Happy chanting

Mantras have their own magical influence on our wandering minds. They are the most common and easy ways to keep your mind on the right track.

Mantras have their own magical influence on our wandering minds. They are the most common and easy ways to keep your mind on the right track. When you are lost, terrified or in the midst of a crisis, resorting to mantras could be like a great rescue operation. I call it 'Operation Light' because it clears up your way.

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From a Buddhist point of view, mantras are the tools of purifying one's mind of all its impurities. The most common Buddhist mantras are Om Mani Padme Hun, and Om Ah Hun Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hun.

While the first is known as the mantra of Avalokiteshv-ara (mantra of compassion), the second is that of Guru Padma Sambhava.

Om Mani Padme Hun evokes the blessings and compassion of all the Buddhas and the Bodhisatt-vas. It has a specific effect in bringing about transformation at different levels of our being. Its six syllables purify the six deadly things – ignorance, pride, jealousy, desire, greed and anger and transform them into positive characteristics.

The second mantra Om Ah Hun has several external and internal aspects of power to purify the mind. On a deeper level, the three words represent the three kayas of the Lotus family of the Buddhas; Om is the — the Buddha Amitabh (limitless light); Ah represents the Sambhogakaya (Avalokitesh-vara) — the Buddha of compassion; and Hun symbolises Nirmankaya (Padmasamb-hava). That means the mantra evokes the beauty and the blessings of the three Buddhas.

The last two words, Siddhi Hun make us realise the attainment of the qualities and wisdom of the Buddhas. It is said that the 12 syllables of the mantra are pregnant with the blessings of the 12 types of teachings by Lord Buddha.

So, go happy chanting!