Om mani padme hum
The mantra of Chenrezig, Mahabodhisattva, the Buddha in his compassion aspect.
Tibetan Buddhists believe that saying the mantra (prayer), Om Mani Padme Hum, out loud or silently to oneself, invokes the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of Chenrezig, the embodiment of compassion. Viewing the written form of the mantra is said to have the same effect -- it is often carved into stones, like the one pictured above, and placed where people can see them.
Spinning the written form of the mantra around in a Mani wheel (or prayer wheel) is also believed to give the same benefit as saying the mantra, and Mani wheels, small hand wheels and large wheels with millions of copies of the mantra inside, are found everywhere in the lands influenced by Tibetan Buddhism.
Om mani padme hum is an ancient mantra that is related to the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteshvara, and with therefore the Dalai Lama, who is considered to be an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara.
The most common meaning offered for the mantra is usually something like “Behold! The jewel in the lotus!” or “Praise to the jewel in the lotus.” But it is almost impossible to give one exact meaning for “om mani padme hum,” since it has been interpreted in many ways.
It is very good to recite the mantra Om mani padme hum, but while you are doing it, you should be thinking on its meaning, for the meaning of the six syllables is great and vast …. The first, OM … symbolizes the practitioner’s impure body, speech, and mind; it also symbolizes the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha…. The path is indicated by the next four syllables. MANI, meaning jewel, symbolizes the … altruistic intention to become enlightened, compassionate and loving…. The two syllables, PADME, meaning lotus, symbolize wisdom…. Purity must be achieved by an indivisible unity of method and wisdom, symbolized by the final syllable HUM, which indicates indivisibility…. Thus the six syllables, om mani padme hum, mean that in dependence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha….
— His Holiness the Dalai Lama, www.sacred-texts.com and Wikipedia
From Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
The mantra Om Mani Päme Hum is easy to say yet quite powerful, because it contains the essence of the entire teaching. When you say the first syllable Om it is blessed to help you achieve perfection in the practice of generosity, Ma helps perfect the practice of pure ethics, and Ni helps achieve perfection in the practice of tolerance and patience. Pä, the fourth syllable, helps to achieve perfection of perseverance, Me helps achieve perfection in the practice of concentration, and the final sixth syllable Hum helps achieve perfection in the practice of wisdom. So in this way recitation of the mantra helps achieve perfection in the six practices from generosity to wisdom. The path of these six perfections is the path walked by all the Buddhas of the three times. What could then be more meaningful than to say the mantra and accomplish the six perfections?
— Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones, ISBN 0-87773-493-3
The most common meaning offered for the mantra is usually something like “Behold! The jewel in the lotus!” or “Praise to the jewel in the lotus.” But it is almost impossible to give one exact meaning for “om mani padme hum,” since it has been interpreted in many ways.
It is very good to recite the mantra Om mani padme hum, but while you are doing it, you should be thinking on its meaning, for the meaning of the six syllables is great and vast …. The first, OM … symbolizes the practitioner’s impure body, speech, and mind; it also symbolizes the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha…. The path is indicated by the next four syllables. MANI, meaning jewel, symbolizes the … altruistic intention to become enlightened, compassionate and loving…. The two syllables, PADME, meaning lotus, symbolize wisdom…. Purity must be achieved by an indivisible unity of method and wisdom, symbolized by the final syllable HUM, which indicates indivisibility…. Thus the six syllables, om mani padme hum, mean that in dependence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha….
— His Holiness the Dalai Lama, www.sacred-texts.com and Wikipedia
From Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
The mantra Om Mani Päme Hum is easy to say yet quite powerful, because it contains the essence of the entire teaching. When you say the first syllable Om it is blessed to help you achieve perfection in the practice of generosity, Ma helps perfect the practice of pure ethics, and Ni helps achieve perfection in the practice of tolerance and patience. Pä, the fourth syllable, helps to achieve perfection of perseverance, Me helps achieve perfection in the practice of concentration, and the final sixth syllable Hum helps achieve perfection in the practice of wisdom. So in this way recitation of the mantra helps achieve perfection in the six practices from generosity to wisdom. The path of these six perfections is the path walked by all the Buddhas of the three times. What could then be more meaningful than to say the mantra and accomplish the six perfections?
— Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones, ISBN 0-87773-493-3
The six syllables perfect the Six Paramitas of the Bodhisattvas.
Gen Rinpoche, in his commentary on the Meaning of said:
"The mantra Om Mani Pädme Hum is easy to say yet quite powerful,
because it contains the essence of the entire teaching. When you say
the first syllable Om it is blessed to help you achieve perfection in the
practice of generosity, Ma helps perfect the practice of pure ethics,
and Ni helps achieve perfection in the practice of tolerance and
patience. Päd, the fourth syllable, helps to achieve perfection of perseverance, Me helps achieve perfection in the practice of concentration, and the final sixth syllable Hum helps achieve perfection in the practice of wisdom.
