By Eknath Easwaran

A mantram is a powerful spiritual formula which, when repeated silently in the mind, has the capacity to transform consciousness. There is nothing magical about this. It is simply a matter of practice. The mantram is a short, powerful spiritual formula for the highest power we can conceive of – whether we call it God, or the ultimate reality, or the Self within. Whatever name we use, with the mantram we are calling up what is best and deepest in ourselves. The mantram has appeared in every major spiritual tradition, West and East, because it fills a deep, universal need in the human heart.

Select a mantram that appeals to you. Every religious tradition has a mantram, often more than one. But you needn’t subscribe to any religion to benefit from the mantram – you simply have to be willing to try it.

For Christians, the name of Jesus itself is a powerful mantram; Catholics also use Hail Mary or Ave Maria. Jews may use Barukh attah Adonai; Muslims repeat the name of Allah or Allahu akbar. Probably the oldest Buddhist mantram is Om mani padme hum. And in Hinduism, among many choices, is Rama, Rama, which was Mahatma Gandhi’s mantram.

Choose whichever version of the holy name appeals to you; then, once you have chosen a mantram, do not change it. If you do, you will be like a person digging shallow holes in many places; you will never go deep enough to find water.

Unlike meditation, which involves sitting quietly and silently repeating a memorized passage, the mantram can be repeated under almost any circumstances, and it is so brief that it will come to your mind under even the most agitating circumstances. (In fact, that is often just when you will want it!)

The mantram is most effective when repeated silently in the mind. Repeat the mantram whenever you get the chance: while walking, while waiting, while doing mechanical chores like washing dishes, and especially when you are falling asleep. Whenever you are angry or afraid, nervous or hurried or resentful, repeat the Holy Name until the agitation in your mind subsides.

Do not make up your own version of the mantram, but use a formula that has been sanctioned by centuries of devout tradition. If you repeat it sincerely and systematically, it will go deeper with every repetition. It can be with you even in the uttermost depths of your consciousness, as you will discover for yourself when you find it reverberating in a dream – or, deeper still, during dreamless sleep.

Easwaran’s list of recommended mantrams

For a full discussion of using a mantram, read this chapter from Easwaran’s book Passage Meditation.