If you are Buddhist, you are likely to have heard of OM MANI PADME HUM. This string of words is known as a mantra 真言. While its meanings are important, its true power lies in its sound or vibrational energy.
“What is a mantra? This Sanskrit word is composed of the two root words, manas, which means, “mind,” and trai, which means, “to heal or protect.” Mantras can therefore best be defined as “primordial sounds that have a healing or beneficial effect on the mind and consciousness”.”
Marc Boney, Graha Shanti
One main difference between a scripture 经文and a mantra 真言/咒语 is that the former is often translated into many languages so that people can recite and understand its meanings. For mantra, we can read its translation first to gain an understanding but when we use it, we need to recite it in its original Sanskrit form as we are reliant of its sound to create a certain desired effect.
“Sanskrit is an energy-based language first and a meaning-based language second.”
“…the Sanskrit alphabet consists of fifty letters, with each one corresponding to a particular petal of a chakra (refers to energy centers in our body).”
“Those ancient seers also noticed that when certain Sanskrit sounds, not all of which were words or meaning-based sounds as in modern language, were chanted in certain sequences, the resulting vibrational effect upon the chakras and physical body was remarkable. The sounds seemed to work synergistically, producing significant results in whoever chanted them, whether they understood what they were chanting or not.”
Thomas Ashley-Farrand, Shakti Mantras
“The mantras that Vedic astrology employs are specific incantations that send energy to planets that are well placed, and whose energies you want to further enhance, as well as to planets that are poorly placed and in need of empowerment.”
Andrew Bloomfield, How to Practice Vedic Astrology
“It (refers to mantra) can increase mental abilities and open higher intuitive faculties, unlocking potentials of awareness that otherwise might remain dormant. It can help ERASE NEGATIVE KARMIC TENDENCIES, including those that have their roots in previous births.”
David Frawley - Ayurvedic Astrology
