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Probably the most famous mantra of Buddhism, the six syllable mantra of the Bodhisattva of compassion Avalokiteshvara (Sanskrit: Chenrezig, Tibetan). This mantra is particularly associated with the four-armed Shadakshari form of Avalokiteshvara. The Dalai Lama is said to be an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, and so the mantra is especially revered by his devotees.
Pronounciation
Here is the sound of the Mantra as chanted by a Tibetan refugee: Wave Format (http://www.dharma-haven.org/tibetan/om-mani-padme-hung.wav) and Real Audio Format (http://www.dharma-haven.org/tibetan/om-mani-padme-hung.ra).
English transliteration
In english this mantra is transliterated differently depending on the schools of Buddhism as well as on individual teachers.
Possible transliterations include:
- Om Ma Ni Pe Me Hum
- Om Ma Ni Pad Mi Hung
Meaning
This mantra possesses many meanings, among them purification of the six realms of existence in suffering.
Karandavyuha Sutra definition
The first known description of the mantra appears in the Karandavyuha Sutra, which is part of certain Mahayana canons such as the Tibetan canon. In this sutra,
Shakyamuni Buddha states: "This is the most beneficial mantra. Even I made this aspiration to all the million Buddhas and subsequently received this teaching from Buddha Amitabha." 1 (http://www.khandro.net/practice_mantra.htm)
Gen Rinpoche's definition
- 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?
Donald Lopez's definition
Donald Lopez gives a good discussion of this mantra and it's various interpretations in his book Prisoners of Shangri-LA: Tibetan Buddhism and the West (ISBN 0226493113). Lopez is an authoritative writer and challenges the stereotypical analysis of the mantra as meaning "The Jewel in the Lotus", an interpretation that is not supported by either a linguistic analysis, nor by Tibetan tradition, and is symptomatic of the Western Orientalist approach to the "exotic" East. He suggests that Manipadme is actually the name of a bodhisattva, a form of Avalokiteshvara who has many other names in any case including Padmapani or lotus flower in hand. The Brahminical insistence on absolutely correct pronunciation of Sanskrit broke down as Buddhism was exported to other countries where the inhabitants found it impossible to reproduce the sounds. So in Tibet for instance, where this mantra is on the lips of many Tibetans all their waking hours, the mantra is pronounced Om mani peme hum.
Karma Thubten Trinley's definition
Karma Thubten Trinley says, "These are the six syllables which prevent rebirth into the six realms of cyclic existence. It translates literally as 'OM the jewel in the lotus Hung'. OM prevents rebirth in the god realm, MA prevents rebirth in the ASURA (TITAN) Realm, NI prevents rebirth in the HUMAN Realm, PAD prevents rebirth in the Animal Realm, MI prevents rebirth in the Hungry Ghost Realm, and Hum prevents rebirth in the Hell Realm."
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