How many times should you chant a mantra?

The number 108 appears across sacred traditions — in the beads of a Hindu or Buddhist mala, in the number of names of the divine in many texts, and in the geometry of many temples. Its meaning is layered and debated; what matters practically is that 108 repetitions of a mantra usually takes ten to fifteen minutes, a good length for a settled practice. If 108 feels too long, half a mala — 54 — or a quarter — 27 — is fully valid. So is simply chanting for five minutes without counting. For deeper practices, some traditions prescribe 1,008 repetitions, or the completion of many hundred thousand over months or years of dedicated retreat. These are the exception, not the rule. Start with what is sustainable. Consistency, more than quantity, is what changes a life.