A Mantra is a formula or a word with spiritual significance; however, when stripped of their Tantric undertones they become meaningless syllables which can help us to detach and relax very deeply. Mantra meditation is very easy to learn and effective in letting go of our attachment to thinking. Just repeating a mantra helps us to focus our attention on a single point and eventually reach a state of very deep rest. The regular practice of meditation can reduce our irritability and thus the feeling of being stressed, but more importantly is that continued mantra practice will reduce the time of recovery following all kinds of distressing situations.

Mantra practice in juxtaposition with bowing practice can help cut through our karma very quickly. Mantra practice should be done with a firm commitment by the student; however, it must not be looked upon as some sort of compulsion, this practice should be entered into lightly and with a strong commitment. During the first few weeks of practicing mantra meditation some students tend to become more sensitive to events that did not used to bother them. This is one reason why after beginning this type of practice it is important to consult your teacher to ensure the correct practice and effect.

This practice should be undertaken during all quiet periods of the day when cognitive attention is not required. Examples would be: while driving a car, eating lunch, waiting for a bus, any time that doesn’t require us to use our conceptual thought should be filled with our mantra. Over time thoughts will emerge spontaneously and we will be tempted to follow them (this is our normal habitual pattern) and when we realize that we have strayed from our practice we must gently return to it over and over and over again. Try not to become judgmental about your practice. Thoughts and perceptions are simply allowed to come and go like single, detached events. During practice you just come back to repeating the mantra again without forcing yourself.

Following are listed some of the common mantras used in our Zen practice. The explanation of their meanings and use are listed below the mantras.

Clear mind, clear mind, clear mind... Don’t Know
This mantra is intended to relieve the mind of a lot of thinking.

gaté, gaté, paragaté, parasamgaté, bodhi svaha
Litterally this mantra means: “gone, gone, gone beyond; opposites disappear, absolute appears”

Jijang Bosal
The Great Vow mantra: “I vow to save all beings”; helps the dead and the suffering.

Kwanseum Bosal
The Great Love and Great Compassion mantra which when invoked removes all kinds of suffering.

Namu Amita Bul
The Pure Land Mantra used to invoke the Western Paradise of Amitabha Buddha.

Namu–ata–shiji–nam–sammota–guchi–nam
Om–ajana–baba–jiri–jiri–hum
This mantra is used to save all sentient beings stuck in Hell. If you try this, then Hell’s gates will be broken and all beings can come out.

Namu–bo–bo–jeoli–kali–dali–tata–adaya
This mantra is used to invite all the Buddhas of the ten directions.

Namu–chilguji–bul–modae–junje–bosal
This mantra envokes the Great Love and Great compassion of a mother’s mind and anytime there is a problem, if you try this, the problem will disappear.

Namu–de–bang–kwang–bul–hwa–um–gyung
Buddha taught that this world is complete, but it is our minds that are not complete. So this mantra helps our minds become complete and strong.

Namu–samanda–motdanam–abarji–hadasa–sananam–danyata
Om–kaka–kahe–kahe–hum–hum–
abara–abara–bara–abara–bara–abara
Jita–jiri–jir–jir–badu–badu–sanjika–shiri–e–sabaha
For those with heavy karma this mantra will take away all good and bad, and all opposites, then cutting through this karma will become easy.

Namu–samanda–motdanam–om–doro–doro–jimi–sabaha
The Gods of the five directions (North, South, East, West and Center) are said to like the sound of this mantra, so when we do it, every god will hear our voice, and these gods will keep a clear mind and help us with our problems.

Namu Sogamuni Bul
This mantra for Śākyamuni Buddha is done to save all beings from suffering.

Om
This is the universal mantra of truth. Chanting this mantra takes away everything.

Om–aranam–arada
This is the mantra of opening the Buddha’s true Dharma; it helps us to perceive the truth of this very moment.

Om–aridara–sabaha
This literally means; correct eyes, correct ears, and correct mouth. So if we have a problem seeing clearly, hearing clearly or speaking clearly, this mantra will help us.

Om–ba–ara–mil
A Pure Land Mantra that can assist in you in being reborn in the Western Paradise.

Om–ba–ara–minaya–sabaha
This mantra is used to clean the entire cosmos, so when your life seems cloudy and dark, this will clean all the darkness and bring forth brilliant illumination.

Om–ba–ara–tobiya–hum
When the mind is chasing thoughts constantly this mantra opens the mind and results in a wide and spacious mind.

Om–biro–gije–sabaha
This mantra takes away all of your karma and allows you to see the truth and act appropriately.

Om–chi–lim
This will protect the body so no bad energy can enter it, used when there is a sickness or to gain energy.

Om–gara–jiya–sabaha
This mantra shatters the gates of Hell and opens the gate to nirvana.

Om–horo–horo–saya–moke–sabaha
This is an extra mantra (like an extra button on a shirt) it is used as a preventive measure even if things are going well.

Om–ja–rye–ju–rye–junje–sabaha–burim
This mantra is used for universal mystical energy, it can help you see through to your aspirations.

Om–maha–ka–babada–shiche–a–sabaha
This is a mantra to begin ceremonies.

Om–mani–padme–hum
This is for when your mind is dark or small, when you cannot perform the correct actions. When cannot see and cannot hear correctly, this mantra will make your mind wide.

Om–maro–ruke–sabaha
This is another mantra to clear away your karma and thereby help you to make changes in your life.

Om–nam
This mantra is for purification, when you need to purify the energy of a place that seems to have bad karma.

Om–salba–motcha–moji–sadaya–sabaha
This is the universal mantra of repentance and is used to help correct an incorrect situation.

Om–samara–samara–mimara–jarama–jagura–bara–hum
This is the last mantra in a ceremony – it is the ceremony is completed mantra.

Suri–suri–maha–suri–su–suri–sabaha
This mantra will clean your mouth like your mom did when you were younger – it can rid you of bad speech and uncontrollable desires.