Mantra

Om mani padme hum mantra

What is a Mantra?

Mantra is a creative, subtle, inner sound or word that is repeated to steady the mind and aid concentration during meditation. It is encoded with sacred energy that can heal, calm the mind and connect with the divine. It is an expression of the deepest essence of our understanding that can transcend external words and sounds.

Mantra Beads

Mantra Beads

Mantra beads, also known as mala beads, prayer beads or rosary beads, are a sacred tool for chanting and counting mantras while helping one to focus concentration and awareness. Traditionally Buddhist prayer beads have 108 beads or wrist mala bracelet made with 18, 21 or 27 beads. There is one extra bead that is usually 3 holed, larger & sometimes more decorative – this is known as the guru bead and is not counted.

How to Chant using Mala Beads

  • Sit quietly & comfortably. Relax & focus your attention on your breathing while resting the mala beads in your hand.
  • Hold the first mala bead between your thumb & finger and silently recite one mantra.
  • Move your thumb and finger along to the next bead of the strand to chant the next mantra; then repeat.
  • Whilst feeling the mala’s beads with the fingers and chanting, visualise a positive image or deity, in this way one is at once involving the body, speech and mind.
  • After some repetitions the powerful vibration of the chants can be used to enter a deep state of meditation.

Mantras for Chanting

Here is a list of sanskrit chants with the English translation:

  • ANANDA HUM – I am bliss
  • SHANTI HUM – I am peace
  • AHAM PREMA – I am love
  • KARUNA HUM – I am compassion
  • SARVATVA – I am wholeness
  • DHARMA HUM – My life has meaning & purpose
  • OM MITRAYA – I am friendly & kind to all
  • SHREEM NAMAH – I honor the abundance of life
  • RABHASA HUM – I am pure delight

Mantra for Blessing your Mala Beads

This chant increases the power of the mantras you recite more than one sextillion times (that’s ten million times one billion!) Recite seven times, then blow on the mala.

OM RUCHIRA MANI PRAVARTAYA HUM (7x)

Flower Offering Chant

Arrange your favourite flowers and chant twenty one times, then sprinkle the flowers on a stupa or holy object. If you do this all your wishes will be fulfilled, and all your negative karma will be purified.

TADYATHA PUSHPE PUSHPE SIPUSHPE SVAHA (21x)

Medicine Buddha Mantra

Reciting the Medicine Buddha mantra clears inner, outer and secret obstacles to health & assists in achieving perfect health. Recite multiples of 8 times.

TADYATHA OM BEKHANDZE BEKHANDZE MAHA BEKHANDZE [BEKHANDZE] RADZA SAMUDGATE SVAHA (8x)

Shakyamuni Buddha Mantra

Reciting the Shakyamuni mantra will purify all defilements & actualise the four bodies of Buddha (the four bodies are: truth, nature, wisdom & enjoyment) The mantra translates as “Om wise one, wise one, great wise one, to the wise one of the Shakyans hail!” Recite multiples of 7 times.

TADYATHA OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNIYE SVAHA (7x)

Green Tara Mantra

Green Tara is known as the “mother of liberation”. Reciting the Green Tara mantra liberates one from true suffering, problems & samsara.

OM TARE TUTTARE TURE SVAHA (21x)

Maitreya Buddha Mantra

Reciting the Maitreya Buddha mantra enables you to live your life in a positive, virtuous manner, it purifies negativity and collects much merit.

OM MAI TRI MA HA MAI TRI MAI TRI YE SVA HA, OM MAITRI MAHAMAITRI MAITRIYE SVAHA

Manjushri Mantra

Manjushri represents wisdom, he holds a sword in his right hand symbolizing his ability to cut through delusion. By reciting the Manjushri mantra one opens the door to wisdom, heightens inteligence, fulfills good wishes, removes obstacles & troubles, helps to achieve perfect enlightenment.

OM AH RA PA CHA NA DHI

Chenrezig Mantra

The Chenrezig mantra, also known as Om mani padme hum, is recited to purify delusion, especially hatred & ignorance, and to generate compassion. Om mani padme hum translates as “You are the Jewel in the Lotus” and summons the deity Chenrezig the Buddha of Compassion.

OM MANI PADME HUM (7x)

Om mani padme hum Translation

Om purifies bliss and pride
Ma purifies jealousy and need for entertainment
Ni purifies passion and desire
Pad purifies ignorance and prejudice
Me purifies greed and possessiveness
Hum purifies aggression and hatred

Emptiness Shunyata Mantra

Reciting the Shunyata mantra helps to realise the nature of reality, that everything in existence is pure and nondual, and dissolves false concrete concepts.

OM SVABHAVA SHUDDHO SARVA DHARMA SVABHAVA SHUDDHO HAM

Vajrasattva Mantra

Recite to purify the body, speech, mind, impure thoughts and negative karma.

OM VAJRASATTVA SAMAYA MANUPALAYA / VAJRASATTVA TVENOPATISHTHA / DRIDHO ME BHAVA / SUTOSHYO ME BHAVA / SUPOSHYO ME BHAVA / ANURAKTO ME BHAVA / SARVA SIDDHIM ME PRAYACCHA / SARVA KARMA SU CHAME / CHITTAM SHRIYAM KURU HUM / HA HA HA HA HO / BHAGAVAN SARVA TATHAGATA / VAJRA MAME MUNCHA / VAJRA BHAVA MAHA SAMAYA SATTVA AH HUM PHAT

Lama Tsongkhapa Mantra

Recite to develop compassion, wisdom, power over delusions and to let go of anger.

OM AH GURU VAJRADHARA SUMATI KIRTI SIDDHI HUM

May you be filled with loving kindness

May you be filled with loving kindness