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"OM MANI PADME HUM"
Chenrezig and Om Mani Padme Hum mantra
(Jewel in the Lotus)
"Chenrezig,
hold me fast in your compassion. From time without beginning, living beings have
wandered in cyclic existence, undergoing unendurable suffering. They have no
other protector than you. Please bless them that they may achieve the omniscient
state of buddhahood"
In the Mahayana
Buddhist tradition, Bodhisattvas are those who dedicate themselves to helping
all beings reach enlightenment. They choose to remain in the world, taking
whatever form is needed, until all beings, from the smallest insects, have
gained freedom from the cycle of involuntary birth, death and rebirth. Chenrezig,
known as Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit, is the Bodhisattva of compassion. Amitabha,
the Buddha of infinite light, sent Chenrezig to help liberate all beings from
suffering. Chenrezig looked on all beings with compassion and saw that they were
weighed down with disturbing emotions, such as desire, greed, jealousy,
pride, aversion and the blindness of ignorance. When he saw their immeasurable
suffering, he vowed before Amitabha that he would work for the benefit of all
beings until every single one of them was liberated.
Chenrezig worked for eons,
but to his despair he saw that countless millions of beings were still suffering
under their Karma and the agony of this made him split into many small pieces.
Seeing this, Amitabha re-assembled the body of Chenrezig, giving him one
thousand arms and one thousand eyes so he could reach out to and watch over all
beings. Earthly embodiments of Chenrezig have appeared throughout history,
including Tibet’s’ first king, Srongsten Gampo and Padmasambhava, who propagated
Buddhism in Tibet during the eighth century. Padmasambhava declared Chenrezig to
be the patron Bodhisattva of Tibet and widely taught the mantra of Chenrezig:
Om Mani Padme Hum, which is now an indelible part of Tibetan culture.
Chenrezig also appears as his Holiness’ the Dalai Lama and the Gyalwa Karmapa,
who will continue to reincarnate until all suffering on earth is overcome.
The syllables OM
MANI PADME HUM can be interpreted as an invocation to Chenrezig. OM is the
opening syllable of many mantras and signifies enlightened body, speech and
mind. It is a syllable on invocation and is used here to attract Chenrezig’s
attention. MANI means “jewel”, and signifies skilful means, such as compassion
and love, symbolised by the crystal prayer beads that Chenrezig holds. PADME
means “lotus” and signifies wisdom and the female element. Though it grows from
the bottom of a muddy pool, it is untainted by it. HUM is the seed syllable of
enlightened mind. Chenrezig combines perfected skilful means and wisdom. Thus
the mantras can be interpreted as a request.
True compassion is not just an emotional response,
but a firm commitment founded on reason.
Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change,
even if they behave negatively.
Through universal altruism, you develop a feeling of responsibility for others;
the wish to help them actively overcome their problems.
- His Holiness the Dalai Lama
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