The Living Journal – Planting The Seeds of Om Mani Peme Hung

The Living Journal – Planting The Seeds of Om Mani Peme Hung

We may have spent decades of our lives searching for happiness, peace, and contentment—without sowing the causes for that goal. Why did we not plant the seeds of the fulfillment we wish for? 

The caused and effect or the Law of Karma says that if you plant an apple seed and prays for a Banana fruit, understandably it won’t work. But this is what we do, we wish for happiness without planting the seeds of happiness.

It is fine to call Buddhism a religion. In the beginning Buddhism can be taught as a religion. Fundamentally, however, Buddhism must always be seen as a skillful means for realizing the most basic aspect of human life. 

Why do we stay away from our fundamental nature? It is because of ignorance. Because doubts and uncertainty keep getting in our way, many teachings and methods have arisen as remedies.

In fact, we do the exact opposite. We plant the causes of recklessness, unkindness, foolishness, and a lack of understanding, conscientiousness, and thoughtfulness for others and their well being and most of the time hoping for happiness and cessation of suffering. Call it karmic patterns, habitual tendencies, or whatever it is critical to understand this human behavior.                                                                          

Planting the seeds of Buddha hood. One of the three benefits described in Buddha’s teachings, the benefits of planting, maturing, and harvesting the seeds of Buddha hood. The process of attaining Buddha hood is compared to that of cultivating plants. In this regard, The Om Mani Peme Hung is the seed, the Buddha like the farmer, and the people like the field.

The phase of planting is divided into two stages: -

[1] The Buddha causes the people to hear his teaching.

[2] The Buddha leads them to take faith in it. These are termed as "planting the seeds” by letting one hear the teachings by leading one to arouse faith in the teachings.

There are cases in which a person takes faith immediately upon hearing the teachings. There are also cases in which someone hears the teaching and develops faith later. In either case, the Buddha's teaching has the power to influence one's life, whether or not one takes faith in it immediately. It means that simply by hearing the Law one forms the cause, or seed, for attaining Buddha hood eventually.

In its most basic sense, the Law of Karma in the moral sphere teaches that similar actions will lead to similar results. Let us take an example. If we plant an apple seed, the plant that springs up will be an apple tree, and eventually it will harvest apple fruit. Similarly, in the Law of Karma, if we do a wholesome action, eventually we will get a wholesome fruit, and if we do a negative action eventually we will get a negative and agonizing result. 

One may ask how one knows whether an action that is positive or negative will produce happiness or unhappiness. The answer is time will tell. The Buddha Himself answered the question and Buddha has explained that so long as a negative action does not bear its fruit of suffering, for so long a foolish person will consider that action good. But when that negative action bears its fruit of suffering then he will realize that the action is unwholesome.  

Let us all begin our living journey by planting the Six Syllables seeds of the compassion mantra of Om Mani Peme Hung into our daily practice, by planting it[reciting the mantra with faiths and devotions], by maturing it [Growing our loving kindness and Bodhichitta heart], by reaping it [attaining the ultimate blissful stage of realization]

Thank you for reading and may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

May the precious Bodhichitta arise

Where it has not arisen

And where it has arisen may it not decrease

But increase further and further.

Nagarjuna's Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note*

I do not own or infringe any copyright of these pictures.Pictures courtesy and credit to the rightful owners.

The Living Journal – Om Mani Padme Hum

Every drop of water in the rivers, seas and oceans on this earth can be counted, but not the benefits and merits of reciting the  Om Mani Padme Hum mantra once. Every tree on this earth can be counted, but not the benefits and merits of reciting the compassionate universal mantra of Om Mani Padme Hum

By the Lord Shakyamuni Buddha

The mantra Om Mani Padme Hum is the embodiment of all the Buddhas’ heart, the root of the eighty-four thousand teachings of the Buddha, the essence of the Five Buddhas, and the essence of the secret holders. 

Each word is a pith instruction, the source of the qualities of all the Tathagatas, the root of all goodness and siddhis, the great path to higher realms and complete freedom. To recite this supreme among all mantras, the six syllables, the heart of all the teaching, just once can put you onto a spiritual path of no-turning-back, and you can become a great liberator of other sentient beings.

Even a small insect, if it were to hear the sounds of the mantra just before dying, would be liberated from that body and be born in the pure land of Amitabha Buddha. Just to think of it is like the sun shining on a snow mountain so brightly that bad karmic obscurations and defilements are eliminated, and one can be born in the pure land of Amitabha Buddha.

Just touching the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum is receiving empowerment from many Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Meditating on it once equals the practices of listening, contemplating, and meditating combined together. In this way the entire experience of phenomena can be transformed into Dharmakaya experience, and great treasure gates of activity can be opened to benefit sentient beings.

By Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava)

Thus the six syllables,Om Mani Padme Hum, mean that in dependence on the practice which is in indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech and mind into the pure body, speech, and mind of a Buddha.

By His Holiness the Dalai Lama

There is not a single aspect of the eighty-four thousand sections of the Buddha's teachings which is not contained in Avalokiteshvara's six syllable mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum", and as such the qualities of the "Mani" are praised again and again in the Sutras and Tantras. 

Whether happy or sad, if we take the "Mani" as our refuge, Chenrezig will never forsake us, spontaneous devotion will arise in our minds and the Great Vehicle will effortlessly be realized."

By Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

The The six syllables mantra of Om Mani Padme Hum is the most widely used of all Buddhist mantras, and open to anyone who feels inspired to practice it. It does not require prior initiation by a Lama or Guru.

Tibetan Buddhists believe that saying the mantra (prayer), Om Mani Padme Hum, out loud or silently to oneself, appeal to the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of Chenrezig Bodhisattva, the embodiment of compassion. Viewing the written form of the mantra is said to have the same effect, it is often carved into stones, in the prayer wheels etc.

It is said that all the teachings of the Buddha are contained in this mantra: Om Mani Padme Hum can not really be translated into a simple phrase or sentence. It is appropriate, though, to say a little about the mantra, so that people who want to use it in their meditation practice will have some sense of what they are doing, and will understand a little better what the mantra is and why it is so vital to Tibetan Buddhists.

The mantra in the following languages

1] The Sanskrit pronounced as Om Mani Padme Hum 

2] The Tibetan pronounced as Om Mani Peme Hung 

3] The Common Mani Scripts of the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum is found written in Tibetan script and ancient Ranjana script.

The significance of the Mantra

Mantras are enlightened compassion and awareness in the form of sound. Through simply coming into contact with the enlightened beings are positively influenced. Tibetan Buddhists recite mantras as a way to connect to positive qualities and protect themselves from negativity, [especially inner negativity]

Through contact with and, especially, meditation on the mantra of compassion "Om Mani Padme Hum" positive qualities are developed and so, happiness naturally increases in one's life. 

By hearing the mantra, one can be liberated from the lower realms and become a master that can liberate sentient beings. One can purify negative karma accumulated from beginningless time, just like the rising sun melting the snow on top of the Snow Mountains and take rebirth in pure land.

Just by touching the mantra, it is like one is receiving empowerment from countless Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. By reciting the mantra is like practicing the Six Perfections and is able to close the doors to the six realms.

Syllable	Six  Pāramitas	Purifies	Samsaric  realm	Colors	Symbol of the Deity	(Wish them)  To be born in
Om	Generosity	Pride / Ego	God	White	Wisdom	Perfect Realm of Potala
Ma	Ethics	Jealousy	Asuras  (Demigod)	Green	Compassion	Perfect Realm of Potala
Ni	Patience	Desire	Humans	Yellow	Body, speech, mind quality and activity	Dewachen
Pad	Diligence	Ignorance	Animals	Blue	Equanimity	the presence of Protector (Chenrezig)
Me	Renunciation	Greed	Pretas (Hungry ghosts)	Red	Bliss	Perfect Realm of Potala
Hum	Wisdom	Anger / hatred	Naraka (Hell)	Black	Quality of Compassion	the presence of the Lotus Throne (of Chenrezig)

Om [Manifest in white color]   

Increases the wisdom of: tranquility and calmness.    

Increases transcendent: kindness, generosity.   

Purifies: arrogance, egotism.

Closes the door to the suffering of being reborn in the god’s realm.

The suffering of the gods arises from foreseeing one’s fall from the god’s realm and these suffering come from pride.

Ma [Manifest in green color]   

Increases the wisdom of activity   

Increases transcendent: ethics and moral principles.   

Purifies: resentment, envy and jealousy. 

Closes the door to the suffering of being reborn in the Semi-god Asura’s realm.

The suffering of Demi-god Asura is constant fighting and these suffering come from jealously.

Ni [Manifest in yellow color]   

Increases the wisdom of self-arisen wisdom   

Increases transcendent: patience and tolerance.  

Purifies: confused attachment.

Closes the door to the suffering of being reborn in the human realm.

The sufferings of humans are birth, sickness, old age and death and these suffering come from desire.

Pad [Manifest in blue color]   

Increases the wisdom of all-encompassing space   

Increases transcendent: enthusiasm   

Purifies: bewilderment, ignorance and prejudice.

Closes the door to the suffering of being reborn in the animal realm.

The sufferings of animals are being preying upon one another, or being killed for meat and these suffering come from ignorance.

