Hello everyone, this video is a continuation of the one on the meaning of the mantras
In fact, reciting mantras is highly recommended
in all of the Tantric, Mahayana Buddhism and Tibetan buddhist doctrines.
In the Mahayana Buddhism, there is a very long mantra
I'm sure you all know about it
It is the Great Compassion Mantra of Avalokiteshvara
In Tibetan tradition, there is also a version of the Great Compassion Mantra
In Tibetan Buddhism
practitioners are very familiar with the six-syllable mantra
It is also the mantra of Avalokiteshvara
Om Mani Padme Hum
This mantra is very important
in mind for all of us Buddhists
Nevertheless, in the Ultimate Truth
All mantras
have no difference
but in the world that we are living in
we make differentiations
One might think that
the blessing power of reciting mantras is greater than
reciting the holy names of the Buddhas and the Bodhisattvas
or vice versa
In fact, these are just some differentiations
that we ordinary people make
It doesn't matter if you're reciting the mantra or
the holy name of the buddhas and bodhisattvas
As long as we are very sincere and focused in the recitation
and understand why we are chanting
This is a very important point.
We often practice chanting in Zen Buddhism
There's a seven-day recitation practice
from morning to the night
When the mind is very focused on chanting the holy names or mantras
this helps driving our mind to the meditative consciousness
it's called "Samatha-Vipasyana" contemplation and concentration
this is a type of observation and concentration method
a good practice for our mind
that help us being more focused
We also have to jump out and think about who is practicing the recitation
Who is chanting this mantra
At that time, it is the observation part of the method
Not just being concentrated
by focusing on one thought
Rather, you have to take it to the level up
by observing the current intent and thought while chanting, such as:
What is the thought of the person right now?
Why are we chanting?
What is the meaning of the mantra?
What are the benefits to us sentient beings?
What is the intention?
What is the vow?
These are some of the things we should reflect on
when chanting the mantras or Buddha's names
In Buddhism, there is a well-known mantra of Avalokiteshvara
the six-syllable mantra
Almost everyone knows how to recite it
So here I would also like to
share a very interesting story with you
It's only been less than half a century
that Buddhism has been widely spreading over to the Western societies
There was a Rinpoche at that time
He had experience of his own
to share with you
He once taught at a Dharma Service
the oral transmission of the six-syllable mantra
After the Dharma Service
Everyone was very happy
Then Rinpoche was with a few of his disciples
and they started to chat
The Rinpoche asked
"How do you feel
about the oral transmission of the six-syllable mantra?
One of the disciples said:
"Rinpoche
I found it to be a very lucky
and fortunate experience
It was so nice."
Then Rinpoche then asked:
"Please read it to me now."
The disciple read it
He said: "It's simple:
Humm Money by my home
Money back my home."
So this is to say that the money comes back to my house
The disciple thought the mantra had such meaning
From this small story
the takeaway is that
when we recite the mantras of the buddhas and the bodhisattvas
we should do it indiscriminately
and be very pious
using an untainted mind in the recitation
It shouldn't be about how much benefits am I going to get
The discriminating mind
can have some negative impacts
If you look at the earlier example
the disciple is hearing "money back my home"
He only thinks it's a lucky spell
He would recite it with great joy
but he didn't really understand the mantra of Avalokiteshvara
the implications behind the six-syllables
If we just focus on
the chanting of a mantra in its appearance
It's just words that are recited by mouth
or if just focus on the number of recitations made
without really understand the meaning
behind the syllables
There would some flaws in this kind of chanting
We should have a profound understanding
of the mantras
The chanting practice originated from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
Applying the great compassion of benefiting all sentient beings
in the chanting
Reciting with bodhichitta
Reciting with a non-distracted mind
in such way
we will obtain great benefits and merits
I hope today's discussion and sharing
will bring you some inspiration
Thank you. Amitabha!