It is certainly good to recite this mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum on a regular basis. At the same time, while we are reciting this mantra, we must also reflect on its meaning. For the meaning of this six syllable manta is very great and vast.
The first, OM, is the addition of three pure letters, i.e. A, U, and M representing the practitioner's impure body, speech and mind; and the same time it also signifies the pure exalted body, speech and mind of the Buddha.
Can we then transform our impure body, speech and mind into a pure body, speech and mind? "Yes, we can, says the Lord Buddha. All Buddhas are like ourselves depending on the path to attain Enlightenment. Buddhism does not determine that there is anyone from birth who is free from faults and possesses all good qualities. The development of the pure body, speech and mind comes gradually from leaving the impure states and their being transformed into the pure states.
How to are we supposed to transform? The path is is shown by the next four syllables, MANI, meaning jewel, telling us the method, the caring mind to become enlightened, compassion and love. Like a jewel which is capable of removing proverty or problems, this caring mind is also capable of removing the proverty or difficulties of endless rebirths and to get solitary peace. Similarly just as the jewel fulfills the wishes of sentient beings, so the caring intention is to become enlightened fulfills the wishes of all sentient beings.
The next two syllables, PADME, meaning lotus,symbolizes wisdom (knowledge). Like the lotus which grows in the pond and not tainted by the mud, so wisdom is capable of putting you in a non-contradiction situation and if you do not have wisdom, there would be a contradiction situation. There are different types of wisdom, one realising impermance, one realising that people are empty of self sufficient, one that realizes the emptiness of duality and wisdom that realizes the emptiness of inherent existence.
Purity must be gained by an indivisible unity of method and wisdom, represented by the last syllable, HUM, which indicates indivisibility. In the mantra, it refers to one conciousness in which there is the full form of both wisdom and method as one undivided entity. HUM, is the root syllable of Akshobya Buddha - the immovable, the unfluctuating, that which canot be disturbed by anything.
Hence, the six syllables, OM MANI PADME HUM, mean that in constant practice which is the indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech and mind into the pure speech and mind of a Buddha. However, it is often said that you should not seek Buddhahood outside of yourself; as the substances for the achievement of Buddhahood are within yourself.
As Maitreya Buddha says in his Uttara Tantra,"All beings naturally have the Buddha nature in themselves. We have within us the seed of purity, the essence of a One Gone Thus, that is to be transformed and fully developed into Buddhahood."
Extract from a lecture by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at the Kalmuck Mongolian Buddhist Center, New Jersey, USA.
The first, OM, is the addition of three pure letters, i.e. A, U, and M representing the practitioner's impure body, speech and mind; and the same time it also signifies the pure exalted body, speech and mind of the Buddha.
Can we then transform our impure body, speech and mind into a pure body, speech and mind? "Yes, we can, says the Lord Buddha. All Buddhas are like ourselves depending on the path to attain Enlightenment. Buddhism does not determine that there is anyone from birth who is free from faults and possesses all good qualities. The development of the pure body, speech and mind comes gradually from leaving the impure states and their being transformed into the pure states.
How to are we supposed to transform? The path is is shown by the next four syllables, MANI, meaning jewel, telling us the method, the caring mind to become enlightened, compassion and love. Like a jewel which is capable of removing proverty or problems, this caring mind is also capable of removing the proverty or difficulties of endless rebirths and to get solitary peace. Similarly just as the jewel fulfills the wishes of sentient beings, so the caring intention is to become enlightened fulfills the wishes of all sentient beings.
The next two syllables, PADME, meaning lotus,symbolizes wisdom (knowledge). Like the lotus which grows in the pond and not tainted by the mud, so wisdom is capable of putting you in a non-contradiction situation and if you do not have wisdom, there would be a contradiction situation. There are different types of wisdom, one realising impermance, one realising that people are empty of self sufficient, one that realizes the emptiness of duality and wisdom that realizes the emptiness of inherent existence.
Purity must be gained by an indivisible unity of method and wisdom, represented by the last syllable, HUM, which indicates indivisibility. In the mantra, it refers to one conciousness in which there is the full form of both wisdom and method as one undivided entity. HUM, is the root syllable of Akshobya Buddha - the immovable, the unfluctuating, that which canot be disturbed by anything.
Hence, the six syllables, OM MANI PADME HUM, mean that in constant practice which is the indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech and mind into the pure speech and mind of a Buddha. However, it is often said that you should not seek Buddhahood outside of yourself; as the substances for the achievement of Buddhahood are within yourself.
As Maitreya Buddha says in his Uttara Tantra,"All beings naturally have the Buddha nature in themselves. We have within us the seed of purity, the essence of a One Gone Thus, that is to be transformed and fully developed into Buddhahood."
Extract from a lecture by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at the Kalmuck Mongolian Buddhist Center, New Jersey, USA.
Thank you my dear friend for the posting. This subject really open up the mind for lots of people who doesn't really know its meaning . this insight also have a direct oom on our heart as we chant endlessly. thank you keep up the good work. Charles
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