusa" (观音菩萨), only "Namo Guan Shi Yin Pusa", only "Namo Da Bei Guan Shi Yin Pusa" (南無大悲觀世音菩薩), only "Guan Shi Yin Pusa" chanting.
The third is for the Medicine Buddha or Bhaisajyaguru: "Namo Xiaozai Yanshou Yaoshifo" (南无消災延壽藥師佛) to "Yaoshi Rulai" (藥師如來). "Namo Xiaozai Yanshou Yaoshifo" means "Praise to Calamity-Dispelling Life-Lengthening Medicine Master Buddha." There is also another Medicine Buddha chant which is "Namo Yaoshi Liuli Guang Rulai" (南無藥師琉璃光如來聖號) and means "Praise to Medicine Master Lapus Lazuli Bright Tathagata."
The fourth is for the historical Buddha from India who is called Sakyamuni Buddha or Shijia Mounifo: "Namo Ben Shi Shijia Mounifo" (南無本師釋迦牟尼佛) to "Shijia Rulai" (釋迦如來). The fifth is for Mile Pusa or Maitreya Bodhisattva as only "Namo Mile Pusa" (南無彌勒菩薩) chanting. An alternative version refers to Maitreya as "Future Buddha" and is chanted as "Mílè Zūnfó" (彌勒尊佛).
There are also some other mantras: One is the popular Tibetan mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" (唵嘛呢叭咪吽), which is also called the "six-syllable great bright mantra" (六字大明咒). Another is "Om Cale Cule Cundi Soha", which is the mantra of the deity Cundi (Zhǔntí Shén Zhòu / 准提神咒) and is used among Tibetans as well as Chinese Buddhists. Cundi or Zhunti is a goddess – sometimes called a bodhisattva – who is considered to be a manifestation of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin). Lastly, there is the Tibetan mantra "Om Ah Hum" (sometimes pronounced "Om Ah Hung"), which is a combination of three bija (seed) syllable mantras.
3. TAOISM (DAOISM):
In Taoism mantras are usually used in ceremonies or rituals rather than for meditation, but there are certain mantras which are recited repeatedly and are also used for meditation. Taoist mantras are also often called Shén Zhòu (神咒) or "divine mantras." There are four related mantras which are available in audio files here. Some people think of these as the Taoist counterpart of the buddha-name recitation commonly used in Chinese Buddhism, and all four are considered Sacred Titles ("Sheng Hao", 圣号) of certain deities.
The first mantra is "Tài Yǐ Jiù Kǔ Tiānzūn" (太乙救苦天尊) which translates to "Supreme Oneness Salvation-from-Misery Heaven-Honored One" and is a praise to the benevolent salvation god called "Heavenly Lord Tai Yi" (太乙天尊). The second mantra is "Xiāo Zāi Yán Shòu Tiānzūn" (消災延壽天尊), which means "Calamity-Dispelling and Life-Lengthening Heaven-Honored One" and is a request or praise to the goddess called "Dǒu Mǔ" or "Mother of the Dipper Stars" (斗姆) as well as to the god known as "Lord of the Northern Dipper Stars" (南北斗星君).
The third is is "Yù Huáng Shè Zuì Tiānzūn" (玉皇赦罪天尊), which translates to "Jade Emperor Forgiver-of-Sins Heaven-Honored One" and is a praise to the god known as the Jade Emperor. The fourth is "Léi Shēng Pǔ Huà Tiānzūn" (雷声普化天尊 / 雷聲普化天尊), which translates to "Thunder Voice Universal Transformation Heaven-Honored One" and is a praise to the god also called Leizu or Thunder Patriarch (雷祖) who punishes irreverent and evil people.
The fifth is "Wújí Tiān Shàng Wángmǔ Niángniáng Dà Tiānzūn" (無極天上王母娘娘大天尊), which can be translated as "Limitless, Heavenly, Highest Queen Mother and Empress, Great Heaven-Honored One". There is also a shorter related mantra here: "Wújí Yáochí Jīnmǔ" (無極瑶池金母), which translates as "Limitless Jade Lake Golden Mother". Both of these are dedicated to the ancient goddess known as "Queen Mother of the West" (西王母 / Xīwángmǔ).
4. SHINTO:
In the audio recording, the recitation is in plain speech and without any melody, but some sources recommend matching the mantra with breathing rhythms and it is also possible to add a chanting rhythm to the recitation. Three audio files were included here as examples of this practice: One of reciting for the Sun Godess "Amaterasu Ōmikami"(天照大御神), the second of reciting for the god "Inari Daimyōjin" (稲荷大明神), and the third of reciting for the Moon God "Tsukiyomi Ōmikami" (月読大御神). There are many other deities whose names are recited for identical practices, either with the title "Great Deity" ("Ōmikami", 御神), "Great Shining Deity" ("Daimyōjin", 大明神), or a different title.
Some sources also teach that the mantra is combined with a visualization technique, which could be a separate meditation technique in and of itself. An example is visualizing the sun's rays entering oneself when breathing in while reciting "Amaterasu Ōmikami", with the breathing-visualization technique having originally not used a mantra.
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