The multi mantra

[Artguy]

Om Mani Padme Hum



See the Dalai Lama's teaching about this Mantra!

Om (See Above)

Mani (See Above)

Padme is a variation of Padma. It also means Lotus.

Hum (See above) Also, this often ends Tibetan Mantras. Sometimes it is pronounced "Humg."

You might want to be familiar with the Ten Worlds before you read on.

The syllables in this mantra signify closing the path to each of the lower six worlds, scaling down from heaven at Om, to Hell, at Hum.

Om seals off the path to the world of Heaven.
Ma seals off the path to the world of Anger.
Ni seals off the path to the world of Samsara. (The Saha World. The world in which we now live. The world of Humanity.)
Pad seals off the path to the world of Animality.
Me seals off the the path to world of Hunger. (Greed.)
Hum seals off the path to the world of Hell.

Also, each syllable purifies:

Om purifies the Body.
Ma purifies Speech.
Ni purifies Mind.
Pad purifies negative emotions.
Me purifies our latent karma.
Hum purifies our knowledge. (hopefully expanding it a bit.)

Now then, each syllable is also a prayer.

Om is a prayer for the Body of the Buddhas.
Ma is a prayer for the Speech of the Buddhas.
Ni - the mind of the Buddhas.
Pad - the qualities of the Buddhas.
Me - the activities of the Buddhas
Hum sums it all up and encompasses all of the ones above.

The Mantra is also representative of the six paramitas...

Om - generosity.
Ma - morality.
Ni - patience.
Pad - diligence.
Me - focus.
Hum - wisdom.

... as well as the six wisdoms.

Om is the Wisdom of Equanimity.
Ma is the Wisdom of Activity.
Ni is wisdom born of itself.
Pad is the Wisdom of Dharmadhatu.
Me is discriminating wisdom.
Hum is Wisdom like a Mirror. (Wisdom which reflects all sense perceptions and is purified when one attains enlightenment; thus becoming the Mirror-Like Wisdom)

Each syllable also corresponds to various Buddhas:

Om to Ratnasambhava
Ma to Amaoghasiddi.
Ni to Vajradhara.
Pad to Vairocana.
Me to to Amitabha.
and Hum to Akshobya.

Now, this has always been one of the most popular Tibetan Mantras: firstly because it signifies so much, and secondly, because it is easy to remember. There is even a funny saying the Tibetans had about it:
At the beginning, no suffering in not knowing it,
In the middle, no pride in knowing it,
At the end, no fear of forgetting it.

Just a few syllables that mean so much..

[stilltrucking]

Mantra's give me th He B G B's

Just a personal problem nothing to do with your post.

But with your definition maybe I can over come it.

Good info

thanks

[Lightning Rod]

I can see the
Dalai Lama
workin for the
Yankee Dollah

(drinkin' rum and mandala)