Six Character Great Bright Mantra

OM MANI PADME HUM

Significance of OM, MA, NI, PAD, ME, HUM

OM

Go for refuge to the Buddha

Produce the aspiring enlightened mind.

Perfection of Generosity

Guard the vows of an auditor

Purify physical obscurations

Overcome the god demon

Cure the sickness of bad accumulation

Pacify all defilemnts

The Dharmadhatu wisdom arises

Freedom from the god's suffering of death and rebirth

Union of all the Buddha families, Mahakarunika, and Consort Sadaksari

Obtain the state of Sarva-dakini

Obtain the Dharma Body

MA

Go for refuge to the Dharma

Produce the engaging enlightened mind

Perfection of Moral Conduct

Guard the vows of a bodhisattva

Purify vocal obscurations

Overcome the female demoness

Cure fever

Defeat nescience

The mirror wisdom arises

Freedom from the jealous gods' suffering of fighting

Buddha Vairocana and Consort Buddhalocana

Obtain the state of Buddha-dakini

Obtain the Enjoyment Body

NI

Go for refuge to the Sangha

Produce the non-dual enlightened mind

Perfection of Patience

Guard the vows of fasting

Purify mental obscurations

Overcome the rgyal-gong demon

Cure wind diseases

Defeat anger

The equanimity wisdom arises

Freedom from the human suffering of change

Vajrasattva and Consort Samantabhadri

Obtain the state of Vajra-dakini

Obtain the Emanation Body

PAD

Go for refuge to the Guru

Produce the natural enlightened mind

Perfection of enthusiasm

Guard the vows of the layperson

Purify the obscurations of defilement

Overcome the local deity/naga demon

Cure mucous disease

Defeat pride

Discriminating wisdom arises

Freedom from the animals' suffering of service

Ratnasambhava and Consort Manaki

Obtain the state of Ratna-dakini

Obtain the Essence Body

ME

Go for refuge to the Yidam

Produce the wisdom enlightened mind

Perfection of Meditation

Guard the vows of celibacy

Purify the obscurations of the traces

Overcome Mara and the Lord of Death

Cure arthritis

Eliminate desire

All-accomplishing wisdom arises

Freedom from the hungry ghosts' suffering of hunger and thirst

Buddha Amitabha and Consort Pandara-vasini
Obtain the state of Padma-dakini

Obtain the Enlightened Body

HUM

Go for refuge to the Dakinis

Produce the ultimate enlightened mind

Perfection of Discriminating Insight

Guard the tantric vows of a Knowledge Holder

Purify the obscurations to knowledge

Overcome the Raksa and Rahula demons

Cure bilious disease

Eliminate jealousy

Inherent wisdom arises

Freedom from the hell sufferings of hot and cold

Buddha Amoghasiddhi and Consort Samaya-tara

Obtain the state of the Karma-dakini

Obtain the unchanging Vajra-like Body

Benefits of Reciting OM MANI PADME HUM

Benefits in Reciting and Holding The Great Compassion Mantra

Excerpts from The Dharani Sutra

English translation by the Buddhist Text Translation Society,

Dharma Realm Buddhist University, USA

If humans and gods recite and hold the phrases of the Great Compassion Mantra, then when they approach the end of life, all the Buddhas of the ten directions will come to take them by the hand to rebirth in whatever Buddhaland they wish, according to their desire.

Should any living beings who recites and holds the spiritual mantra of Great Compassion fall into the three evil paths, I vow not to realise the right enlightenment. Should any living being who recites and holds the spiritual mantra of Great Compassion not be reborn in any Buddhaland, I vow not to realise the right enlightenment. Should any living being who recites and holds the spiritual mantra of Great Compassion not obtain unlimited samadhis and eloquence, I vow not to realise the right enlightenment. Should any living being who recites and holds the spiritual mantra of Great Compassion not obtain the fruits of whatever is sought in this very life, then he cannot have been making proper use of the Dharani of the Great Compassion Heart.

The Universal Gate of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara

The Kuan Yin Sutra (Chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra):

The Universal Gate of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara

Namo Ben Shi Shi Jia Mou Ni Fo
Namo Ben Shi Shi Jia Mou Ni Fo
Namo Ben Shi Shi Jia Mou Ni Fo

Verse for Opening a Sutra

"The unsurpassed, deep, profound, subtle, wonderful Dharma, in a hundred thousand million eons, is difficult to encounter; now that I've come to receive and hold it, within my sight and hearing, I vow to fathom the Thus Come One's true and actual meaning.

At that time, Bodhisattva Infinite Resolve rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, joined his palms, and facing the Buddha, said, "O World Honored One, how did Gwan Shr Yin Bodhisattva get the name Gwan Shr Yin?"

The Buddha answered Bodhisattva Infinite Resolve, "Good Man, if all the countless hundreds of thousands of millions of living beings tormented by misery and pain hear of Gwan Shr Yin Bodhisattva, and with all their hearts invoke his name, Gwan Shr Yin Bodhisattva will immediately respond to their prayers and set them free.

If those who hold the name of Gwan Shr Yin Bodhisattva should fall into a great fire, the fire will not burn them, because of Gwan Shr Yin Bodhisattva's awesome spiritual power. If they are being tossed about in deep and treacherous waters and call his name, they will quickly reach the shallows.

Hundreds of thousand of myriads of millions of men in search of gold, silver, lapis lazuli, moonstones, and carnelian, coral, amber, pearls, and other precious treasures, may run afoul of violent squalls that blow their ships to the lands of Rakshashas.

But if one man among them calls the name of Gwan Shr Yin Bodhisattva, then the entire group will all be saved from the throes of the Rakshashas. For this reason he is called "The Enlightened One Who Listens to the Sounds of All the World."