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Can I chant a mantra without initiation?

For most mantras, yes. Traditional initiation deepens the practice — but many mantras are freely given to anyone who approaches with sincerity.

In most traditions, the majority of mantras are considered open. Anyone who wishes to chant Om Namah Shivaya, Om Mani Padme Hum, So Hum, the Gayatri Mantra, or the Hare Krishna Mahamantra may do so, without formal initiation. Some mantras — particularly those from Vajrayana Buddhist and certain tantric traditions — are traditionally transmitted directly from teacher to student, in a ceremony called empowerment or diksha. These practices carry a lineage, and the transmission is considered part of what makes them work. If you are drawn to a particular mantra that traditionally requires empowerment, this is a beautiful reason to seek out a qualified teacher. Until then, the many openly given mantras of both Hindu and Buddhist traditions can be a full lifetime of practice.