Mantra Meditation is one of many types of meditation practiced today.  Mantra refers to sounds made during meditating. A mantra could be a phrase or even just one word.  This particular meditation technique requires the mind to focus on the sound and thus clearing the mind of everything else.

In Mantra Meditation, as the mind concentrates very closely on one sound, all outside factors are pushed aside, and the body becomes one with the sound.  All emotions and energy are focused on the sound being made by the person in Mantra Meditation.  Through practice the mind develops the ability to focus on just the mantra.

The Mantras (or sounds) chosen in Mantra Meditation vary and really is determined by what state of calmness the practicers wants to achieve.  If you are practicing Mantra Meditation your mind and body frees itself from everything except for the sound.  It becomes a part of you.

Examples of the sounds associated with Mantra Meditation are:
- Truth: Sat Nam
- Peace: Shanti, Shanti, Shanti
- I am that I am: Tat Tuan Asmi

The phrase that is said at the beginning and ending of all Mantra Meditation times: OM, meaning the sound of the entire universe.

As you are practicing Mantra Meditation you will find the most comfortable way for you to express the sounds that you have chosen to concentrate on.  If it is something like OM, try saying it with the natural rhythm of your breathing.

If the sound is something more like Shanti, Shanti, Shanti, first take deep breaths and concentrate on your breathing.  Once you have your breathing as calm, as you would like it, separate each word on each breath.  Example: inhale, shan, exhale ti, inhale shan, and exhale ti and so forth.

Practicing the Mantra Meditation should be a daily occurrence.  Depending on what you have experienced that day will help you determine what type of sound your body needs to help find peace.  As you become more in tune with your Mantra Meditation practice, you will find that you are more in tune with your body and with your life.  Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.