So, in the exploration of Buddhism, Hinduism and Tibetan culture, I'd thought I'd tackle Mantras first.
This article has to do with Buddhism.
So what are Mantras?
Mantra is a word or sound repeated to aid concentration in meditation.
Now, in my personal opinion, so far, mantras have helped me go into light trances. That's about all I have in experience with mantras!
Here are some mantras I found onhttp://www.thebuddhacenter.org/buddhism/mantras/
Om Mani Padme Hum
This mantra means," Hail the jewel in the lotus" . It is the mantra of compassion, and also invokes the attention and blessings of Chenrezig who is the embodiment of compassion. Chenrezing is a healing deity.
This mantra is said to be associated with long life. It is usually chanted with someone in mind. This is also the mantra of Sitatara (or commonly known as Tara) who is another Buddhist embodiement of compassion. More on Sitatara can be found here:
http://www.crystalinks.com/tara.html
Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha
This mantra is often used to overcome difficult blocks such as failing relationships, hard times and other burdens of life. When chanting this mantra, imagine letting go of all your worries and bring the energy back into yourself.
Tayata Om Bekanze Bekanze Maha BeKanze Radza Samudgate Soha
This mantra is recited for successes. It can help you eliminated unhappiness and other negative feelings that you may hold within you.
You can listen to this mantra here:
http://www.thebuddhacenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/medicine-buddha-mantra.mp3 Om A Ra Pa Ca Na Dhih
For some odd reason, the mp3 page for this mantra went 404, so I found a youtube video where you can listen to it. This is also another favorite of mine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsoerOA8EGI
This mantra is said to help improve skils in memory, debate, writing, and other literary abilities.
Om Vajrapani Hum
This mantra centers around the Bodhisavatta, Vajrapani. He represents the enlightened mind.Vajrapanis mantra is simply his name, which means wielder of the thunderbolt, framed between the mystical syllables Om and Hm. This mantra helps us to gain access to the irrepressible energy that Vajrapani symbolizes. A familiarity with Vajrapani does, of course, help here, although the sound of the mantra is itself rather energetic.
Mantra should be recited with careful pronouncement,and if done well,they work like miracle,My patron God/dess are Hekate & Shiv thus I practice and follow many mantra and Tantra including Tantra also (Hindu mostly) Thus Except for meditation aid My personal experience is very fruitful,They work wonders specially because of the seed sound mantra attached to them, Like universal Om , doom , kra, Krim etc they resonant with different deities like for protection and courage I would use Doom ,which is the seed mantra of Adi shakti (Goddess Durga) Plus when I added it with meditation,before my public speech, I was like Mr. Confident lol So like this I have many experiences with seed mantra as well as other, I love using mantras.. Main thing that I learned is vibrate/resonant with the sound and see the wonder of vibration.
For those Interested in chakras,I highly recommend listening or chanting Chakra seed mantra like Lam,Vam,Ram,yam,Ham,Om,Aum
My best experience in chakra work is by chanting these rather than any other method,but then it's matter of your faith and belief.
Blessed Be.