Wednesday, January 7, 2009

OM MANI PADME HUM (Hung)


WIKIPEDIA:

Om mani padme hum[1] (Derived from the Sanskrit, Devanagari ॐ मणि पद्मे हूँ, IAST oṃ maṇi padme huṃ) is probably the most famous mantra in Buddhism, the six syllabled mantra of the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteshvara (Tibetan Chenrezig, Chinese Guanyin). The mantra is particularly associated with the four-armed Shadakshari form of Avalokiteshvara.
The Dalai Lama is said to be an incarnation of Chenrezig or Avalokiteshvara, so the mantra is especially revered by his devotees and it is commonly carved onto rocks and written on paper which is then inserted into prayer wheels to increase its effects.



Syllable
Six Paramitas
Purifies
Samsaric realm
Colours
Symbol of the Deity
(Wish them) To be born in
Om
Meditation
Pride / Bliss
Devas
White
Wisdom
Perfect Realm of Potala
Ma
Patience
Jealousy / Lust for entertainment
Asuras
Green
Compassion
Perfect Realm of Potala
Ni
Discipline
Passion / desire
Humans
Yellow
Body, speech, mindquality and activity
Dewachen
Pad
Wisdom
Ignorance / prejudice
Animals
Blue
Equanimity
in presence of Protector (Chenrezig)
Me
Generosity
Poverty / possessiveness
Pretas (hungry ghosts)
Red
Bliss
Perfect Realm of Potala
Hum
Diligence
Aggression / hatred
Naraka
Black
Quality of Compassion
in presence of the Lotus Throne (of Chenrezig)



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 [...] 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 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[...]"
-- H.H. Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama, "Om Mani Padme Hum