A mantra is a syllable, word, or phrase that is repeated during meditation to support one’s attention. Mantras can be spoken, chanted, whispered, or repeated in the mind. Any combination of sounds that is meaningful to you can be used as a mantra, both to support your attention and to incline your mind further toward the felt sense of your mantra. Remember: Moment to moment, we are conditioning our minds; what we tend to think about becomes the inclination of our minds.

Here are a few of the mantras I use:

• Whatever has the nature to arise will also pass away.
• Acknowledge the wave, but stay with the ocean.
• Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.
• If I don’t cling, whatever arises is free to leave.
• Moment to moment, I condition my mind.
• Breath, and know you’re breathing.
• Stay with what is, whatever arises.
• I am not this next thought.
• Just observe and let it be.
• I make my mind a friend.
• Stay close; stay open.
• This is being known.
• It’s like this now.
• This is enough.
• Be here now.
• This is it.