9 Benefits of Mantra Buddhism

Mantra Buddhism signifies the central import of mantra in Tantric, Tibetan or Vajrayana Buddhism. Mantra means mind protection. When one does the mantra, it protects the mind from the kleshas or negative mental states.

Knowledge Graph Table: Mantra

Personal Experience with mantra: Mantra can become a very soothing, or very powerful experience. The idea is that ‘all sound is mantra.’ This also applies to conceptual thoughts. Obviously, this state is extremely difficult to experience fully. Mantra, in this sense, is not ‘beautiful’ or ugly. It’s only general characteristic is that it reflects the ultimate underlying reality, at least in the dimension of sound and words.

With enough consistent practice, especially with a musical mantra, the sound will play in the background of the mind, by itself.

A means to increase repititions easily: do 21 breaths, riding the mantra consciously on the breaths. You can do a mantra in, one holding, and one expelling, or divide it up for a longer mantra. Think that each breath will perform a mantra. Checking in occassionally during the day stabilizes it. This method allows you to accumulate 100,000 mantras in a week or so.

Mantra Buddhism

Different mantras have different functions. The mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, the mantra of Aviloketeshvara, is meant to increase compassion. It means Om Jewel Lotus Hum. Om and Hum are seed syllables in this case.

Many mantras begin with OM AH HUM or OM-these are the most common beginnings of mantras. OM as a syllable represents body generally and is associated with the body. The syllable OM rests in the center of the head of the practitioner. AH represents the speech and sits in the throat center, red. HUM represents the mind and sits in the heart center, blue.

Different mantras have different functions. Though mantras would seem to be associated with speech because the most common way of thinking of them is to speak them, they also are associated with body and with mind. The body association is the visualization of the mantra. The seed syllable corresponds to mind. Mantra Buddhism practitioners visualize the seed syllable as well as the mantra. The mantra does various things. It can emanate light, rotate in a circle, spin in a loop, face inwards and outwards, change size, and dissolve and reappear.

Generally, the mantra wheel as it’s called, a mantra circle, stands upright in the heart center.

For feminine deities it faces inwards as you would read it from the inside. For masculine deities, you would read it from the outside and it would go in opposite directions for those. Sometimes they spin and then sometimes they emanate syllables out in a circle through a consort and so forth. Often they radiate light out and bring light back in – a process called ’emanating and gathering.’

This activity of the mantra generates incredible amounts of merit for the practitioner. It also purifies the body, speech, and mind of negative karma. Here are the nine benefits of mantra recitation according to GURU PABASAMBHABHA. We’ll bring those from the Vajrakalaya book.

9 Benefits of Mantra Buddhism Meditation

The 9 benefits of mantra recitation by Guru Rinpoche, part of the mantra of Buddhism, are as follows:

1. Mantra as the actual deity
2. Mantra as offering
3. Mantra dispels obstacles
4. Mantra is city or actual accomplishment.
5. Mantra is blessing.
6. Mantra is the mandala.
7. Mantra is enlightened activity with common and supreme aspects.
8. Mantra is dharmata.
9. Mantra is a wish-fulfilling jewel.

Mantra Buddhism Benefit 1: Mantra is the actual Deity

First, the meditator is making friends with the deity. And we see the mantra is having a conversation and speaking to them. Then the deities arise from the mantra and transform reality. One mantra is the actual deity emanating. When reciting the mantra with bodhicitta, a sambhogakaya, or clear light form of the deity, can arise. And then each one of those emanates 10 more until it fills space.

With Om Mani Padme Hum, each syllable represents a Buddha teaching in the sixth realm, in each of the six realms. From this perspective, at a deeper level, the deity and the self are a magical display of reality.

Mantra Buddhism Benefit 2: mantra as offering

The second benefit is offering. Offering to all the enlightened beings through your mantra, through your mantric speech. Seeing the mantras as all the infinite offerings of Samantabhadra, as clouds of offerings, is extremely beneficial. It increases dana or generosity. So when you pay for something, you can say the mantra and think of it as an act of generosity. This is very beneficial and it comes back to oneself manyfold. However, that may be in a future lifetime.

