How to Chant Mantras Effectively

In order to gather the mind into meditative concentration (samādhi), when reciting mantras, the tone must be drawn out long and low; the tone should not rise upward, and there should not be too much melody, so as to avoid stirring up emotional fluctuations in the mind, which would make the thoughts scattered and difficult to settle. When the power of concentration is poor and the thoughts are scattered, it is not easy to remember what one recites. Before reciting, one should adjust the breathing well and take several deep breaths, so that the mind can become purified; then one can recite with single-minded focus. When the power of concentration is good, the effect on memory is also good.