Me [Manifest in red color

Increases the wisdom of discrimination   

Increases transcendent: meditation   

Purifies: greed and possessiveness

Closes the door to the suffering of being reborn in the hungry ghost realm.

The sufferings of hungry ghost are hunger and thirst and these suffering come from greed.

Hum [Manifest in black color]  

Increases the wisdom of clarity   

Increases transcendent: wisdom   

Purifies: anger.

Closes the door to the suffering of being reborn in the hell realm.

The suffering of hell is heat and cold and these suffering come from hatred.

Thank you for reading, may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps to spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta
For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen
May it arise and not decrease
But increase further and further.

Dedication of Merit
By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.
Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.
May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.
With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note
I do not own or infringe any copyright of the picture(s).
Picture(s) courtesy and credit to the rightful distributors and or studios.
Picture(s) is/are intended for editorial use only.

The Living Journal - Reflections

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

However many holy words you read, however many holy words you speak, what good will they do, if you do not act upon them ? 
Quoted by the Lord Buddha.

Love yourself and be awake,
Today, tomorrow, always,
Then teach others and so defeat sorrow.
To straighten the crooked, 
You must first do a harder thing - Straighten yourself.
You are only the master. Who else?
Subdue yourself,  and be your master.
Quoted by His Holiness The Dalai Lama.

Reflection, look at ourselves in the mirror and observe what you see. See yourself the way others see you. Sense and feel what you see.

How can we applying the Dharma in our daily life?

How do we recognize that we all have drifted away from the precious Dhama once taught by our Guru?  

How should we respond and react to the self reflections?

REFLECTIONS

Reflection is the art of thinking on one's virtues and faults. It is also the ability to reflect on your feelings and thoughts. This also includes reflecting on the thoughts, emotions and the feelings of others. This can help to improve oneself as you assess and reflect upon the decisions you made in life.

Use our reflections as an opportunity to make profound and positive change in your life. This will depend greatly on the outcome of your reflections, also on the correctness and spontaneous feelings of these reflections.

Seek a place of solitude and silence and to relax yourself you need to be in an unperturbed state of mind in order to reflect or look back through your thoughts on both the positive and negative actions that you had done of the day. 

Feel the sensations strongly and revive these experiences. Understand why you were feeling sad or happy at the time, and contemplate on the reasons behind these feelings. This will help put things in perspective and also clear your mind on future actions and changes you need to make.

Increase your awareness and observation of events around you. This can be easily accomplished by being conscious of the “here and now", living in the moment so to speak.  Reflections are also an ideal way of helping improve on your sensing and feeling skills. You will become better with time but try not to drive yourself into a depression if the realities you encounter become too difficult to bear.

At least once a day, I reflect on my day, on my life, on what I have been doing right, and what isn’t working. I reflect on some aspect of my life, and from this habit of reflection, I am able to improve. One of my favorite times to reflect is during my exercise. Some of my post ideas come during exercise and meditation at the end of the day.

If you post on a website, or a forum that viewable to friends. Your reflections are shared with others, and once people start to read them and expect them, you will feel that positive public pressure to keep it up. Self-reflection is a humbling process. It's essential to find out why you think, say, and do certain things. That is what has happened and it’s been a great thing for me.

Thank you for reading and may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

May the precious Bodhichitta arise

Where it has not arisen

And where it has arisen may it not decrease

But increase further and further.

Nagarjuna's Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note*

I do not own or infringe any copyright of these pictures.

Pictures courtesy and credit to the rightful owners.

Beautiful Tibetan Mala Beads

The mala beads are made from a variety of materials, most commonly wood. Preferred woods are sandalwood or sacred wood from the bodhi tree. More expensive rosaries beads are made of precious and semi-precious stones, including pearls, rubies, crystal, amber, coral, or jade, or precious metals such as gold. They can also be made of seeds, animal bone (most commonly yak).

Beautiful Tibetan mala beads with special offers price :-

Tibetan rosary (tijy) 

Buddhist rosary from Tibet

Refer to category : Prayer Beads, Material : Wood 

Average Weight: 30 grams 

Price $7.85 

Order from here :-

http://www.tibetcraftswholesale.com/cgi-bin/index.pl?id=19

Stone prayer beads (beti)

Dark stone prayer beads

Refer to category : Prayer Beadss, Material: Stone

Average Weight: 25 grams

Price $3.10

Order from here :-

http://www.tibetcraftswholesale.com/cgi-bin/index.pl?id=19

Tibetan rosaries (uint)

Refer to category : Prayer Beads, Material:  Wood

Average Weight: 71 grams

Price $ 3.17

Order from here :-

http://www.tibetcraftswholesale.com/cgi-bin/index.pl?id=19

Budi rosaries (uior)