Thinking of the mantra strand, the physical visualization, one can see it emanating light and at the end of each light ray is an offering dakini. And then these dakinis spin out and radiate more offering dakinis, who each radiate more offering dakinis until it fills all space.

Mantra Buddhism Benefit 3: Dispel Obscurations

The third mantra Buddhism benefit is to dispel obscurations. You use the mantra to pervade other sentient beings with light. That light is bodhicitta in the form of radiant compassion. This purifies their obscurations. So through reciting the mantra and sending out rays of light from the visualized form of the syllables, you’re dispelling the obscurations of other beings and offering and generating tremendous benefit for them so that they can become enlightened and liberate themselves.

Mantra Buddhism Benefit 4: Accomplishment of Siddhi

The fourth is the actual accomplishment of siddhi – or miraculous powers. This is by focusing on the deity and the mantra as deity. The meditation becomes a profound love and longing and wishing to unite with it. The mind attains samadhi and becomes absorbed into the visualized form. This overcomes the self. Not having a strong sense of self, releasing the self, and experiencing non-self is “the nature of bliss.”

By seeing oneself as the deity and connecting well with the mantra, blessings automatically arise for oneself and others, then become stable and strong. The blessings will automatically radiate to those around you. When visions of the deity, the sense of the deity or different forms of the deity appear spontaneously, that is a siddhi because you’re beginning to see reality differently with pure vision. It’s the beginning of siddhi.

Mantra Buddhism Benefit 5: Blessing

The fifth is blessing. Blessing generally comes in the form of the three lights, especially with the three syllables of body, speech, and mind, OM AH HUM. The meaning of blessing is that by concentrating the mind on the mantra wheel, the absolute bodhicitta arising from the deity suffuses the mind and displaces the negative aspects of mind. The mind becomes rich with the absolute bodhicitta of the deity. This is the genuine and deepest blessing.

Mantra Buddhism Blessing 6: Mantra as Mandala

The sixth is seeing the mantra as the mandala. After sufficient practice on the deity, then the entire mandala and the deity can arise spontaneously in the practitioner’s mind. It’s a strong feeling and a sense that the mandala is more real than the normal reality one experiences. When it begins to stablize in meditation, simply chanting the mantra in postmeditation can invoke that sense. In that way, the mantra is the entire mandala. The mantric syllables also represent different aspects of the mandala for almost all deities. This is called spontaneous presence as well.

Mantra Buddhism Benefit 7: mantra is enlightened activity

Mantras are enlightened activities. This has to do with the four karmas, pacifying, enriching, magnetizing, and destroying most especially as the relative siddhis and the absolute siddhi of enlightenment. For meditating to heal anxiety, you can imagine that your physical form becomes a bonfire. Purifying the anxiety can also work for physical illnesses as well. It’s important to combine this with the view of selflessness or non-ego.

Mantra Buddhism Benefit 8: Mantra is dharmata

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Eight mantra is Dharmata. Dharmata is the ultimate nature of reality. If we reference the heart sutra, we say form is emptiness, emptiness also is form. Emptiness is no other than form, form is no other than emptiness. This is a reference for things being completely empty of innate reality or inherent reality-phenomena that arise by it and cease without having a true independent existence. They do not last. So the mantra can help us move our mind into impermanence and into ultimate Dharmata. Dharmata is the interconnectedness as being more primary, more important, more fundamental than the phenomena that are seemingly connected. The interconnectedness is all.

Mantra Buddhism 9: Mantra is a wish-fulfilling jewel

The ninth mantra benefit is the wish-fulfilling jewel. If properly done for sustained periods of time, and stabilized in samadhi, reciting and visualizing mantra can bring about realization. This is the highest thing that one could wish for. So the wish-fulfilling jewel of mantra provides that. The method to do this is to visualize oneself as the deity, invoke a strong, full, convincing visualization, where one has Vajratopa, the pride of the deity. In other words, you know that you are the deity. The deity is manifesting as your mind stream and transcending it, pushing it into wisdom. Then you engage the activities of the four karmas skillfully.

