Abstract
ObjectiveMantram or holy name repetition has long been practiced in every major religious tradition. Repetition of a mantram as a mindfulness practice is helpful for stress management and resilience building. The objective of this article is to provide an overview of the key features of mantram and the Mantram Repetition Program (MRP) developed in the US Veterans Healthcare System, the evidence base for the MRP, and its applications.MethodsMRP practices are portable and do not require an extended or regularized period of sitting, in contrast to most methods of meditation. Core functions of MRP practices include focus shifting, frame activation, and fostering of mindfulness. We review scientific research, including multiple randomized trials, that has investigated the MRP.ResultsResearch on the MRP has documented reductions in posttraumatic stress symptoms, insomnia, hyperarousal, and depression, as well as enhancement of quality of life, self-efficacy, and mindfulness. Mantram repetition may possess comparative advantages for managing symptoms of various mental health conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder, HIV/AIDS, cancer, and chronic diseases.ConclusionsMRP practices can be integrated into daily routines to manage stress and improve coping, safety, efficacy, calmness, and resilience. The inclusion of mantram repetition alongside conventional mindfulness-based practices for stress management will improve their cultural and religious inclusiveness, enabling societies and organizations to build greater collective resilience. Mantram repetition can be readily used in the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on healthcare workers, patients, and the public.
Highlights
Mahatma Gandhi referred to mantram repetition as “Ramanama,” speaking of it as his “staff of life,” and urging those around him to “persevere and ceaselessly repeat Ramanama during all their waking hours,” affirming that “a Christian may find the same solace from the repetition of the name of Jesus, and a Muslim from the name of Allah
As a portable practice used throughout the day, mantram repetition has been empirically investigated mainly through the Mantram Repetition Program (MRP) developed in the US Veterans Administration (VA) Healthcare System
The MRP has been empirically investigated in the USA and Korea in five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and four mixed-method and three qualitative investigations
Summary
Research on the MRP has documented reductions in posttraumatic stress symptoms, insomnia, hyperarousal, and depression, as well as enhancement of quality of life, self-efficacy, and mindfulness. Mahatma Gandhi referred to mantram repetition as “Ramanama,” speaking of it as his “staff of life,” and urging those around him to “persevere and ceaselessly repeat Ramanama during all their waking hours,” affirming that “a Christian may find the same solace from the repetition of the name of Jesus, and a Muslim from the name of Allah. All these things have the same implications and they produce identical results under identical circumstances” Presentations of the MRP typically emphasize that portable mantram repetition and the MRP are structured very differently than mantram-focused methods of sitting meditation (such as Transcendental Meditation, Oman 2020; see Wachholtz et al 2017)
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