So in this way recitation of the mantra helps achieve perfection in the six practices from generosity to wisdom. The path of these six perfections is the path walked by all the Buddhas of the three times. What could then be more meaningful than to say the mantra and accomplish the six perfections?"
The six syllables purify the six realms of existence in suffering.
For example, the syllable Om purifies the neurotic attachment to bliss and pride, which afflict the beings in the realm of the gods.
Gen Rinpoche, in his commentary on the Meaning of said:
"The mantra Om Mani Pädme Hum is easy to say yet quite powerful,
because it contains the essence of the entire teaching. When you say
the first syllable Om it is blessed to help you achieve perfection in the
practice of generosity, Ma helps perfect the practice of pure ethics,
and Ni helps achieve perfection in the practice of tolerance and
patience. Päd, the fourth syllable, helps to achieve perfection of perseverance, Me helps achieve perfection in the practice of concentration, and the final sixth syllable Hum helps achieve perfection in the practice of wisdom.
So in this way recitation of the mantra helps achieve perfection in the six practices from generosity to wisdom. The path of these six perfections is the path walked by all the Buddhas of the three times. What could then be more meaningful than to say the mantra and accomplish the six perfections?"
The six syllables purify the six realms of existence in suffering.
For example, the syllable Om purifies the neurotic attachment to bliss and pride, which afflict the beings in the realm of the gods.
Purifies | Samsaric Realm | |
| Om | bliss / pride | gods |
| Ma | jealousy / | jealous gods |
| Ni | passion / desire | human |
| Pe | stupidity / prejudice | animal |
| Me | poverty / | hungry |
| Hung | aggression / hatred | hell |
Om (or Aum)
The sound, Om, is believed to be the primordial sound of all creation. The universe was created with Om and it holds within it all that is, was and ever will be. Buddhists believe that the sound vibration of Om cleanses away pride. They also believe that the syllable of Om lives within the samsaric realm of the gods. Om helps us dissolve our ego and cultivate kindness and generosity whenever we recite it.
(More on this profound syllable and the 5 Benefits of Chanting OM.)
Mani
The ma syllable in mani is associated with dissolving jealousy and the attachment to fleeting pleasures. It lives within the samsaric realm of the jealous gods and reciting ma over and over helps us loosen our jealous attachments while cultivating ethical behavior.
The ni syllable in particular is believed to dissolve our attachments to desire and passion while cultivating our ability to be patient with ourselves and others. It resides within the samsaric realm of the human being. The entire word, mani, means "jewel."
Padme
Pad is a syllable that dissolves our attachments to the many prejudices and judgmental notions we have while cultivating the quality of perseverance. It lives within the samsaric realm of the animals.
This me syllable helps dissolve our attachments to being possessive while also cultivating our powers of concentration. It resides within the samsaric realm of the hungry ghost. Together, padme means "lotus," and represents wisdom.
Hum
With the syllable, hum, we work to dissolve our attachments to aggression and hatred. We instead cultivate our own innate wisdom. Hum is said to lie within the samsaric realm of hell. Hum also indicates that which cannot be disturbed by anything. It is unshakeable and unmoveable.
The sound, Om, is believed to be the primordial sound of all creation. The universe was created with Om and it holds within it all that is, was and ever will be. Buddhists believe that the sound vibration of Om cleanses away pride. They also believe that the syllable of Om lives within the samsaric realm of the gods. Om helps us dissolve our ego and cultivate kindness and generosity whenever we recite it.
(More on this profound syllable and the 5 Benefits of Chanting OM.)
Mani
The ma syllable in mani is associated with dissolving jealousy and the attachment to fleeting pleasures. It lives within the samsaric realm of the jealous gods and reciting ma over and over helps us loosen our jealous attachments while cultivating ethical behavior.
The ni syllable in particular is believed to dissolve our attachments to desire and passion while cultivating our ability to be patient with ourselves and others. It resides within the samsaric realm of the human being. The entire word, mani, means "jewel."
Padme
Pad is a syllable that dissolves our attachments to the many prejudices and judgmental notions we have while cultivating the quality of perseverance. It lives within the samsaric realm of the animals.
This me syllable helps dissolve our attachments to being possessive while also cultivating our powers of concentration. It resides within the samsaric realm of the hungry ghost. Together, padme means "lotus," and represents wisdom.
Hum
With the syllable, hum, we work to dissolve our attachments to aggression and hatred. We instead cultivate our own innate wisdom. Hum is said to lie within the samsaric realm of hell. Hum also indicates that which cannot be disturbed by anything. It is unshakeable and unmoveable.
