Mantras are very powerful tools for healing, protection, awakening, and for guiding your intent into physical manifestation. These magical tools have been used by spiritual Masters throughout recorded history — from the very beginning. In fact many spiritual traditions say that in the beginning, God created the universe (the One Verse) through speaking (or singing) it into existence. Your word is indeed a powerful tool of creation.

One of the simplest, most powerful mantras you can do is to repeat the sound of AUM or OM. Aum represents the primordial sound, the sound from which all manifestation comes, and thus it is often incorporated into more complex mantras, usually as the first syllable. The 1iZen symbol, (|), is a visual representation of the sound of OM emanating from the One Mind of Absolute Stillness.

A mantra is also a communication tool. When two things are in resonance, energy and information can pass between them — this is how a radio works. When you chant certain mantras, such as OM, you create a resonant channel with all other entities that are vibrating with that same sound. In Tibetan Buddhism for example, OM is known as the sound made by our sun, and thus when we chant OM, we open a channel with the consciousness of the sun.

As a communication channel; the vibration of the mantra is actually a "carrier frequency." By itself it carries no information (just like a radio). But you can impress a signal of information (your intent) upon that carrier, and the information will then reach all "receivers" that are tuned to that frequency. This is how you connect with the deities and the Masters and Higher Intelligence — by opening a channel with them through the use of a mantra attuned to their "frequency." Once the channel is open, you can send and receive messages, energy.

Using the power of your voice (inner or outer), you can manifest abstract, multidimensional ideas into the third dimension of physical form, through resonance. Thus you can manifest your intent. Your imagination, empowered by your depth of feeling, vocalized in precise patterns, transforms the higher vibrations of non-physical abstract imagination into the lower vibrations of physical 3-D experience. This is the purpose and the power of mantras.

Mantras can be specific or general, focused or diffuse, personal or global or Universal… When you repeat mantras, you access a non-physical dimension of consciousness, beyond the third dimension, and this higher dimensional Consciousness has influence far beyond time and space. Essentially, whatever you can imagine — and far more — can become real in three dimensions, via a process that cannot possibly be understood by the personal, separate mind. Yet, it happens.

I won't go into the depth of the "physics" of mantras here — how they actually manipulate time, space, and matter. But, to satisfy and relax your left-brained logic, think of it like this: A mantra is essentially a complex (physical and non-physical) vibration, that defines a form or "story." The form surrounds and holds your intent and gives it shape. This "shape" is, at first, a story you tell yourself in your imagination. Yet, like all imagination, if held long enough and with enough depth of feeling, it will sooner or later appear to the Mind as the experience of physical form. Different mantras create different "shapes" or "stories, " different results, different experiences.

In the past, students were instructed to repeat certain mantras hundreds of thousands of times in order to achieve the desired result. Time is different today, our minds do not perceive time in the same way as people once did, long ago. And, frankly, we do not have much time left, before time itself ends. We need a better, faster way to achieve the results we want from our mantras. Using the 1iZen symbol is just such a way.

When you repeat a mantra as you focus on the center of the symbol (|) — with clear purpose, focused intent, and deep feeling — the power of the mantra is magnified countless times. Try it and see for yourself — your opinions about this are meaningless until you actually experience the process with an open mind.

The 1iZen Mantra Process

The key difference between this process and those you may already be familiar with, is this: between each repetition of the mantra (or periodically, between continuous rounds of the mantra), stop, surrender, and remain in Absolute Stillness for just a moment — no thought, no intention, no action, no desire — only gratitude. This is very simple, and very profound.

Simply repeat your chosen mantra, in any way that feels right to you, while you visualize the symbol (|), and focus on the center. Think of the center line of | as a vibrating string, and the bent lines of ( ) as the sound that is created as | vibrates. Imagine that the intent of the sound ( ) widens to (  ) and then to (    ) as your mantra radiates out from your heart, your mind, and your vocal chords… And then the sound diminishes from (    ) to (  ) to ( ), and then to silence |. Remain in the silence of non-action and surrender for a moment before you begin the mantra again. Repeat the mantra until you deeply feel that your desire is already made real. (Never imagine that your desire will be manifest, in the future — because then it will never be real now.) Usually, the more you repeat the mantra, the better — but repeat it with feeling, deep feeling, and clear intent. Rote recitation of a mantra, without feeling or intent, may open a channel, but no message (intent) is sent, and thus there can be no intelligent response.

