What is Chanting Meditation
All meditations are geared towards developing peace of mind, providing clarity and reducing the chatter in your mind. Many people who meditate also use a chanting meditation. This type of meditation can be used by itself or together with the breathing meditation taught in this program.

While sitting to meditate or chant, one recites a word or sound out loud in slow repetition. One can also chant, or repeat the word or sound silently, to themselves. The focus of the mind on the sound or word over and over again will create peace of mind and clarity. You can chant for 5 minutes to start, or work your way up to 20 minutes a session.

Several word phrases (known as ‘mantras’ in Sanskrit) from different religions are provided here and they can be used for chanting. These mantras, or ‘word phrases’ are words or sounds that create vibrations that upon slow repetition instill peace of mind and one-pointed concentration in the meditator.

How To Chant
Sit quietly with a tall posture, as if you were going to practice your sitting meditation. Start by observing your breath for a few moments. Then take a bigger inhale then normal and on the slow exhale say the word or phrase from below slowly. Repeat this over and over again. Take a bigger then normal inhale, and slowly exhale while speaking the mantra.

You can then continue with the breathing meditation immediately after chanting. And as always, if you become distracted in any way, just return to focusing on the sound of your phrase or mantra.

You will be able to achieve the same calmness and peace that is achieved through the breathing meditation in the Meditation for Wellbeing CD programs.

Select from these Mantras or Chanting Sounds
The mantras or phrases presented here are used in different religions. Select the one that feels best to you.

Christianity
Friar Doug Main recommended using the mantra / phrase Maranatha, which is Aramaic for "Come, Lord", as in I Corinthians 16:22 and Revelation 22:20. Pronunciation: mar'uh-NATH-uh

Judaism
Rabbi Nachman said that repeating one word over and over was an effective form of meditation. His own personal mantra was Ribono shel Olam (Master of the Universe). Pronunciation: Ree-BO-no shell O-lahm. Rabbi Nachman pronounced it with the Yiddish intonation as: Ree-BOY-noy shell OY-lahm.

Buddhism / Hinduism
Aum or Om is a mystical or sacred syllable in Eastern religions. Pronunciation: It can be pronounced as a single syllable (Om) or as 3 syllables melded slowly together (‘a’ as in ma, ‘o’ as in over, ‘m’ as in mmm).

For additional information, please visit: www.wikipedia.com.