The surviving written sources of the most ancient human civilizations represent prayer texts, from Sumerian temple hymns to ancient Egyptian spells addressed to the gods. Nowadays, all major religions of the world contain prayers in one form or another. Christians, Muslims and Jews pray to God, while Hindus can choose from an extensive list of deities to offer prayer to. At first glance, Buddhism is no different. Go to a temple or monastery in any Buddhist country and you will see many people with folded palms whispering in front of a Buddha statue. Those familiar with Tibetan Buddhism know that we have things that translators once called prayer beads, prayer wheels, and prayer flags.
The act of prayer involves three components: the person offering the prayer, the object to which the prayer is addressed, and that for which the prayer is offered. Therefore, the topic of prayer in Buddhism is controversial. After all, to whom and why do Buddhists pray in a non-theistic religion where there is no creator God? If there is no one who can bestow blessings on us, then what is the point of praying? The burning question for Buddhists is: “Can anyone other than us eliminate our suffering and problems?”
If we want to change something, prayer alone is not enough. Change requires action. – His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama
The Buddha taught that no one, not even himself, with all his wisdom and abilities, can eliminate all our problems. This is impossible. We must take responsibility for ourselves. If we do not want to face problems and suffering, then we need to avoid the causes of suffering. If we want to be happy, we need to create reasons for happiness. From a Buddhist point of view, we can achieve this by following pure morals and ethics. It depends only on us whether we change our behavior and state of mind so that our life becomes the way we want.
The meaning of mantras in Buddhism
History says that the first mantras date back to the Vedic period. They were written in Sanskrit. The concept of this language is based on the idea that Sanskrit was transmitted to people for communication and connection with the consciousness of a higher organization.
The word "mantra" consists of 2 parts: "man" and "tra". The phrase literally translates as “tool for the mind.” Repeating these sounds repeatedly helps you concentrate, direct your thoughts in the right direction and prevent negative thinking.
The phoneme and syllable cause rhythmic sound vibrations that resonate with every cell of the body. All sets of letters have their own sound, which means they differ in their impact on humans.
Buddhists believe that reciting (or chanting) mantras is a sacred ritual, a prayer addressed to a deity. It is believed that during such a ritual, all words are sent directly to the Buddha, and a person can feel the presence of higher powers.
From ancient legends
Tibetans believe that a long time ago their land was visited by entities from another dimension who had excellent health and could solve any problem that arose with it at the energetic level.
They shared their knowledge with people and taught them how to heal with mantra. Turang and Masang (that was their name) endowed the transmitted mantras with special energy.
Tradition says that Mount Kailash is the place where people learned to heal with mantras.
This was before the advent of Buddhism in Tibet, when only the ancient Bon religion existed there. The word “Bon” means “to recite,” and mantras were recited for treatment everywhere by Bon priests and traditional healers.
The attitude of other religions to mantras
Mantras are found in the schools of Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. In Japanese culture there is a branch of Buddhism (Shingon). In this teaching, prayer also involves speaking or singing words and sounds.
In Buddhist schools they study mantras addressed to the deity.
Varieties of mantra include chants, antiphons and hymns, which are present in Christianity, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism.
To whom and how do Buddhists pray?
One of the ancient religions, the appearance of which occurred in the 1st century BC. e., Buddhism as a concept was formed several centuries ago. Followers call her teaching about the Buddha Dharma or Buddhadharma. It is rather a special philosophy of life, a set of traditions, a worldview system and a set of rules, rather than a religion.
Faith lies in the words of the Buddha: life is suffering, and the goal of life is getting rid of it. Liberation comes when all the rules are followed, as the great teacher Buddha bequeathed. Meditation, creativity, spirituality and refusal to understand the world through emotions and feelings also help.
The real world is an illusion, and if you do not step away from it, then suffering will continue in subsequent rebirths. Study the sacred texts, follow the rule of life as prescribed, meditate and strive for the liberation of the soul - and Enlightenment will come.
Initially, there were no prayers in the teaching. But over time, monastic followers of Buddhism began to exalt their texts. In them they called upon the universal mind to save them from suffering, help them achieve their highest goal and save all life on earth. Later, such appeals began to be called mantras.