Entering Absolute Stillness is the key to manifestation and healing. The more you apply will power, force, struggle, and effort, the less likely your intent will manifest. Why? Because all your physical effort is just another form of belief that what you want is not already real — this is the three-dimensional way of creating and it is empowered only by your personal strength. To manifest your desires through mantras does not require force — it requires effortless consciousness. Remember, the 1iZen method is based on the idea that true prayer (and a mantra is a form of prayer) is always an expression of gratitude — being thankful that what you desire is already real, even if it is not yet in your experience. Gratitude requires no effort, and is far more powerful than will alone.

Manifesting your intent is a process of becoming conscious that the object of your desire is already real. Quantum physics proves that physical reality, as we know it, does not come into existence until you become conscious of it. There is no pre-existing physical reality; there is only a potential reality, not an actual reality. All of your "reality" springs from your consciousness, your imagination, your story.

Manifesting your desires is a very subtle process; a process of gratitude not of will. You need clear focus and intent, but you must not force it as an act of will. You need a depth of feeling, but you must not force it as an act of will. You must be willing to accept full responsibility for the results you want to achieve, and you must see this as a celebration, not as a burden. When you realize that you can be absolutely grateful for anything you want, even though it may not yet appear in your awareness, then you see that no force of will is necessary — only gratitude. When you are truly grateful, then you already have what you desire.

When you enter Absolute Stillness, you surrender and let go of all desire, all need, all wanting, all action, all feeling, all time, all space, all thought… everything except gratitude. You dive into the Void, in the faith that you will land where you are meant to land. This is called the Holy Instant in A Course in Miracles. Intent comes first — powerfully and with depth of feeling — and then you dive into the Void, let it all go, and trust in the Universe to catch you in loving hands. It is an act of power, courage, skill, and willingness — but not of will.

Do This:

1. Be very clear about what you intend to create; it can be an object, a feeling, a situation — whatever form it takes, it is always an experience you want to have. Focus on the experience, not on how that experience will be created — you do not need to know how it will manifest, just that it will indeed manifest. Realize that you are now beginning to organize non-physical higher dimensional energy into third dimensional physical reality. What you are creating in your imagination is not the "thing in itself" but the experience of the thing; the thing-in-itself will appear after you experience it, not before.

2. Choose a Mantra, from your heart, that resonates with your need or desire. Think of your mantra as a prayer of thanksgiving to a Higher Power. It is not an entreaty from a place of lack or need, however it may be a request to experience that which is already yours.

3. Begin in Love, always. Believe in yourself, believe in the power of the mantra, believe that you deserve whatever you choose to have… and love yourself. Know that your mantra will affect all Life, everywhere, and that you are helping not only yourself but all beings throughout all of time and space. Let your love of Life Itself guide your actions.

4. Create sacred space around you. You might want to use incense, crystals, soft background music, a place in nature, a special place you have created with sacred objects… use anything that helps you feel a connection with Divine Energy and Intelligence and Heart.

5. Repeat your mantra, either silently in your mind or aloud. It is better to vocalize aloud if you can; it feels good to sing or chant your mantra in a repetitious way that requires little thought, so you can focus on the feeling of your intent. If you do the mantra silently, let it be loud in your mind, let it shake the world… don't be shy. Feel it intensely, in bright Light, with the aura of sacredness all around you.

6. Focus on the center of the symbol (|), as you repeat the mantra, and visualize that your words are radiating out from your heart as waves of gratitude and bliss ( ) — this is the feeling of having what you desire, and having it here and now, sharing it with all of Life. Your mantra is not for yourself alone, because you are never alone. You chant the mantra for all of Life, that all Life, everywhere will receive its benefit.

7. Stop completely, between each mantra or each set of mantras (as you feel guided) and enter the silent space of Absolute Stillness; you can remain there as long as it takes to feel just a "taste" of the experience of having the object of your desire — this can be a microsecond or an hour. Be your own guide. It is a feeling of deep gratitude as you realize that you already have the experience you were seeking… Ahhh!