Budi sacred Buddhist plant rosaries

Refer to category : Prayer Beads, Material:  Wood

Average Weight: 22 grams

Price $ 7.15

Order from here :-

http://www.tibetcraftswholesale.com/cgi-bin/index.pl?id=19

Natural stone prayer beads (besn)

Color natural stone prayer beads

Refer to category : Prayer Beads, Material: Stone

Average Weight: 40 grams

Price $5.82

Order from here :-

http://www.tibetcraftswholesale.com/cgi-bin/index.pl?id=19

Budi rosaries (uipv)

Budi sacred Buddhist plant rosaries

Refer to category : Prayer Beads, Material: Wood

Average Weight: 88 grams

Price $ 11.90

Order from here :-

http://www.tibetcraftswholesale.com/cgi-bin/index.pl?id=19

The Living Journal - The Tibetan Mala Beads

The mala bead or the rosary beads in Sanskrit known as the “Japa Malas” are typically made with 18, 27, 54 or 108 beads. The important of Mala beads it gives you that focus and concentration on the mantras we are reciting, prostrations and meditation.

Mala beads or Buddhist rosary beads is a tool that we used for keeping count while reciting, chanting the number of times, counting the number of prostrations or mentally repeating a mantra of the name or names of a Buddha, Bodhisattva or deity. 

Tibetans also use their mala for blessing others, as it is believed the mala absorbs great power through deity mantra practice. The 108 mala beads is represents the words or the statements of the Buddha. In some other schools of Buddhism it means 108 account for human passions or human mistakes. 

The mala bead used in various methods and purposes depend on the mantras used, and mala beads are made from a variety of materials, most commonly wood. Preferred woods are sandalwood or sacred wood from the bodhi tree.

More expensive rosaries beads are made of precious and semi-precious stones, including pearls, rubies, crystal, amber, coral, or jade, or precious metals such as gold. They can also be made of seeds, animal bone (most commonly yak), and sometime even human skull. 

Mala beads that made of skull have the important principle and function. While the wrathful skull images in Tibetan Buddhism may seem scary, and the skulls are simply reminders of our mortality. Tibetans use skull beads and jewelry to remind them of impermanence. 

Skull mala beads help users contemplate the meaning of life and death during meditation. The Skull is reflects on death and impermanence and know that death is a fact and the closer that we can relate to death and embrace it the sooner we can start living with love and compassion and realizing that in this cyclic existence death will certainly when it is time. Live life  and embrace death. Recognition is the answer to the unavoidable passing of time and body.

In general, the traditional mala beads are used for all kind of purposes and for all kinds of mantras. The string that holds the beads together is usually made of silk, but is sometimes made of human hair. The materials and colors of the beads can relate to a specific practice. 

Mantras and chants are typically repeated hundreds or even thousands of times. The mala bead is used so that one can focus on the meaning or sound of the mantra rather than counting its repetitions.

One repetition is usually said for each bead while turning the thumb clockwise around each bead, when arriving at the Guru bead or the center bead; Tibetan Buddhists traditionally turn the mala around and then go back in the opposing direction. [I don’t cross over the Guru bead as advised by my Guru] but, some emphasize that this is not important. 

This repetition of the beads serves to remind practitioners of the teaching that it is possible to break the cycle of birth and death. Recite a very large number of mantras, Tibetan Buddhist males have bell and dorje counters (a short string of ten beads, usually silver, with a bell or dorje at the bottom). 

These counters are placed at different points on the mala depending on tradition, sometimes at the 10th, 21st or 25th bead from the Guru bead. Traditionally, one begins the mala in the direction of the dorje (skillful means) proceeding on to the bell (wisdom) with each round. 

In the Vajrayana traditions, the Tibetan Buddhists generally used the left hand for reciting or using the mala beads, and as well using a certain fingers, and either pushing or pulling each bead has a specific purpose and characteristic – whether for healing, protection, wealth, etc. 

Prayer beads are the attributes of certain Buddhist deities, an example is the four arms Chenrezig is often depicted holding a lotus and another hand is holding the rosary of 108 mala beads that representing the Bodhisattva's wish to help sentient beings conquer the 108 passions and attain enlightenment.

Thank you for reading and may you find peace and great bliss. With your support it helps spread the Buddha’s precious teachings and turning the Dharma wheels in the world.

Aspiration For Bodhichitta

May the precious Bodhichitta arise

Where it has not arisen

And where it has arisen may it not decrease

But increase further and further.

Nagarjuna's Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

*Note*

I do not own or infringe any copyright of these pictures.Pictures courtesy and credit to the rightful owners.