Book excerpt: ‘A mantra is a mystical energy encased in a sound structure . . . It steadies the mind and leads to the stillness of meditation.’ The modern lifestyle with its excesses and worldly desires, the constant need to be connected, and the rapid development in technology, has made stress and lifestyle-related diseases the norm. The need for meditation thus is more acute. Meditation calms the mind, brings focus and enhances the senses, resulting in a better quality of life and work. And with the right mantras, meditation becomes a highly effective tool in unleashing the immense potential within oneself. This book from the Sivananda Ashram explains what meditation and mantras are and how they can be effectively used to recharge oneself with divine energy, so that the tension of body and mind are gradually reduced.