Types of Buddhist mantras
When choosing a mantra, take into account that they are divided into several categories:
- by impact;
- according to the deities to whom the prayer is directed.
By impact
Every sound has one or another effect on a person. This must be taken into account when choosing a mantra.
They can be for:
- enlightenment;
- meditation;
- cleansing space and consciousness;
- healing;
- fulfillment of dreams;
- prosperity and success;
- love and strengthening relationships.
Mantras are used for meditation and enlightenment.
By deity
All prayers are usually divided into several categories depending on which deity the person is addressing:
- men's mantras contain the words “Phat”, “Mind”;
- feminine ones include combinations containing the syllables “Svaha”, “Tham”;
- Among the neutral ones are the phonemes “Pakham” and “Naham”.
Breath and Energy
When mantras are chanted, the energy imbalance in the body is restored. Breathing is transformed in such a way that a person begins to feel internal energy, rhythmically falling down with inhalation and rising up and out with exhalation.
This repeatedly repeated rhythm leads to harmonization of the human energy body.
An example is the six-syllable mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum”, which is addressed to Avalokiteshvara: on the syllable “om” a person inhales, while chanting “ma” and “ni” the energy drops lower and lower, reaching the kidneys.
Mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum"
On the “pad” the flow of energy turns upward, continuing its movement higher on the “me” and leaving with the air out together with the pronouncement of “hung”.
The effect of another mantra “OM AH HUNG” also depends on proper breathing and awareness of the moving flow of energy inside the body.
It can be said out loud or silently. While breathing steadily, you must always visualize the advancing energy and remember that “om” is inhalation, “a” is the retention of air flow in the umbilical cord area before exhaling, and “hung” is exhalation.
Without awareness of the flow of energy within oneself and its healing power, even repeating this mantra many times will not bring any benefit. This is very important to remember.
The mantra “OM A HUNG” has vital meaning. When singing it correctly and repeatedly, thoughts stop disturbing a person, and the body remains in a pleasant relaxation.
It should be noted that at the end it is necessary to pronounce “hung” and not “hum”, since the second of these syllables creates obstacles to the exit of energy and air.
The spell “OM AH HUNG” is very powerful, because each syllable in it personifies one of the components of human nature:
- OM - body,
- A - speech
- HUNG - mind.
Its use harmonizes the body, speech and mind.
This mantra is useful for nervous, easily excitable people. As a rule, they have rapid breathing, consisting only of inhalation and exhalation. And the middle phase “a” has healing powers, helping to calm down and find peace of mind.
Therefore, it makes sense to practice pronouncing “a” separately. The sound is pronounced three times with a pause of several seconds, then repeated again, and this should be done for several minutes. This practice helps you learn not to think about anything.
Rules for chanting mantras
Spiritual teachers emphasize that chanting Buddha mantras requires careful preparation.
To do this, take into account:
- Type of clothing. It is better to choose loose trousers and a shirt made of natural materials in white or yellow.
- The presence of a straw or fabric mat. Reading prayers involves sitting on the floor for a long time.
- The presence of a rosary.
- Place. Buddhist practices are best done alone in a quiet place.
- The right time of day.
It is advisable to have a fabric mat for chanting mantras.
Times of Day
You can read prayers at any convenient time, but the hours of sunset and sunrise are best for this. According to religious teachings, at dawn a person is able to directly transmit his prayers to higher powers and receive divine energy from them.
Recommendations for better results
In the modern world, independent work with prayers is possible. The main thing is not to forget: this practice has rules, and they should be followed.
- The main recommendation is regularity. Required daily reading.
- The ideal time of day is morning: the earlier, the more effective.
- Working with prayer is most fruitful in solitude - this helps to adjust your full perception.
- You should not choose a large number of prayers: one, but read the maximum number of times, will give more positive results.
Transfer of mantras from the teacher
There are a large number of mantras available on the Internet and in books. Many of them can be used for independent practice. However, most practitioners advise finding a teacher who will guide the beginner and help him avoid mistakes.
Practitioners advise finding a spiritual teacher.
In addition, there are a large number of prayers in Sanskrit that are not enough to simply read or hear.
Such texts are transmitted to the student directly from the original source (spiritual mentor). In this case, words become more powerful.
