How to quiet your mind (meditation tips)

swiftdrifter4 said:But are Hindu mantras actually "more powerful" than ones you just pick out yourself?

Not really.

bluemason3 said:Not really.

Hmm... I actually thought there was some kind of inherent power tied to ancient Sanskrit...

mistybison said:That is a wonderful idea! 👍

One great thing about mantras is that even after you stop listening, they continue to resonate in your mind, helping to quiet that usual mental noise for quite a while.

This one is my favorite: LAXMI MANTRA. I used to listen to it back in the day hoping for a windfall, though it didn't exactly make me rich. 🕺 😁 This one is incredibly cheerful and really lifts your mood: Kubera Mantra. 🙂

It has been a long time since I practiced mantras, so I might just dive back into them. 🙂

😵Yeah, having that echo is definitely better than the constant chatter... 😵

Honestly, doing absolutely nothing—just pure meditation—is actually pretty great.👍

swiftdrifter4 said:But are Hindu mantras actually "more powerful" than ones you just pick out yourself?

I am honestly not sure. My knowledge regarding mantras is quite limited.

darkbadger8 said:😵Yeah, having that echo is definitely better than the constant chatter... 😵

😁

The goal is to repeat a single, neutral mantra to prevent the mind from wandering through endless, emotionally charged thoughts. 🧐 😁

Joseph Bailey41 said:Have you tried mantras? You don't even have to say them out loud; sometimes just listening to them on YouTube helps. When you give your mind something repetitive to latch onto, it eventually settles down and goes quiet. 😁

😵Smarter Release😵

swiftdrifter4 said:Hmm... I actually thought there was some kind of inherent power tied to ancient Sanskrit...

People love to mystify ancient languages, especially when they're used for religious texts. Hindus hype up Sanskrit, Muslims lean into Arabic, and Christians were stuck with Latin for ages.

Just myths.

Unlike praying in your own language, using Sanskrit usually means you lack a direct grasp of the meaning. You miss out on the instinctive cultural context, the symbolism, and the iconography—which probably means you aren't even truly "involved" in the moment.

On the other hand, if someone believes the nonsense (stuff that's either unfalsifiable or just plain wrong) about Sanskrit being the "most ancient," the "most complete" language with "perfectly precise sounds" or "highest vibrations," then a placebo effect might actually work. In that case, it could genuinely feel special.

bluemason3 said:People love to mystify ancient languages, especially when they're used for religious texts. Hindus hype up Sanskrit, Muslims lean into Arabic, and Christians were stuck with Latin for ages.

Just myths.

Unlike praying in your own language, using Sanskrit usually means you lack a direct grasp of the meaning. You miss out on the instinctive cultural context, the symbolism, and the iconography—which probably means you aren't even truly "involved" in the moment.

On the other hand, if someone believes the nonsense (stuff that's either unfalsifiable or just plain wrong) about Sanskrit being the "most ancient," the "most complete" language with "perfectly precise sounds" or "highest vibrations," then a placebo effect might actually work. In that case, it could genuinely feel special.

It doesn't really matter if it's a placebo or not; the main thing is that it works.

It matters because if the effect is built directly into the language itself, then it’s universal—it doesn't care what you believe. But if it’s just a placebo, then everything becomes much more subjective and individual.

Joseph Bailey41 said:Have you tried mantras? You don't even have to say them out loud; sometimes just listening to them on YouTube helps. When you give your mind something repetitive to latch onto, it eventually settles down and goes quiet. 😁

Thanks! I'll give it a shot. I'm more of a chill music person myself. I've actually listened to a few tracks on YouTube before.
Tonight, I carved out five minutes for myself in the shower.
I didn't really try to force my mind to shut up; instead, I just focused on the water droplets—I read somewhere that paying attention to those tiny details helps ground you in things we usually overlook. Even the posture felt right.
I'm feeling pretty good about it. Doing it again tomorrow.
Baby steps... 😉

swiftdrifter4 said:

Honestly, doing absolutely nothing—just pure meditation—is actually pretty great.👍

😁I guess then Mexicans are enlightened...😁

swiftdrifter4 said:

Honestly, doing absolutely nothing—just pure meditation—is actually pretty great.👍

I'm a fan. 😁

says:
I barely managed to relax at all; my mind was racing constantly. I kept thinking about everything, especially the company I work for, which is basically falling apart. 😬

You might find this short, practical guided session helpful: an Honest Meditation. 😁

bluemason3 said:It matters because if the effect is built directly into the language itself, then it’s universal—it doesn't care what you believe. But if it’s just a placebo, then everything becomes much more subjective and individual.

The whole thing hinges on symbols and sounds, too.
And let's not forget the personal stuff—your own state of consciousness.

swiftdrifter4 said:It doesn't really matter if it's a placebo or not; the main thing is that it works.

Actually, the *way* it works is everything. If you don't have any real connection to the language, then the symbolism behind the words loses its punch. It just won't hit your subconscious nearly as hard.

Robert Ruiz2 said:I’ve been drawn to meditation for over a decade now.
But honestly, I’m just too restless and fidgety to actually stick with it or see any results.

No matter how many times I try, or how many minutes I spend sitting there attempting to "meditate," it never sticks.

I’ve tried focusing my breathing. I’ve tried using background music. I’ve tried heading out into nature or even just doing it in the shower.
Zero luck.