If one arises as the deity genuinely, the four karmas cannot be done incorrectly. The inseparability of the practitioner and the yidam is a form of supreme siddhi, at least from the perspective of mahayoga. By giving rise to longing and faith, love for the deity and karuna-compassion for sentient beings, this will automatically bring about the wish-fulfilling accomplishment of overcoming this self. This self is the strongest obscuration to enlightenment.

Buddhist Mantras in English

Buddhist mantras, often associated with meditation and spiritual practices, hold a special place in various traditions. While many traditional mantras are in Sanskrit or Tibetan, there is a growing interest in adapting these powerful chants into English. English Buddhist mantras aim to make these ancient practices more accessible to a wider audience, removing language barriers and enabling practitioners to connect with the profound meanings behind the chants.

Zen Buddhist Mantras

Zen Buddhism, renowned for its emphasis on direct experience and meditation, incorporates unique mantras into its practices. These mantras, often short phrases or single words, are designed to aid concentration and foster mindfulness. Zen Buddhist mantras are known for their simplicity and effectiveness, guiding practitioners towards a state of focused awareness and insight.

Buddhist Mantras List

A comprehensive list of Buddhist mantras reflects the rich diversity within the Buddhist tradition. From the universally recognized “Om Mani Padme Hum” to the Zen favorite “Shikantaza,” the list encompasses mantras from various schools of Buddhism, each carrying its own significance and purpose. Exploring this diverse array of mantras allows practitioners to find resonance with a chant that aligns with their spiritual goals and inclinations.

Buddhist Mantras PDF

As interest in Buddhist mantras continues to grow, enthusiasts seek accessible resources for learning and practicing these sacred chants. The availability of Buddhist mantra PDFs serves as a valuable tool, offering a convenient and portable format for practitioners to delve into the pronunciation, meaning, and symbolism behind the mantras. These PDF resources contribute to the dissemination of traditional wisdom in a format accessible to a modern audience.

Tibetan Buddhist Mantras

Tibetan Buddhism, known for its intricate rituals and esoteric practices, features a rich collection of mantras. These mantras, often recited in Tibetan or Sanskrit, play a crucial role in various rituals and meditation practices. Whether it’s the powerful “Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum” or the mantra of the compassionate deity Avalokiteshvara, Tibetan Buddhist mantras carry a unique vibrational energy that resonates with practitioners seeking spiritual transformation.

Buddhist Mantra for Protection

The quest for spiritual protection is a universal aspiration, and Buddhist mantras offer potent tools for this purpose. Mantras such as the “Green Tara Mantra” or the “Durga Mantra” are specifically chanted for protection, invoking the compassionate energy of enlightened beings to shield practitioners from obstacles and negative influences. These protection mantras embody the belief that the recitation of sacred sounds can create a shield of positive energy around the practitioner.

Buddha Mantra in Sanskrit

The Sanskrit language, revered in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, holds a special place in the recitation of mantras. The Buddha mantra in Sanskrit, often recited as “Namo Buddhaya” or “Buddham Saranam Gacchami,” pays homage to the enlightened one. Chanting these mantras in the sacred language of Sanskrit is believed to evoke the spiritual presence of the Buddha and deepen the practitioner’s connection to the path of awakening.

Buddhist Mantras for Beginners

Embarking on a journey into Buddhist mantras can be a rewarding experience, especially for beginners seeking to integrate these ancient practices into their daily lives. Mantras like “Om Mani Padme Hum” or “Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha” serve as excellent starting points. These beginner-friendly mantras provide an introduction to the rhythm and cadence of Buddhist chanting, inviting newcomers to explore the transformative power of sound on their spiritual path.

In conclusion, the world of Buddhist mantras is expansive and diverse, offering a multitude of paths for practitioners to explore. From English adaptations to traditional Sanskrit and Tibetan chants, and from protection mantras to those specifically designed for beginners, the realm of Buddhist mantras provides a rich tapestry of sacred sounds to guide individuals on their journey towards inner peace, mindfulness, and enlightenment.

May all beings be happy

May all beings be peaceful

May all beings be safe

May all beings awaken to the light of their true nature

May all beings be free