For example, the Medicine Buddha mantra is transmitted only from teacher to student:
“Tayata Om Behanzeya Behanzeya Maha Behanzeya Ranza Samutgate Soha.”
What is the power of sacred texts
Buddhist prayers are special small texts, the purpose of which is to achieve a specific spiritual goal. They are not even a group of texts, but a complex of syllables.
Mantra syllables are symbols of sounds, filled with spirituality and harmony. The word itself can be literally translated as “magic verse.”
All Buddhist prayers are divided into types according to the method of transmission:
- the text is transmitted from the teacher to the student: having felt the magical power of the mantra, the teacher gives it back filled, i.e. with his own energy;
- text that you can read or listen to yourself.
Mantras are not translated into other languages - they are read only in the original. If desired, you can translate it to feel the message of the mantra in Russian. True, it makes no sense to look for logic by analyzing it.
Buddhist mantras are sound symbols containing higher energy. Sacredness is contained in the syllables themselves, and not in their meaning, and the correct reading of the prayer.
Texts of Buddhist mantras
All Buddhist prayers are written in Sanskrit. There is no need to delve into their meaning and translate them. It is enough for the practitioner to pronounce the syllables clearly and avoid mistakes.
For spiritual development
The main task of mantras is to develop abilities for esotericism and clairvoyance, and to contribute to the spiritual improvement of a person. Daily reading of such prayers helps the student to comprehend the laws of the universe and determine his purpose in life.
In Buddhism, there are several mantras that help in spiritual development:
- “A Nim Ah Oh.” This phrase normalizes the practitioner’s mental health and clears his mind of negative thoughts and destructive energy.
- "Om Sri Kali Namah Foram." Chanting such words restores the balance between soul and body and blocks the destructive effects of energy flows.
- "Om Vitham." It is recommended to read this mantra when negative thoughts appear. At the same time, human energy is cleansed.
- “Om Tat Sat Om Vijam.” The phrase helps to achieve unity with the universe.
Mantras help in spiritual development.
For meditative practices
The effectiveness of mantras depends not only on the correct pronunciation of sounds, but also on concentration. Students who are just beginning to practice reading prayers in Buddhism are recommended to turn to mantras for meditation.
To do this, follow the following technique:
- Take a comfortable position while sitting. There should be no feeling of discomfort while singing prayers. This makes it difficult to concentrate.
- Get rid of negative emotions and thoughts. Consciousness must remain calm.
- Stop internal dialogue. At first it can be difficult to achieve this state. To make your task easier, you should imagine yourself as a receiver that transmits white noise.
Secret words must be pronounced slowly and clearly. It is important to feel every vibration that appears in the body under the influence of sounds.
For dreams
Dreams are considered extremely important in Buddhism. This is explained by the fact that in a dream a person’s subconscious processes everything that it receives. In this state, people can find solutions to complex problems, receive important information from higher powers, and predict the future.
Sevenfold prayer
The sevenfold prayer is a fairly well-known practice that contains the essence of the entire Buddhist path. There are seven parts, each with a specific purpose:
(1) I prostrate before the Buddhas who adorn the three times, and before the Dharma and the Supreme Assembly, bowing with as many bodies as there are atoms in the universe.
(2) Just as Manjushri and others made offerings to you, Victorious Ones, I also make offerings to you, the Thus Departed Protectors, and to your spiritual sons and daughters.
(3) In samsaric existence without beginning, both in this life and in others, I committed negative actions involuntarily and forced others to do [them], and also, oppressed by naive delusion, I rejoiced with [them]; I consider everything that I have done to be wrong, and I admit it openly, sincerely in the face of the Defenders.
(4) Happy, I rejoice in the power of the positive ocean from the goal of bodhichitta that they have developed in order to bring joy to all beings who are limited and their actions that are beneficial to beings.
(5) With folded palms, I appeal to the Buddhas of all directions: “Please light the lamp of Dharma for limited beings, suffering, groping in the dark.”
(6) With folded palms, I pray to the Victorious Ones who are ready to go beyond grief: “Please remain for countless aeons, not leaving wanderers blinded.”
(7) Whatever positive force I have created through all that has been done now and previously, may I thereby completely relieve the suffering of all limited beings.