8. Continue repeating the mantra, and the process, for as long as you want. You can sing it, chant it, move it with your hands, send it out to others in your mind… Make it playful, not so serious; make it a celebration, not a chore. 

I often do mantras as I drive in my car; it makes my travel time very short. I send blessings to all the drivers of all the cars I pass, imagining that they are experiencing what they most want and need, imagining that they are connecting to their own Higher Self. Do they feel it? Who knows, but I feel it.

The Mantras

Following is a growing list of Sanscrit, Christian, and Shamanic mantras that I use, along with their basic meaning and a phonetic spelling to help you form the sounds properly. These mantras call upon different deities, different energies, different ideas, different "ways of being."

Note: I once thought of the Hindu deities as metaphors — symbolic, non-living, representations of principles. I was sure of this, until once, in a three-day shamanic ceremony, I met Ganesh, face to face. That was quite a humbling eye opener, and He taught me many things one long night. His Being was so powerful and loving and pure that I could barely remain in his presence. I am forever grateful. I now see that there are many divine helpers available to each of us, when we ask.

So I begin with the mantra to Ganesh — the one I use the most because He is very real to me — and I get results. However, my results may be due in part to my personal relationship with Ganesh; you may find other mantras more to your liking.

Ganesh:
Om Goom Gana-pata-yay Nama-ha

"Om, and greetings to Ganesh, the Divine Remover of all my obstacles"

This mantra removes the obstacles that seem to block your way. In my experience, Ganesh does not do the manifesting work for you, but He clears your path so you can do what you need to do, to achieve whatever you desire. Our blockages may be emotional, physical, karmic, or the result of outside forces… whatever they are, Ganesh can see them and remove them for you. When you do this mantra, be ready to act upon the opportunities that come to you; be ready to take responsibility.

If you ask for healing, Ganesh may help you let go of your belief in (and your need for) disease. If you seek a relationship, Ganesh may help you drop your defenses. If you need money, Ganesh may show you where you are holding back from giving. Then the work is up to you.

EE-Ah-Oh-Ay

This is the personal name of God: Yahweh, or YHWH. When I chant this mantra it is always a prayer of thanksgiving for what is. I am very careful never to chant this mantra if I have negative feelings or emotions — because this mantra has the power to create whole new realities.

This is not a mantra to use for making requests. Instead, when you chant this mantra, stand in the place of being Perfection, here and now — "Be ye perfect, as I am perfect" said Jesus — . Feel that all is OK, all is love and loved, all is happening according to the divine plan of unfolding perfection; and you are that plan.

When you chant this mantra, be that which you desire most to be, as an outward expression of your heart-felt desire. When you chant this mantra allow yourself to be loved in return with a perfect love — your love for yourself and all of Life. The love you give is the Love you receive.

I found myself spontaneously chanting this mantra, long before I understood it's meaning.

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshwara
(Chenresig in Tibetan Buddhism):
Om Ma-ni Pod-may Hoom

or

Om Ma-ni Pay-may Huung

"Om, salutations to The Jewel of Consciousness (the Mind) which now blossoms like a Lotus flower in my heart." 

Shiva:
Om Nam-ah Shiv-aye-ya

Lakshmi:
Om Shreem Ma-ha-lak-shmee-yay Swa-ha

"Om and greetings to the Divine Feminine energy Who grants me all types of wealth."

Durga:
Om Dum Dur-ga-yay Nama-ha

"Om and greetings to the Divine Feminine energy Who protects me from all types of negative influences."

Saraswati:
Om Eim Sara-swaty-yay Swa-ha

"Om and salutations to the Divine Feminine energy Who enhances all my artistic and scholarly activities."

The Planet Saturn:
Om Shri Sha-na-ish-war-aya Swa-ha

"Om and salutations to the presiding spirit in the planet Saturn."

Subramanya:
Om Sha-ra-vana-bha-va-ya Nama-ha

"Om and salutations to the son of Shiva, who brings auspiciousness and who is chief of the celestial army."

Rama (Healing Mantra):
Om Apa-damapa Hata-ram Data-ram Sarva Sampa-dam
Loka Bhi Ram-am Sri Rama Bhu-yo Bhu-yo Nama-mya-ham

I will add more more mantras and descriptions here, as time permits. And, of course, you can find many references to mantras by doing a Google search.