The phrase “Om mani padme hum” is written in Sanskrit and literally means “oh, the jewel of the lotus.” These four words make up one of the best-known mantras in Tibetan Buddhism.
In the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, the mantra Om mani padme hum has a symbolic meaning and goes far beyond a simple repetition of words. With the six syllables that make it up, the idea of unity between the body, the mind and the word is expressed.
At the same time, Om mani padme hum alludes to the idea of wisdom and altruism. In other words, it is about achieving mastery over the spirit of man as a whole.
The expressed mantra and compassion
We feel compassion for someone when we want them to stop suffering. This feeling is directly related to the idea of altruism and solidarity.
The experts in Buddhism maintain that the mantra Om mani padme hum has a direct relationship with human compassion. Compassion must be understood as the essence of spiritual life and as a form of love oriented towards true wisdom.
According to Buddhist approaches, we must feel compassion even for our enemies, because in this way we can transform rancor into love. If, on the contrary, we allow ourselves to be invaded by anger and hatred, the confrontation between men will increase. In Buddhist philosophy you have to feel compassion for people and not for the actions they commit.
The repetition of the mantra Om mani padme hum allows to intensify the inner well-being and said well-being activates the feeling of compassion.
The function of mantras in Buddhism
Buddhist mantras are constantly repeated orally with the purpose of transforming our inner emotions. In this way, the mantra acts as an internal mechanism to promote tolerance, self-knowledge and forgiveness. It must be taken into account that Buddha affirmed that each man must be the true guide of his existence and must control his passions and emotions.
It could be said that Buddhist mantras serve to improve our mind and the connection between spirit and body. An important aspect in the mantras is the motivation to combat human suffering and thus achieve inner fulfillment.
Buddhist mantras have been analyzed from a neuroscientific perspective and it has been concluded that this form of meditation increases the positive emotions experienced in the left prefrontal cortex of the human brain.
In other religious traditions, especially theistic religions, repetitive prayers are also recited to praise God as creator. Both mantras and prayers express the idea of love. In short, the different ways of praying share the same message.
Photos: Fotolia – kronalux – nito
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