- The first part of prayer is prostrations
. We prostrate to the Buddhas as a sign of respect for their qualities: compassion, love and wisdom. As we prostrate, we touch the floor with our upper body—our head—which also helps us overcome pride and cultivate modesty. - Then we make offerings
. Most Buddhists offer bowls of water, but the object of the offering is not that important. What really matters is the motivation for giving: we give our time, energy and what belongs to us. This motivation helps us overcome attachment. - Next, we admit our shortcomings and mistakes
. Perhaps sometimes we are lazy or selfish, and sometimes our behavior is destructive. We acknowledge it, we regret it, and we move on with the firm intention of trying not to repeat the same mistakes. This helps us overcome the influence of negative karmic impulses. - Then we rejoice
. We remember all our creative actions and all the beautiful creative actions of other beings. We also think about the incredible deeds of the Buddhas. This helps overcome envy. - Then we ask for the teaching
, and this creates a receptive state of mind in us. We say: “We want to learn, we want to make ourselves and other beings happy!” - We beg the teachers not to leave us
. In the previous part we opened ourselves to the teachings, and now we want the teachers to stay with us and give instructions until we achieve complete enlightenment. - Finally, we reach the most important stage - initiation
. We dedicate all the accumulated positive power so that it benefits us and all beings.
As can be seen from the example of this prayer, the essence of Buddhism is not that some being comes down to us and saves us from problems. One proverb says: “You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink.” In other words, the Buddhas show us the way, but we need to make the effort to overcome attachment and unawareness and unlock the limitless creative potential that we all possess.
Mantras in the modern world
When starting to comprehend the science of reading prayers, the practitioner must take into account several rules:
- Perform practices daily. Only in this case can good results be achieved.
- Do not read several sacred texts at once. It is better to start with one and move on to the other only after mastering the first.
You cannot achieve purification of the mind, achieve balance and spiritual development only with the help of mantras. To do this, it is important to monitor your thoughts and actions.
Mentors note that enlightenment can only be achieved through continuous development. To do this, they advise reading specialized literature, studying the life and culture of peoples, traveling more, and avoiding negative thoughts.
Combination with meditation
Meditation and reading sacred texts simultaneously enhance the effect of each other. A person listens more consciously to sounds, is aware of spoken words, and the processes of the work of his own mind are more clearly monitored. Chanting Buddhist mantras calms the nervous system and normalizes metabolic processes. Prayer penetrates deeply into consciousness, strengthens the flow of vital forces through the body and energy points.
By adhering to the rules of meditation, reading sacred mantras in a state of peace of mind, a person can gain hidden abilities, feel the “breath of Buddha,” and feel the light of the Universe within himself.
Learning to read mantras in Sanskrit
In fact, for those who set out to read mantras, improving their understanding and awareness of the Absolute, trying to comprehend the truth of the universe, or simply striving for certain benefits (let’s not forget that mantras exist not only as hymns, but also as calls of love , wealth, health, etc.), this will not be so easy to do, since most of them are written in a complex Sanskrit script (this writing system is called Devanagari), which is not always easy for a person with a European or Slavic mentality to master.
Sanskrit is composed of a large number of symbols, different designations for the same letters and symbols, the presence of diacritics, a special length of pronunciation of letters in certain words, and a number of other characteristic features. For this reason, writing mantras in Sanskrit becomes a problem for Russian people.
However, today there is one of the effective options for solving it, called the international alphabet for transliteration of Sanskrit (abbreviation in English - IAST). Under IAST, Sanskrit letters and syllables are rendered in Roman characters. This approach to reading an unfamiliar language allows non-native speakers to reproduce words and phrases phonetically accurately.
Examples of mantras
To have a good idea of what we are talking about, here are a few examples. For example, the famous Vedic Sanskrit mantra called "Gayatri Mantra", written in Sanskrit script (Devanagari), would look like this:
If we write this phrase using the international alphabet for transliteration of Sanskrit, we will get a set of Latin letters that is already clear to the eye:
Of course, this approach to the process of reading mantras does not make it possible to completely avoid distortions, however, if there is no desire to learn Sanskrit, but you want to read mantras, then you have to limit yourself to this system of writing and reading sacred Vedic hymns.
