Mantra
lit. “instrument of thought”
A sacred sound or phrase repeated in meditation — and, in English, any phrase someone says to themselves over and over.
Origin
In Hindu and Buddhist practice, mantras are not just words but specific sound vibrations believed to focus the mind and tune it to a particular state or deity. 'Om mani padme hum' (Tibetan Buddhism), the Gayatri mantra (Vedic), the Hare Krishna chant — each has detailed traditions around pronunciation, repetition counts, and ritual context. Mala beads (108 of them) are used to count repetitions.
Modern usage
In English, any short phrase someone repeats for motivation, focus, or self-soothing — 'her morning mantra is just keep going'. Transcendental Meditation (TM), popularised in the 1960s after the Beatles' visits to the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, made the word a household one in the West.
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