The first few minutes go fine, and then the chaos starts:
- this position is super uncomfortable
- did the kids finish their dinner?
- what am I making for dinner tomorrow?
- is the water getting cold?
- is there something Flying in the room?
- I really should have said no (to that thing that happened 15 years ago)
- how am I ever going to lose weight
- I really need to shave my legs
And just like that, I give up. 🕺

Do you guys Practice meditation?
Any tips on how to finally shut my brain up???? 🙂
Thanks.

"I started something new and at first, I'm just not very good at it."

Yeah, well, that’s pretty much how life works, isn't it?

Robert Ruiz2 said:I’ve been drawn to meditation for over a decade now.
But honestly, I’m just too restless and fidgety to actually stick with it or see any results.

No matter how many times I try, or how many minutes I spend sitting there attempting to "meditate," it never sticks.

I’ve tried focusing my breathing. I’ve tried using background music. I’ve tried heading out into nature or even just doing it in the shower.
Zero luck.

The first few minutes go fine, and then the chaos starts:
- this position is super uncomfortable
- did the kids finish their dinner?
- what am I making for dinner tomorrow?
- is the water getting cold?
- is there something Flying in the room?
- I really should have said no (to that thing that happened 15 years ago)
- how am I ever going to lose weight
- I really need to shave my legs
And just like that, I give up. 🕺

Do you guys Practice meditation?
Any tips on how to finally shut my brain up???? 🙂
Thanks.

Just empty your head and think about absolutely nothing.

darkbadger8 said:😵Smarter Release😵

Yeah, that’s exactly the logic behind it. 🤣

Think about it this way: imagine you're running a company and you have this absolute superstar on your team. They're brilliant, they work harder than anyone else—everything is perfect until you realize they're starting to fray at the edges. Suddenly, during a slow afternoon, they're obsessively rearranging paperclips on their desk, and then they end up getting into a massive argument with the janitor just because a single clip was moved an inch to the left. So, you try to be a decent boss and say, "Hey, take some vacation time or a sick day, you're clearly burnt out." But they just start breaking down, insisting they can't leave because their job is their entire identity and they literally can't function without being busy. 😁

swiftdrifter4 said:But are Hindu mantras actually "more powerful" than ones you just pick out yourself?

It really comes down to whether you understand why you're chanting a specific one. Most of them are directed toward certain 'deities,' which are essentially symbolic representations of particular states of consciousness or even specific energies. For instance, Lakshmi is portrayed as this incredibly generous woman who has so much she just loves sharing it with everyone; Sarasvati is that cultured, brilliant girl; and Ganesha is like that stubborn elephant who can smash through any obstacle in his path... and so on. Once you repeat a mantra a certain number of times (the tradition is usually 108), you gradually settle into that desired state of mind. I remember reading a story on a blog about a woman going through a really messy divorce. She chanted to Ganesha relentlessly—even during arguments with her ex—and she finally managed to pull herself out of that mess. (I mean, she probably would have made it regardless, but the mantra likely helped ease the mental toll.)

As for Lakshmi and getting rich—the mantra just helps you develop a more grounded relationship with money, which might lead to prosperity, but it's not a guarantee. There are some pretty funny stories about her, though. My favorite is about a man who spent ten years or more devotedly praying to her, but nothing happened. He was still broke. So, he decided to become a monk, thinking that at least then he’d have housing and food covered, fewer worries, and could focus entirely on chanting and pleasing the goddess, since he realized he actually enjoyed the work. After a while, Lakshmi supposedly appeared to him (at least according to the legend). She said, "Here I am. I'll give you as much money as you want because you've earned it." The man was confused: "But I'm a monk now; I'm not even supposed to touch money." The goddess just smiled and said, "Fine. Do you want wisdom instead? Here it is. Enjoy it and share it with others." And so, the monk became a highly respected sage. 🙂

mistybison said:I am honestly not sure. My knowledge regarding mantras is quite limited.

😁

The goal is to repeat a single, neutral mantra to prevent the mind from wandering through endless, emotionally charged thoughts. 🧐 😁

I think that's fine up to a certain point... just clearing the mind every now and then...🐔
Some people drink to get there, others light up some weed...🙂
This works too...🙂😵
I remember reading an anthropologist mentioning that there isn't a single society or tribe on this planet that hasn't found a way to escape reality... mostly through opiates, but there are other techniques too, like apparently certain repetitive dances with the exact same movements that pull you into a trance...🙂
The issue arises when someone starts using meditation as a way to run away from life...
Still, I suppose that's better than getting high on a street corner...🧐
To me, meditation is a tool meant to facilitate awakening—to experience reality directly—but it seems like I might be in the minority here...

darkbadger8 said:I think that's fine up to a certain point... just clearing the mind every now and then...🐔
Some people drink to get there, others light up some weed...🙂
This works too...🙂😵
I remember reading an anthropologist mentioning that there isn't a single society or tribe on this planet that hasn't found a way to escape reality... mostly through opiates, but there are other techniques too, like apparently certain repetitive dances with the exact same movements that pull you into a trance...🙂
The issue arises when someone starts using meditation as a way to run away from life...
Still, I suppose that's better than getting high on a street corner...🧐
To me, meditation is a tool meant to facilitate awakening—to experience reality directly—but it seems like I might be in the minority here...

I’m honestly not quite sure what "achieving awakening as a direct experience of reality" actually means, or why meditation would even be necessary for it. For instance, if my cat suddenly bolts and jumps right onto me, I am definitely experiencing reality in that moment. And if I happened to be napping? Well, then I'd certainly wake up. 😁