CHANTING

There are many different Mantras you can chant. It really doesn't matter what you chant as much as the intent behind the chant. You can use the English translation of any chant. You don't have to chant in a foreign tongue to get results.

 

Hindu

Om Namah Shivaya = I bow to/honor the inner self or self within.

 

Buddhist

Nam Myho Renge Kyo = I devote myself to the great mystery through my thoughts and actions with this song or my words.

 

Om Mani Padme Hum = Hail the jewel within.   OR   Om O Jewel Lotus One Hum.

The mantra Om Mani Pädme Hum is easy to say yet quite powerful, because it contains the essence of the entire teaching. When you say the first syllable Om it is blessed to help you achieve perfection in the practice of generosity, Ma helps perfect the practice of pure ethics, and Ni helps achieve perfection in the practice of tolerance and patience. Päd, the fourth syllable, helps to achieve perfection of perseverance, Me helps achieve perfection in the practice of concentration, and the final sixth syllable Hum helps achieve perfection in the practice of wisdom.

So in this way recitation of the mantra helps achieve perfection in the six practices from generosity to wisdom. The path of these six perfections is the path walked by all the Buddhas of the three times. What could then be more meaningful than to say the mantra and accomplish the six perfections?

-Gen Rinpoche, Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones

To further help with using the Om Mani Padme Hum mantra follow the direction below.

In visualization practice we imagine ourselves to be a Buddha, in this case the Buddha of Compassion, Chenrezig. By replacing the thought of yourself as you with the thought of yourself as Chenrezig, you gradually reduce and eventually remove the fixation on your personal self, which expands your loving kindness and compassion, toward yourself and toward others, and your intelligence and wisdom becomes enhanced, allowing you to see clearly what someone really needs and to communicate with them clearly and accurately. 

You could also use the visual of Christ if it feels better to you.