Tibetan Six-word Mantra

Tibetans believe that the most importance of practicing and understanding the teachings of Buddhism is to recite Buddhist scriptures frequently. So, not only the old place their hopes for the other life on it, but the middle ages and the youngsters recite Buddhist scriptures frequently. They never stop it whatever they are doing except for speaking, eating and sleeping. Among numerous Buddhist scriptures, the one that Tibetans recite most frequently is the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum.

Six-word Mantra is from Tibetan Buddhism, and is said to be the essence of the entire teaching. “Om” represents the body of all Buddhas, when you read it, you should keep your body in accordance with Buddha’s body, your mouth with Buddha’s mouth and your mind with Buddha’s mind, which is the so-called merging with Buddha into an organic whole, through which you can gain the achievements; “Mani” means “jewel” in Sanskrit, which is said to be from the brain of Dragon King and with which you can get all treasure in the sea and mountains; “Padme” refers to “lotus” in Sanskrit, it is used as a metaphor of immaculacy; “Hum” means to pray for achievements. In another word, only by the power of the Buddhas can you deliver your life from torment, achieve everything and attain Buddha-hood at the end.

Tibetan Buddhism regards Six-word Mantra as the origin of sutra, advocating believers practice the recitation repeatedly to accumulate virtues, and therefore, they can come to a successful conclusion and survive torment. According to the latest research of Tibetan scholars, Six-word Mantra should be transcribed as “Hope me come to a successful conclusion and merge with the Buddhas.” Some Tibetan works also believe that the most concise and poetical interpretation of the mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum” is “Behold! The jewel in the lotus!”