“OM MANI PADME HUM” Chanting Benefits
If you’re no stranger to yoga, then you know that this practice involves chants. You know – the mantras you recite while you do your yoga poses?
Om mani Padme hum is one of these. It is a popular chant next to the most common one which is Om. In case you need help chanting it, it’s pronounced “Ohm mah nee pahd may hoom”.
But why is it so popular and why so many people favor it over other mantras? Let’s find out.
Is It One of the Buddha Teachings?
The Om Mani Padme Hum mantra is an ancient Buddhist chant, in Sanskrit words to be specific. When translated in English, it means Praise the Jewel in the Lotus.
Is it Buddha’s teachings? Somehow, yes. It’s because this mantra is believed to contain every one of Buddha’s teachings which are mostly about compassion and love.
As such, it is believed that citing the chant aloud or silently can connect you to your inherent compassionate and loving nature.
History
Kāraṇḍavyūhasūtra
The mantra’s first appearance can be dated back to 4-5th century AD in the completion of the sutra Kāraṇḍavyūha or The Basket’s Display which first introduced Om Mani Padme Hum.
According to this sutra, Shakyamuni Buddha indicates that the Om Mani Padme Hum is the most effective mantra, and he himself acquired this learning from Buddha Amitabha.
During this time, recitation of the mantra is believed to lead toward liberation, full enlightenment, attainment of many positive qualities, and ultimately awakening.
Tibet Origins
Buddhism spread to Tibet in the 11th century and Bengali master Atiśa Dīpaṃkara Śrījñāna was instrumental in this event. This is also the time when scholars argue where and when the mantra was based on.
During the administration of the prime minister of the 5th Dalai Lama, the meaning behind the mantra is thought to be someone who has the jewel and the lotus.
But instead of focusing much time on the translation of the mantra, most Tibetan Buddhist manuscripts now consider translating the mantra as secondary, concentrating more on the similarity or correlation of the six syllables of the mantra to other elemental groups of six in Buddhism.
Over the years, differences in translation, representation, recitation, even opinions made their way. But the most popular ones are the ones we know today.
Om Mani Padme Hum Meaning
There are six syllables in the mantra distributed to four words. And interpretations can be made per word or syllable of each.
Word Translation
Om
– represents generosity and divine power
– purifies pride and ego
Ma
– represents ethics
– purifies jealousy and lust for entertainment
Ni
– represents patience
– purifies passion and wants
Pad
– represents diligence
– purifies prejudice and ignorance
Me
– represents concentration
– purifies attachment and greed
Hum
– represents wisdom
– purifies hatred and aggression
Syllabic Translation
As mentioned, many translations can be drawn from this Sanskrit mantra. But in general, it can be translated into the following according to many Buddhist scholars:
Om
Om is believed to be the fundamental sound of all creation. Om held the creation of the universe, all that was in it, all that is within and will be.
Om has three letters: A, U, and M. Each letter represents one’s defiled body, speech, and mind. Practitioners believe that the sound will purify our pride and ego, and instead cultivate in us generosity and kindness.
Buddhism believes that leaving the impure and defiled state will develop a pure body, speech, and mind.
Mani
Mani means jewel. It symbolizes the “altruistic intention” of enlightenment, love, and compassion. This altruistic intention achieves the requests of sentient essences, just like a jewel.
Reciting Ma and Ni will help us let go of jealousy, desire, and passion, and cultivate in us ethical behavior and patience in ourselves and towards others.
Padme
Padme means lotus. It represents wisdom. The wisdom here means realizing emptiness.
Just like a lotus emerging from muddy water untainted, we can still attain wisdom even without its apparent presence. Letting go of things and being empty-handed is wisdom in itself.
Padme helps us break free from greed, attachments, and ignorance. It cultivates in us concentration and diligence.
Hum
Hum is the last symbol and word in the mantra and it represents indivisible wisdom and method which are believed to be one entity. They are unmovable and undisturbed, only affected by each other.
Hum helps us let go of hatred.
Collective Meaning
If we put the syllables together, Om Mani Padme Hum means through a practice of a path that’s indivisible, we can purify ourselves of the negative things holding us back and attain a pure body, speech, and mind and eventually enlightenment just like Buddha.
If you want a shorter depiction, it means that we can rise from the mud like a lotus, be free from any impurity, and shine like a jewel.
Yes, please.
But note that meditating this chant requires you to have the right intention and understanding of each syllable.
Benefits of Chanting Om Mani Padme Hum
Why do yogis today practice it?
Mindfulness and Mental Health
Chanting clears our minds, especially negative things that always hold us back. Chanting helps release these things from inside us so we can be free.
Chanting helps us let go of bad karma. Instead, it feeds us with positive messages and outlooks about the life that we want to manifest and be in.
Yoga, Pilates Workout and Physical Health
In general, chanting calms our senses, attracts our energy, and sends it to all parts of our body. This greatly helps in yoga and meditation, and even in other forms of physical practices.
Chanting also helps the body to be more aware of what’s inside. It makes us realize the kind of person we want for ourselves and others around us.
In the current situation that the world is facing right now, it can be greatly beneficial that we take time to ourselves and meditate. Stress, anxiety, uncertainty – we all go through it.
But instead of intentionally getting distractions or escaping reality, turn your focus more on it. Meditate around the negative things happening right now, your anxiety, and give it a release.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om_mani_padme_hum
https://www.yogiapproved.com/om/om-mani-padme-hum/
https://www.yogapedia.com/2/8623/meditation/mantra/the-meaning-of-om-mani-padme-hum
https://tnp.org/the-meaning-of-om-mani-padme-hum/
