Om Mani Padme Hum:

"The Great Compassion Mantra"

What is a mantra?

A mantra is a religious syllable or poem, typically from the Sanskrit language. Their use varies according to the school and philosophy associated with the mantra. They are primarily used as spiritual conduits, words or vibrations that instill one-pointed concentration in the devotee. Other purposes have included religious ceremonies to accumulate wealth, avoid danger, or eliminate enemies. Mantras originated in India with Vedic Hinduism and were later adopted by Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains, now popular in various modern forms of spiritual practice which are loosely based on practices of these Eastern religions.

The Sanskrit word mantra consists of the root man- "to think" (also in manas "mind") and the suffix -tra meaning, tool, hence a literal translation would be "instrument of thought". Mantras are interpreted to be effective as sound (vibration), to the effect that great emphasis is put on correct pronunciation (resulting in an early development of a science of phonetics in India). They are intended to deliver the mind from illusion and material inclinations. Chanting is the process of repeating a mantra.

What is a meaning of Om Mani Padme Hum?

The first known description of the mantra appears in the Karandavyuha Sutra, which is part of certain Mahayana canons such as the Tibetan. 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."

Gen Rinpoche, in his commentary on the Meaning of Om Mani Padme Hum said:

"The mantra Om Mani Padme 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. Pad, 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?"

H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama's definition:

"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 [...] symbolize the practitioner's impure body, speech, and mind; they also symbolize the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha[...]"

"The path is indicated by the next four syllables. Mani, meaning jewel, symbolizes the factors of method-the altruistic intention to become enlightened, compassion, and love.[...]"

"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[...]"

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche:

"There is not a single aspect of the eighty-four thousand sections of the Buddha's teachings which is not contained in Avalokiteshvara's six syllable mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum", and as such the qualities of the "mani" are praised again and again in the Sutras and Tantras.... Whether happy or sad, if we take the "mani" as our refuge, Chenrezig will never forsake us, spontaneous devotion will arise in our minds and the Great Vehicle will effortlessly be realized."


- MP3 download. Click here to listen to the mantra (chanted by a Tibetan Master, HH the 101th Ganden Tripa). A short prayer is recited before the chanting of the mantra.

- The Great Compassion Mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum, is often associated with the a longer mantra, The Great Compassion Dharani:

MAHA KARUNA DHARANI NAMO RATNATRAYAYA NAMAH ARYA AVALOKITESHVARAYA BODHISATTVAYA MAHASATTVAYA MAHA KARUNIKAYA OM SAVALAVATI SHUDDHANATASYA NAMSKRITVA NIMAM ARYA AVALOKITESHVARA LAMTABHA NAMO NILAKANTHA SHRIMAHAPATASHAMI SARVADVATASHUBHAM ASHIYUM SARVASATTVA NAMO PASATTVA NAMA BHAGAMABHATE TU TADYATHA OM AVALOKA LOKATE KALATI ISHIRI MAHABODHISATTVA SABHO SABHO MARA MARA MASHI MASHI RIDHAYUM GURU GURU GAMAHIN DURU DURU BHASHIYATI MAHA BHASHIYATI DHARA DHARA DHIRINI SHVARAYA JALA JALA MAMA BHAMARA MUDHILI EDHY EHI SHINA SHINA ALASHIM BHALASHARI BASHA BHASNIN BHARASHAYA HULU HULU PRAHULU HULU SHRI SARA SARA SIRI SIRI SURU SURU BUDHAYA BUDHAYA BODHAYA BODHAYA MAITRIYE NILAKANSTA TRISHA RANABHAYA MANA SVAHA SITAYA SVAHA SITAYAYE SHVARAYA SVAHA NILAKANTHI SVAHA PRANILA SVAHA SHRI SIDHA MUKHAYA SVAHA SARVA MAHA ASTAYA SVAHA CHAKRA ASTAYA SVAHA PADMA KESHAYA SVAHA NILAKANTHE PANTALAYA SVAHA MOPHOLISHANKARAYA SVAHA NAMO RATNATRAYAYA NAMAH ARYA AVALOKITESHVARAYA SVAHA OM SIDHYANTU MANTRA PATAYE OM SIDHYANTU MANTRA PATAYE OM SIDHYANTU MANTRA PATAYE

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